Evening star., 1942-06-06

the last day of the convention, after |
the delegates had refused to adopt |
three separate resolutions which |
would have committed the conven-
ton to support of the war effort.
The Presidents last-minute re-
quest to the convention is believed
to be the first of its kind ever placed |
before a major religious body. The |
convention met it by adopting a |
qualified statement on the war,
which said: I'VE express our willing
ness to do everything for the well
fare of our country, within the full
sanction of our individual con-
sciences, to achieve a Christian VIC
tory, and to secure for the world a
just and lasting peace, regardless |
of personal cost or sacrifice"
The Baptist convention was the |
third current major religious gath
ering at which the relationship of
the denominational body to the war
effort was subject of debate.
Presbyterians Debate War.
Prior to the Baptist action, the
General Assembly of the Presbyter-
ian Church in the United States,
meeting in Milwaukee. adopted
strong resolution in support of the
war, then reconSidered and rejected
it. The resolution described the war
as 'just and righteous" and asserted
that "our culture and historic faith"
are dependent upon its outcome.
The next day a demand was made
that the resolution be reconsidered
on the ground that it was contrary
to Presbyterian doctrine which
recognizes no sovereignty except that
Of God. The resolution was then re-
jected, the commissioners noting
that historic faith and Christianity
would survive no matter what might
be the outcome of the war" An
amended statement was adopted
which renounced militarism as
policy of the state, but which de-
scribed the war as a necessary con-
flict, and pledged the assembly to
pray and work for a righteous vic
tory and an enduring peace.
At the Southern Presbyterian
Convention in Knoxville a furry
over the war situation resulted at
routine business session, when a
telegram of greeting from the Pres
byterian Church in Canada was read
before the commissioners. Normal
ly, a courteous reply would have
been drafted. and the matter closed.
The Canadian message, however, re-
| ferred to the war as a crusade In
which North America was united in
a great effort against barbarism and
| infidelity. Objections from the floor
were raised, some commissioners as
serting that the wire placed the
Southern Presbyterian Church in
compromising position, since church
doctrine prevents the denomination
from becoming involved in political
matters. A proposed reply was sent
back to committee for redrafting.
Church Attitude.
| A prominent church leader, who
was an official commissioner to the
Presbyterian United States of Amer
ica General Assembly, a visitor at
the Presbyterian United States
(Southern) Assembly and in close
touch with the Northern Baptist
Convention, said that all three
groups were exceptionally sensitive
to being too completely identified
with any national cause"
This church leader described the
attitude of the three bodies some
what as follows: The function of the
church is different from that of the
state. The church must not beat
drums, nor must it feel obliged to
work up a war hysteria. Above all,
it must not be called upon to bless
war.
On the other hand, according to
this church observer, the religious
bodies expressed a readiness to do
all in their power to support the
Government-shorto of flag waving
to minister to members of the armed
forces and their people, to work for
the establishment Of permanent
world order and to maintain atti-
tudes of faith and confidence in the
| final outcome of the war.
Government OmClaS.
But Government officials, while
acknowledging the sincerity and
good purpose of the churches, fear
the Axis will exploit any anti-war
feeling which manifests itself among
religious groups. They believe this
factor has not been sufficiently
taken into consideration by church
leaders in expressing themselves on
the war effort.
A Government spokesman said
this week that the administration
recognizes the right of religious
groups to speak the truth as they
see it, but he pointed out that there
are occasions when there is need
for "economiZing" the truth. On
such occasions, he said, there exists
the responsibility not to speak out
ones full mind
Fear of Governmet presSare upon
church groups expressed itself at
the Northern Baptist Convention,
where a resolution was adopted up
holding the separation of church
and state lin refusal to become Gov
ernment agencies for war promo
ton programs" Last week the
Christian Century, widely inf1uen-
tial non-denominationa weekly,
charged that "there is no awareness
in Government circles of the fact
that the church is striving in the
present war to be the church in a
sense in which it failed to be the
church during previous wars"
| Particular target of this editorial
was the Treasury Department.
which was accused of putting
churches ION the spot" in connec-
ton with sales of War bonds. The
editorial appealed to the Govern
ment to withdraw its pressure upon
the churches and recognize how
near it comes in its present pro-
cedure to a violation of the Amer
ican principle of the separation Of
church and state"
OFF Acts on Hate.
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