Evening star., 1942-09-11
Calls for Preaching
Of Cause Worth War
Young Minister Urges Clergy
To Promote Greater Faith
As Foundation for Victory

To the Editor OF The Star
simply cannot keep my silence any
longer. In The Star for September 7
there were two articles which should
have been published side by side. One
was news story which reported on the
pronouncement made by an eminent
Washington clergyman this past Sunday
that the pulpit should remain silent on
war issues. The other was Dorothy
Thompson's syndicated feature in which
she presented a letter from a soldier
that, she says, expresses typical plea
from our fighting men for an under
standing Of what they are fighting for.
Published with no relationship, could 1t
be that these two articles, when put side
by side, point to one of the primary rea-
sons for "the spiritual vacuum in which
this war is conducted?
Now am young minister, and it may
seem presumptious for me to voice my
opinion against another clergyman of
popular eminence and ripper wisdom; but
I am now at the point of impatience
when I am compelled to shout from the
housetops that it is high time for the
Younger members of the clergy to put an
end to their silence-maintained partly
out of respect, partly out of timidity-
and voice their conviction that the pulpit
is the place above all other places where
the profound issues of this war should
be preached If older members of the
clergy are going to imply by their silence
on these issues that Americas part in
this war has no spiritual foundation, the
Younger members won't keep their ST.
lence, especially when they hear their
own generation pleading: why are we
not given cause worth it alp"
1t is not because of this one clerical
pronouncement that I am provoked to
write this letter. 1t Is rather because
this pronouncement is in keeping with
the attitude which an alarming number
Of the ministry, and even official church
bodies of denominations, have assumed.
During the past months I have been
progressively amazed as this attitude has
been expressed. have finally arrived at
the conclusion that it is in large part the
cause for the confusion and lack of spirit
which together jeopardize to an alarm
ing degree our chances for victory.
Millions OF people in this country look
to their ministers for guidance and help
when their minds are troubled by the
problems which this war has brought
upon them. If instead of guidance which
would lead them to greater faith that
our cause Is right, they hear pronounce
ments that the pulpit must stand silent
upon the wars issues, that, indeed, it
stands neutral as regards its outcome,
then in Gods name, ask, what is the
mother in the pew to believe? Her son
keep silent upon that issue II there is
no spiritual cause which makes that pos
sible sacrifice worth while, then this wal
Is not worth one mothers son lost.
Can this lack of spiritual grounding
of our cause also be reason why multi
tudes of people take lightly the Govern
ment's urge to sacrifice, that servicemer
are filled with demoralizing skepticism
as to whether the way of life they have
seen in their lifetime Is worth fighting
for" as that young man confessed to
Miss Thompson?
That young man was absolutely right:
Something is lacking!" There has been
no spiritual leadership which would give
to the people the conviction that the
country in its prosecution of this war has
a real mission to perform. Instead, the
war is being prosecuted in cheap man.
| ner. Look at the slogans: Slap the
| Japs!" Kill the Japrats!" etc, which
| are eloquent in their testimony that the
| spiritual leaders have been silent and
left the fighting slogans to be fabricated
| by cartooniSts, comic-Strip artists anc
gag writers. Must we confess that ou,
people in this country must be fed such
adolescent appeals as these? Or can we
face the fact with intelligence and real.
ism and see that this war Is grim bust.
| ness which must be fought by men anc
women, and will be fought to victory il
men and women are given a fighting
slogan that makes it seem worthwhile
Give democratic people a cause ir
which they can have faith and theil
might will become invincible! 1t is faith
in the right that makes might. Fire the
imagination of the people with that sort
of faith and they won't have to bt
caJoled, prodded or forced into makine
sacrifices. Confront our servicemen will
that sort of faith and we won't have t.
be concerned about their morale.
That faith must be based upon tn,
belief that victory in war is absolutel,
necessary II we are to have at all thu
foundations upon which democracy vii
have its chance to reach its truer expires
sion. Let us tell the fighting man tha
he is not fighting for democracy as it i
but that he is fighting to give democrac,
real chance to become what 1t can be-
That faith must be based upon thu
hope that this war will prove a lont
stride forward in the ending of all wars
Just because of our bitter disillusionmen
over the last wars slogan, we can't affort
to let our men be demoraliZed by th
thought that this is just another war
"just another example of mans incom
petence." This war can end war If W
at home keep faith with our men afte
they win the victory And our men mus
now have the faith that we will!