Evening star., 1942-08-08

News that a growing irritation
with Gandhi has made itself 1eit
among British churchmen was
brought bv DR.. Walter Van Kirk, a
secretary OF the Federal Council OF
the Churches of Christ in America.
who returned by clipper this week
from a flve-week visit to Britain at
the invitation of the Archbishop OF
Canterbury. Van Kirk reported that
while the British churches are gen.
erally in favor of Indian 1ndepend-
ence. a number Of churchmen for
merlv sympathetic with Gandhl are
perplexed and disturbed over the
Mahatma's stand.
This feeling is also reflected IN the
attitude of many American church
leaders who are in a quandary over
the situation in India. American
churchmen have generally favored
independence for India. and they
have been attracted by Gandhls
philosophy of violence. But a
growing number of church leaders
feel that Gandhi Is being unreallstlc
in the face of japanese aggression.
And they fear not only for the future
of Incia if the japanese get loot
hold in the country, but also for the
future of the Christian Church'
They believe that once the Japanese
get into India they will try to stamp
out every Western influence, includ-
;nr the influence of Christianity, as
they have tended to do in every oc-
cupied area of the Far East.
The churches have a substantial
missionary enterprise in India
There are nearly 5000 Protestant
missionaries and more than 4,50(
] priests in the country, as well a.
numerous other religious workers
A total of $50 Roman Catholic mis-
sion stations and 21,121 Protestant
conversations are in existence. In
addition. more than so colleges
nearly 500 high schools and about
Is 900 elementary schools are oper-
ated under Christian auspices. Many
Of the clergy and religious workers
however, are native Indians, since II
has been the policy Of missionaries
to build up an indigenous church.
Although churchmen are con-
cerned mainly with the welfare Of
the Indian people and the freedom
of the country from Axis domina.
ton. they are also rejecting upon
the possible fate Of the Christian
Church in India.
Japan and Churches.
What happens to Christian mis-
sionary work in countries under Jap
anese control was outlined before
the International Convention o.
Disciples Of Christ which closed a.
Grand Rapids, Mich, this week. DR.
M. Searles Bates, special consultan'
on Far East affairs for the Foreign
Missions Conference Of North Amer
ica. discussed the effect of Japa'
nese victory upon the work OF thu
Christian Church. He said:
"If Japan is victorious. Christian
ity can exist within her empire onl,
as q docile servant of the military
totalitarian state, and no resumption
of missionary contact Is to be ex
pected. If the United Nations ar
successful, missionary work vii
again be possible In the occupied
areas and perhaps in Japan 1tsel1
with important adjustments to tn
national consciousness and war ex
perie1,ces Of the various peoples In
volved.'' /.
The extent to which the mission
ary enterprise and its future Is oc
cupying the attention OF churchmel
at this time is indicated by the fac
that missions held the center OF in
terest at the Disciples convention
one Of the major religious meeting
to be held this month
The emphasis upon missions wa
made in addresses. motion pictures
presentation of missionaries fror
various foreign fields and announce
ment that the United Christian Mis-
sions Society-the Disciples mis-
sionary organization-is now free {
debt.
It was also evident in the debate
almost the only debate OF the con
vention-over a controversial rese
luton on the evacuation and intern