The Omaha guide., 1937-04-03
A CHRISTIAN "CLINIC
BY WILLIAM X
For A N P.


There is a publication called "THE LOOKOUT, Magazine of Chris
tian Education published in Cincinnati, 0. 1t has a department call
ed "Christian Action, Life Clinic" edited by James De Forest Murch
He is supposed to answer questions that puzzle people in their daily
lives and relations to other peoples-as when they are disappointed
foye," or want to know what college to attend, or what not Recently
a woman wrote him as follows:
Il am q widow. with little or no visible means of support.
A neighbOring gentleman Ga Negro is the only one who has shown
me any sympathy or help. He has given md money many times,
and reads 30 me- Everybody in our church has quit coming to see
me, and many of them will not speak to me because of this. Should
refuse any longer to se this gentleman, who is my only solace?"
And this is what the christian Doctor" Murch writes in answer
to her in his column of the magazine:
while W should havd no racial preiudces, we shuld recognize
the fact that God has, in His wisdom. separated men by racial dis
tneiOns. Our intimate social relations should be conducted with
in racial limits. This is a law generally recognized. Each race is
equally important befOra God. but that docs not give us interracial
license.
weri This "Christian Clinic is certainly headed by a quack doc
pr Who says the God separated men by mcial distinctions ?" The
people who know something about that, say that only climate and en-
vroments of other sorts variepated the visual appearances of men,
and the last time any of US heard God say anything about III was
when He also said: God has made of one blood all nations" And once
seemed to be about as muddled about Gods intentions as is DR.. Murch,
God gave Peter a vision Of a sheet let down out of heaven, with all
sorts of creatures in it-trying TO show Peter in a kindergarten nu-
shaton that nothing that God mp'de IS per So "unolean"
Now if Much has had any recent and different understanding
with God about it, we wish God would speak again to us, for himself
How did Dr. Murch get this private understanding with God, which
none of the most learned men of the world is able to get? Has God
turned Fascist and revealed the fact only to Murch? We are 10th to
believe that
And who has made any 'law'' about "racesp except poor ignorant
men themselves? Neither God nor Nature has set any biological bar
rms between the various outward types of Man. And what in the
name of God and the devil is "interraeial heense?" How these D. DIS
do use words, phrasesG"soundng braees" and tinkling cymbals"
Did God issue any licenses or make any racial flaws" and if So
why has He not told some bf the rest of US about it, and cOnfded
only in Murch? fa@a
This God abb is one which human beastiness has used through
out written history. When they drag God into the argument, you
can usually look out for some scoundrehsm that could not get by on
any real logic.
Why did not Murch say something sensible and honest to that
poor woman, like this: You are guilty Of no wrong, but you ar in
danger, because the people among whom you live ar not yet civniz-
ed enough to allow you to be 10 civilized. You are right, but you are
likely to be Destroyed, because of the race preudccs that surround
you. If you want 70 be RIGHT, go ahead; but if you want to be
comfortable with your neighbOrs, submit. You are a bit ahead Of you
dag. sN Ia.s