Evening star., 1941-10-25

emphasize family religion, but IL Will
also seek the extension of released
time religious education in the pub
lie schools, the expansion OF vaca-
ton Bible schools and summer camp
programs, and increased church at
tendance and enrolment.
A director of public relations has
been added to the staff of the Inter-
national Council of Religious Edu-
cation to sell" the campaign to the
public through press, radio, movies
and billboards.
The drive will officially open at
the quadrennial convention of the
international council in Chicago
next February. During April, 1912,
a series of 125 one-day conventions
will be held throughout the country
to inform local church and COM
munity leaders of the methods to be
used in achieving the movements
aims.
The religious education leaders
also decided upon another move af-
fecting the family. Worried over
the IMPACT of the national defense
program on economic and social life
they decided to call national con-
ference of church leaders to deal
with the problem. The conference
will bring together leaders Of Ameri-
can Professionalism concerned with
the family, such as the National
Council of Church Women, the COM
mission on the Christian family of
the Federal Council of Churches,
and a similar commission of the
International Council of Religious
Education.
Race Issue Develops.
Preparations for the conference,
which is planned for next Septem-
ber "a to 26, will probably include
the formation of Christian family
life commissions in each of the
major Protestant denominations
thus making their contribution in
this connection more nearly COM
mensurate with the historic en-
phasis Of the Catholic and Jewish
faiths.
Principal hitch which developed
at the Chicago meeting was over
the race issue. Colored representa-
tiVes of several denominations came
to the meeting after having agreed
that they could not participate in
| the meetings next April unless all
the conferences were interracial
with no segregation in the seating
of delegates.
White delegates were in full agree
ment with their proposal which
would cause no difficulties in any of
the meetings except those in some
in some States, such meetings would
be illegal
A compromise proposal was Of
fered. in which it was suggested
that plans proceed on the assump-
ton that all meetings would be fully
interracial, with no discrimination
in housing or seating delegates. If
difficulties developed parallel con-
ventions would be held in the same
city at the same time. with the same
leadership serving both.
No Decision Reached.
No decision had been reached by
the colored delegates at the close of
the meeting as to whether they
would participate on this basis.
The religious leaders were cheered
this week by the Government. On
their desks, when they returned
home, we're the results of a survey
undertaken by the United States
Office of Education. which showed
that about 500 communities in 38
States now release public school
pupils during school hours for re-
ligious education.
Religious conferences and other
activities this week stressed spiritual
aspects of defense.
The Executive Board of the Cen
trail Conference of American Rabbis
met in Cincinnati and considered a
proposal for a Nationwide confer
ence of religions. Proposing the
conference, Rabbi James c. Heller,
Cincinnati, president of the confer
ence, indicated the time was at
hand when both religion and de-
mocracy would be strengthened by
display of unity on essentials" on
the part of religious groups in
America
No date for such a meeting was