Evening star., 1944-06-08
Spiritual Renaissance
ColIed Key to Peace
But Deeds Must Follow Prayer,
Writer Emphasizes
By David LasCyence .

BY Dapid laurence
There was q distinct difference IN the
mood Of the American people between
Monday and Tuesday Of this week. On
one day the Nation went about its
affairs as usual. On Tuesday there was
tension, anxiety, worry, and at night an
extraordinary thing happened - the
President Of the United States led the
people in prayer, communicating It to
tens Of millions by means Of the radio
networks
Back of that simple change Of mood
within "A hours is the key to the future
behavior OF nations, the future steps
that must be taken II the next war Is
to be prevented. For In that single day
the Nation recognized the Importance
OF spiritual help Again and again
among individuals in the hour Of stress
or crisis or tragedy, the inclination is
to petition Divine Providence for
strength to meet the trials that cause
human anguish. When q nation as a
whole, however, turns toward the
spiritual, something of transcendent
significance has occurred.
Only the Beginning.
The Presidents prayer was well
written and eloquent. But 1t was only
the beginning the frst In what
must be series Of steps. Many Of the
other prayers uttered here-such as, for
instance, that which was given by the
chaplain of the Senate, the Rev. Frank
Harris-were somewhat broader. He
prayed not for victory alone but for
the misguided enemy peoples. repeating
the scriptural plea, Forgive them, for
they know not what they do.'
Basically, however, prayer In its high
est sense u not just q plea for help
for oneself. It Is two-way circuit.
The individual asks for help but he
must at the same time seek guidance SO
he can do something TO deserve aid.
The individual who does not change his
own life, who continues In the pursuit
Of selfish interests and individual gain
without thought Of his fellow man, or
who asks God to Judge his cause favor
ably without at the same time examfa-
ing his own conscience and his ogn
errors, is not getting the true meaning
Of prayer.
The same Is true of q nation. The
American people are praying to God for
victory, for success In arms, for the safe
return Of the fine young men who are
fighting overseas. But are the same
Americans who pray SO fervently pledg-
ing themselves to course OF action in
the future that will make them deserv-
ing Of the victory they so earnestly
crave today?
Are the leaders of the people. the
Republicans and Democrats, the execu-
tives and the administrators, the legis-
lators and the judges. the men and
| women who lead In civilian life, ready
TO accept their primary responsibility
II victory does conner Or are they
going to slip back to the selfish attitude
which asks In annoyance whenever q
| problem Of human brotherhood arises:
Am my brothers keeper"
| The world has seen war after war
begun because of the rivalry of COM
mercial interests or because one nation
seeks revenge from another or because
the economic poverty of conquered
people is allowed to drift to the point
where, In desperation, the leadership of
vicious dictators Is accepted by the
masses as an alternative to destruction.
What pledges are the American people
making today that they will not allow
conditions to arise anywhere In the
world which can lead to another world
war and its inevitable aftermath-eco-
nomic distress for millions OF innocent
noncombatants.
Prayer is only q reflection Of the
mood OF the individual or the Nation
at the moment. Unless 1t is accom-
panied by resolution to alter ones own
life, to live In humbleness instead of In
an aggressive or selfish egotism, to meet
honestly and courageously the problems
of everyday life, prayer can be Just
words-idle words glibly spoken in re-
sponse to the artificial stimulus of
some one else's voice or urging.
Prayer that is mere abstraction-a
prayer to get help without giving Of
ones life or ones energy to the service
OF Gods not meaningful To the mil
lions Of persons who have prayed daily
long before D-day began, who have
come to understand the need of an ad-
1ustment to Gods purposes, the Idea Of
prayer Is full of meaning and full Of
comfort. If somehow the whole Nation
could be led again and again in prayer
over the networks there might be hope
| for that spiritual renaissance of thu
whole world which is so essential to the
winning Of victory and the attainment
of real peace.
| (Reproduction Rights Reserved)