Evening star., 1942-09-26
Religious Education
Week 10 Be Opened in
Churches Tomorrow
Special Services to
Be Held Throughout
District and Nation

Religious education week, SpOn-
sored originally as Protestant
event, Endorsed by the Roman Cath
clio weekly, America, and approved
by President Roosevelt. will be
widely observed in Washington and
throughout the Nation beginning
with services in thousands of
churches tomorrow morning.
Rally day will be celebrated not
only by Sunday schools with pro-
motions in many institutions, but
also by special church services.
President Roosevelt, in a letter
TO Dr.. Roy G. Ross. general secre-
tary of the International Council of
Religious Education, co-sponsor of
the week in cooperation with 40
Protestant denominations, 30 State
and SO city councils of churches,
stressed that "the spiritual liber-
ties of mankind are in jeopardy"
He pointed to the influence of the
scriptures in the early days of the
republic.
Urges Teaching for Young.
1--WE shall need all our spiritual
resources to sustain us in the days
to come" wrote the Chief Executive,
"We are at war with the forces OF
evil abroad, but this does not re-
heve us of the responsibility of eter-
nal vigilance at home. The young
must be taught and they must be
taught truly if the spring-Waters
of democracy are to be kept un-
tainted"
Emphasis will be given during the
week to the encouragement OF
spiritual training in wartime, par
ticularly in defense area communi-
ties, including the National Capital,
headquarters of the war effort.
The Catholic weekly declared that
observance of the week should ex-
ert real influence on the religious
consciousness of the country"
Need for Christian education here,
particularly for adults, was stressed
by DR.. Frederick E. Reissig, new ex-
ecutive secretary of the Washington
Federation of Churches, who was in
stalled this week.
Christian Education Stressed.
"All across America. beginning to-
morrow, emphasis of the churches
for the week will be on Christian
education" he said in an interview,
mot only in the field of children and
youth, but also in the greatly ne
elected area of adults.
1.-THE church must always be ready
TO utilize the most effective educa-
sional methods available for its
program of education of its total
constituency. The church dare not
be satisfied with the use Of Sunday
slone for these purposes, although
most churches could make more eff
iective use of this day, but it must
provide educational opportunities
during the week for all ages. Democ-
racy depends on vital religious life.
Vital religious life depends on the
churches. Let every church in these
days rise to its fullest stature OF
spiritual ministry.
Demands Increase.
"Never in the history of the Cap
Hal have such heavy loads been
placed on the shoulders of its re-
iigious forces. The churches and
their ministers are not, however,
throwing up their hands despair
!ngly, but are buckling down to the
tasks with a grand spirit. They feel
that in these days and in the face
of the needs they must work together
more than ever before. The Fedora
sion of Churches, therefore, is hav'
ing increasing demands made upon 1t
"The federation stands ready anc
equipped to aid the churches in then
specific local tasks, but it is neces'
kary also to call upon the ministry
and lay leaders to serve on the Fed
Grafton of Churches commissions
boards and committees, in order tina
the broader church and communit.
needs may be met.
THE Federation of Churches
which is the cooperative Protestan
agency, seems to have been born 10
such a time as this. The federation
Is responsible for bringing repre-
sentatives of all the denomination
together into a commission on re
search and church planning in orde
that the new housing development
may be provided with prope
spiritual ministry and that the con
gested areas may be cared for prop
erly. This is church craftsmanship