Evening star., 1938-01-31

tne emphasis OF religion in our
national life" The committee, COM
posed Of ministers of religion con-
nected with the Washington churches,
grew out Of suggestion originally
made by a United States Senator
who once told a clergyman that
though he had been in the National
Capital many years he had never
been invited to attend any of the
churches and that he believed MANY
other newcomers felt the same sense
Of detachment.
When thousands of persons come to
Washington to work for the Govern
ment many feel strange to their new
surroundings and do not readily form
church connections. To make the
newcomer realize that he is wantel-
to urge him to join some church is
the object of the Committee on Re
ligious Life in the Nations Capital"
Here is how the purposes are formally
expressed by the movement itself:
Purpose of Movement
The committee seeks to emphasize
the Importance to the state, society
and individuals, of religion and church
attendance: to promote the spirit of
: religious liberation and mutual under
standing and to aid all residents of
the city in becoming related to some
local church of their own choosing.
1t includes in its scope all races,
creeds. parties and groups. but as
over half Of the 100000 people in the
District Of Columbia are mainly de-
pendent upon governmental employ
ment for family support and as about
one-flfth are In Federal and District
, service. 1t gives special attention to
the needs of those related to the
Government.
Through the cooperation of Gov
eminent officials and others. from
500 to 1000 personal invi.d tions are
sent each month to newcomers TO u,,e
the services of the committee jr.
forming church connections. and it
Is known that mutually neipfu! re-
lationships have resulted in many
eases.
Endorsed by President.
1t seems important that the forces
OF religion at the Nations Capital
should give demonstration Of their
solidarity Of interest and their ca
pacity to cooperate in promoting the
common cause Of religion, as we'll as
OF their conviction that spiritual values
are the essential basis tcr stability
and progress. It is especially needed
At this time when in so many places
the churches and religion itself are
under attack. The movement has re-
ceived hearty Endorsements from the
President Of the United States and
many leaders in public life. The COM
mittee has also the 1ea-.,est CO.
operation of the Archbishop of Balti-
more, representing Roman Catholic
interests: the Washington Federation
OF Churches. representing Protestant
interests, and the rabbis of the leading
Hebrew congregations"
At the mass meeting representa-
Gves Of every one of these three
groups spoke and the new chairman
Tor the year is the Rev. Albert j,
Mccartney, minister of the Covenant
First Presbyterian Church. The pro-
cedure of the committee is to find out
through the Government departments
and agencies the names of newcomers
and then a card is sent to each asking
that the religious group with which
he or she has been previously afiiliated
IN another city shall be designated.
Thereupon the card when filled out
Is transmitted to the group of churches
IN which the choice falls and a min
lister from the nearest neighborhood
arranges for personal call
1t Is not the mechanism itself. how
ever. which is so important as the
spirit back of the move The idea that
churches of all kinds can join together
IN q common endeavor to promote the