Askov American., 1942-06-18

fish. So can any love, even home
love or child love. Love of coun-
-patriotism-can also be as noble
as any human love. My patriotism
goes to the very depths of my life. !
want to express it in every reasonable
way in this emergency. have signed
for civilian defense. AS your min
ister I will do everything in my
power to make this church source
of strength to all that is good in
the United States.
The objective which Christians
should seek in this struggle is not
mere victory. Military victory has
been futile in the past; it can be
futile again. We seek a peace which
will establish powerful machinery
to regulate the political and economic
life of the world, backed by all the
strength of our government.
What is the business of the church
in the present crisis?
We shall see that the church car
ries forward its usual basic pro-
gram. Meetings will be held as
regularly scheduled in normal times,
as far as possible. Activities will not
be limited unless they prevent our
full cooperation with the govern
ment. Worship has continued in
Great Britain even when bombs fell.
1t will continue in this church what
ever comes. The world needs the
message of the church as it has never
needed it, and we will keep out the
sign, worship as usual" The gos-
pei will be preached. We shall not
decrease, we shall increase our serv-
ice at home and abroad.
And we shall endeavor to make
our church an element of strength
in protecting the innocent sufferers
from war. In days to come minority
groups may be denied civil liberties;
these minority groups must be given
our support, that the very liberties
for which we fight are kept alive.
We must endeavor to see that racial
groups who are loyal Americans do
not suffer because their ancestors
came from country with which we
are now at war. I have presented
the plight of the Nisei-second gen.
Grafton Americans of Japanese des-
cent-to three Boards of this church.
A group of these young people who
are Christian students at the Univer-
sity have for some time met in Ply
mouth House on Sunday evenings.
Our Boards have unanimously and
cordially assured these young people,
who are suffering so much these
days, that we are happy to have
them continue to meet with us as
usual War victims abroad have al
ready been served through the war
committee of our denomination, and
our gifts will grow in generosity and
sacrifice as our experience of war
comes closer.
The church as an institution must
seek every available avenue of ma
tional service. 1t must remember
its soldiers and their families, on
whom the burden of these days falls
heaviest. Our Trustees have Of
fered our building to the Mayor for
any use to which it can be put for
civilian defense. Rooms in Pilgrim
Hall have been used this past year
for Red Cross work; in the time to
come they will be used daily and
more extensively. Our gifts to the
Committee for War Victims and
Services brings us an opportunity
to put money into the hands of chap
lains for emergency use for the boys,
for the purchase of communion sets
for their chapels, and for aid to
churches located near army camps.
Many service men will be located
in or passing through this area.
should examine what service it can
render to these men-many of whom
will sail out of the Golden Gate
never to return. We must draw
closer to the families in the church
who have men in the service. 1t is a
time to bear one another's burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ.
We will not forget those to whom
the demands of conscience bar some
avenues of national service. Such
are among us. We honor, protect
and love them. We cannot be true
to the God who they believe has led
them to their conclusions, and do
less. We will have room at our
altar for the soldier and the con-
scientious objector. I like the way
British soldier put it when he heard
someone damning pacifists. "But
the right of men to obey the dictates
of their consciences," said the soldier,
'is one of the things for which Brit
ain is fighting" So also America
fights!
nE A.0