Evening star., 1941-01-20
Roosevelt Pause for Prayer Service During Journey Cape

spiritual leaders to call men to
realization that religion and freedom
have gone hand in hand in the
United States. We do not realize
fully the power of those who are
determined to destroy the freedom
which we take for granted, nor how
our indifference to religious prin-
ciples aids their cause. Religion in
its highest expression in this land
has fought for mans political, social
and economic freedom"
Dr. Brooks added that this re-
ligion stems from Mount Sinai,
where the Ten Commandments were
born and from a hillside where
Jesus uttered the sermon on the
mount"
The United States" he pointed
out, were founded by men of spir-
itual idealism. We grew not alone
from l3 political colonies, but from
five religious colonies. This country
was built by men who believed in a
universal moral law and not in a
type of morality which, as the lead
ers OF some nations say, What Is
good for our nation is right, what
Is bad for our nation is wrong Our
country was shaped by men who had
respect for human personality, even
in its weakest form; faith in uni
versal brotherhood and in a common
God"
DR.. Brooks declared: The call
is clear. The spiritual forces OF
America must be keenly alive tC
| their responsibility and accounta-
bility to keep men and institutions
free, free not only from persecution
but free for service, for humanity
and for brotherhood The American
| heritage is of God who created al
that has blessed this Nation and It's
people in the past. The American
goal Is to create and build a just
order and ideal society. true COM
monwealth.
Rabbi Gerstenfeld Makes Plea.
Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld Of the
Washington Hebrew Congregation
called on the religious forces Of
America to stand together in con.
secrated loyalty and self-discipline.
He saw it as duty Of deligior
today to speak out in the face o.
oppression and intolerance, to stanC
firmly for freedom to worship, il
which were implicit the other privi.
leges of free people America, "as E
people dedicated to religious free.
DOM" cannot fail the world in thi
| hour, he was convinced.
At this solemn moment in history
he said, we turn our hearts ant
prayers to Almighty God"
/ He prayed "as a united people We
may be true to the American cove,
nant of righteousness and God!
will
Churches Are Needed Now.
Presiding, DR.. Albert JOSEPH
Mccartney, pastor of the Covenant.
First Presbyterian Church anc
chairman of the Committee on Re
ligious Life in the Nations Capital
said; We are going to need oui
churches as never before-sanctua
( ries OF inner peace where We car
restore our shattered faith and re.
build our broken hopes. We mus
preserve them as a refuge from tht
violence of man. They must bt
maintained in the fullness of theil
power, as citadels of everything
real and endurlng-justice. honesty
mercy, purity, kindness and love
In them, alone, can We find tht
/ sure and certain palladium of the
Nations strength and virtue"
/ The service was opened with the
national anthem by the Navy Band
The Washington Choral Society, un.
der the direction of Louis Potter
! sang God of Our Fathers" Goo
the Omnipotent' and 20 God o.
Love"
4 This brief, impressive dedication
of the inauguration to divine power
was closed with the singing o.
America"
The service was broadcast ovel
Nationwide networks.