Evening star., 1940-02-23
Washington Birthday
Program Given by
Religious Leaders
Freedom of Worship
And Tolerance Stressed
In Radio Broadcast

George Washington's furtherance
Of religious freedom in the United
States was recalled as clergymen of
varied faiths joined in an interde-
nominational Washington Birthday
broadcast yesterday. The program,
heard over the National Broadcast
ing System, was sponsored by the
Committee on Religious Life in the
Nations Capital.
The Rev. Albert j. Mccartney,
chairman of the committee and
pastor of Covenant-First Presby-
terian Church, who presided and in
troduced the speakers, expressed
the wish that such men as LIN
coin and Washington were alive 10
engineer the repairs and recon-
structionS so necessary" in the
world of today.
To those in America who are en-
gagged in vast experiment of
morality without religion and with
out the church, DR.. Mccartney said
Washington would doubtless say:
''Of all the dispositions and habits
which lead to political prosperity
religion and morality are indis-
pendable supports. In vain would
that man claim the tribute of
patriotism who should labor to sub
vert these great pillars of human
happiness. And let us with caution
indulge the supposotiono that mo-
rality can be maintained without
religion"
c. L. Aide Speaks.
The Rev. Patrick j. O'Connor, of
the faculty of Catholic University,
said the celebration of Washingtons
Birthday strikes an appealing note
in the hearts of Catholic citizens"
Catholics of Washingtons time re-
joiced when he became President,
Father O'Connor said, because
Washington encouraged respect for
religion and "inculcated by words
and actions that principle on which
the welfare of nations so much de-
pends-that experimenting provi-
dence governs the events of the
world and watches over the conduct
of men"
Catholics of America" continued
Father O'Connor, honor the father
of our country. With tribute of
heart and lip We praise him, to
whom the priceless heritage of
American ideals and tradition was
i- ~,
of every true American love, re-
spect and devotion for George
Washington. He is enshrined in
our memory as the devoted father
OF our country, as the loyal patriot
OF a great cause, as the first Presi-
dent. But in these times let all
Americans remember Washington
as man of God"
The Rev. DR.. William S. Aber-
nethy, pastor of Calvary Baptist
Church, said the Nation today pos
slbly Is hardly conscious of WASH
lngton's real worth" Perhaps, he
added. I'VE have invested him with
qualities that he did not possess in
our anxiety to do him proper honor.
But above all, it must be remem-
bered that Washington was
worthy progenitor of a race still
in the making-a race that has in
1t the elements of genuine great
ness. His coat of arms bore the
legend: The test of an act is the
result 1t remains for those who
are coming after him to prove that
his standards were not false"
Rabbi Gerstenfeld Talks.
DR.. Abernethy said the suggestion
that an American Rediscovery
Week" be set aside was not with
out merit. Religious liberty with
Its corollary, separation of church
and State is a principle" he said,
''for which millions of our people
firmly stand. believing that the fu-
ture strength of the Nation de-
pends to very large degree upon
its establishm American Re-
discovery Week might lead us to
make a search for this oft-forgotten
principle"
Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld, vice
chairman of the Committee on Re-
ligious Life and pastor of the WASH
. ington Hebrew Congregation, called
attention to a message Washington
wrote to a Jewish community at
Newport, R. l., soon after he be-
came President. In it Washington
reminded that "the citizens of the
United States have the right to
applaud themselves for having given
to mankind examples of an enlarged
and liberal policy worthy of imita-
ton. All possess alike. liberty of
conscience and immunities of cit
izenship.
Not Just Indulgence.
SIT is now no more that liberation
Is spoke of as if it were by the in
diligence of one class of people that
another enjoyed the exercise of their
inherent natural right, for, happily,
the Government of the United
States which gives to bigotry no
sanction, to persecution no assist
ance, requires only that they who
live under it's protection shall de-
mean themselves as good citizens
and giving it on all occasions their
effectual support"
In these simple words of Wash
ington, Rabbi Gerstenfeld said, I'VE
see the noble tradition of the found
ers of the United States, that not in
the tolerance that still implies arro-
gance, but in the humble ministry of
our own reverence, of ones own free
conscience, can we make our offering
at the sacred altar of true citizen
ship; for we speak of freedom Of re-
ligion only because the humble pro-
phetic values of true religion is the
Inspiration of our freedom. May we
ever be true to this precious heri-
tage of our yesterdays"
Music for the program was fur
nished by members of the choir of
Calvary Baptist Church, under direc-
ton of Herbert V. Pate.