Evening star., 1942-10-17

It isn't easy for the Presider
prayer on December 7 would drar
the United States into the war, and
would serve as an occasion for the
churches to say something about the
moral and spiritual issues connected
with the war. On the other hand,
the Federal Council of the Churches
of Christ in America recently asked
the President to select January l. as
the prayer day. 1t will be recalled
that January of this year was OBJ
served as day of prayer upon proc
lamation of the President.
This week, however, a prominent
church editor called upon the Presi-
dent to set aside December 7 as an
occasion of prayer, fasting and re-
dedication. The appeal was made
by Clifford P. Morehouse, editor of
"The Living Church." Protestant
Episcopal publication, in an address
before the Church Club of New
York.
Mr.. Morehouse wants Americas
prayer day patterned after Britains
recent national day of prayer. He
suggested that a service similar to
that in Westminster Abbey be held
at some central place, perhaps the
National Cathedral in Washington,
at high noon on that day, and that
similar services be held by chaplains
at all Army and Navy posts. In
addition, Mr.. Morehouse urged that
the American public be requested to
gather in its churches and syna-
gogues, or to have appropriate COM
memoration at places of business, or
at civic and community centers at
the same hour on that day. The
church leader expressed the opinion
that the Nation would respond over
whelmingly to call to solemn
prayer and dedication on this an
niversary of the act that brought
thee United States of America into
this war"
The overwhelming national re-
sponse to the British day of prayer
was held to be especially significant
In view of the fact that September 3
was Weekday-not Sunday.
Protestant Conference.
Plans for the expansion of relief
work on behalf of continental
church leaders and for the recon-
struction of stricken European
churches were made in Geneva this
week at conference of five interna-
tlonally-knoWn Protestant leaders.
Inc contereeS were DR.. Adolph
Keller, director of the Central Bu-
reau Tor Interchurch Aid. who re-
turned to Geneva from the United
States; DR.. Samuel McCrea Cavert,
general secretary of the Federal
Council OF the Churches of Christ in
America; DR.. Wiser t Hooft, general
secretary of the World Council of
churches; DR.. Koechlin, president of
the Swiss Church Federation. and
Or. Marc Boegner, head of the
Protestant churches of France.
Just how DR.. Boegner managed to
get to Switzerland from France to
partlclpate in a conference which
included an American church leader
remains an acute mystery to officials
OF the Federal Council of Churches
mere: The only possible explanation
IS that the French churches are
stlH a force to reckon with. and
French church leaders are still their
own masters. 1t is also remembered
mat DR.. Boegner is a longtime
friend OF Marshal Henri Petain. and
a member of his advisory council.
one OF the questions discussed at
the Geneva conference was the CO.
ordination of the Central R1lreau
Tor Intercmrch Aid with the World
council OF Churches. The central
bureau, which has an office in New
YORK, collects funds from the yari-
Gus denominations. The funds are
distributed through the Geneva
ofnces to areas where the need is
greatest. Help is provided to
churches, church groups, individual
pastors and distressed congrega-
tional workers.
Faiths Cooperate in Canada.
A new development in the move
ment Tor cooperation and under
standing among Protestants. Catho-
!lcS and Jews, which is proceeding
IN the democracies, was reported
this week from Canada. The or
ganization of the Winnipeg Confer
ence OF Christians and Jews was
virtually completed by Protestant,
Roman Catholic and Jewish leaders
The Right Rev. Frank R. Wood
Catholic representative, pledged the
support of his co-religionists to the
movement
A Canadian Conference of Chris
tlans and Jews, largely centered in
Toronto, already exists, but up till
now it has been working without
Roman Catholic cooperation. The
leader of this group, DR.. c. E. Silcox
OF Toronto, who is well known to
United States Protestant leaders
was the guest speaker at the VIM
nlpeg meeting which launched the
interfaith organization.
Meanwhile, clue to the Vatican,s
attitude toward the growing move
ment for cooperation between
Catholics and non-Catholics in
meeting social and International