The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-06-06
Practical Religious
Insights To Support
Settlements Needed
Rev. DR.. John c. Walker Advocates Special Religious
Advisory Council Be Set Up Now, Not at Wars
End; Churches United in Calling for Peace
Based on Moral, Religious Principles

that religion and religious leaders
must be relegated to the back
ground. If people contend that reli-
gious influences should properly be
left to the delegates themselves, we
wonder If they remember how such
spiritually animated men as
Woodrow Wilson and Lord Cecil
could get nowhere when confronted
with the selfish realism Of the other
delegates at Versailles?
The fear Is growing that the
Third World War Is In the nakding
The most desperate efforts must be
made If we are to avert the occur
renee Of world catastrophe. If God
fearing men and women actually
believe what they say about their
faith, they must certainly insist
that humane, moral and spiritual
ethics preail at the time Of the peace
settlement. Is there any hope that,
by some shadowy kind of remote
control and by bowling out of the
picture, they can make their in
fiuence feltP Is 1t not reasonable
to suppose that If sound, practical
religious insights are needed to I'M
dergird peace settlements, outstand-
ing religious leaders should be avail
able for advice and counsel?
The large and growing number of
lay and clearical leaders Of all faiths
who stand behind the plan for such
a religious advisory council or COM
mission as advanced by William
Montgomery Bennett of Woodbury.
are determined that this subject
shall be kept very much to the fore.
1t Is believed that the people of
the churches and men of good will
everywhere will support the plan
with enthusiasm and see to 1t that
1t Is put into effect-if only a great
er number of responsible leaders in
the churches can be brought to the
point where they viii ltake cour-
ageous standing demanding imple-
mentation Of the plan by our gov
eminent.
Some people seem to feel that a
religious advisory council would get
no where as an effective force in
peace making. To resolve their fears
and reassure themselves that the
plan is workable, they have only to
read the article released by Religious
News Service setting forth the start
ling accomplishments of the legisla-
tive committee Of the New York
State Council Of Churches, which for
seven years has been functioning at
Albany. Composed of six clergymen,
of as many denominations, and four
laymen, the committee works closely
with the governor, state officials and
the lawmakers, seeking to influence
legislation solely by education and
moral suasion, on bills affecting the
life of the church in the state, social
problems. child welfare, child labor,
gambling, liquor and the general So
cial well being Of all citizens. The
Albany committee has successfully
done on a statewide basis what the
proposed religious advisory commits
sion would accomplish with equal
success on an international basis.
The Protestant Episcopal church
has officially called on the president
of the United states and the state
to make effective ar
for bringing Christian
principles into the peace through
by leaders of the rec
ognized churches of America: that
church has also certified the pro-
posal to the World Council Of
Churches by means of a resolution
at its general convention requesting
the World Council to take such steps
as may be necessary to insure that
Christian principles are brought to
bear upon any peace settlement"
1t is hoped that other religious Or
will soon take like &C
ton.
Unlike conditions on previous &C.