The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-16

hood of God and the brotherhood of men"
 In support of the principle of racial equality, the statement em- phasized the announcements of the Christian scriptures, the findings of science, and the concept of de- mocracy as expressed in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.
 The statement was prepared by a committee of the Negro members of the commission on the church and minority peoples, under the chairmanship of pr. Benjamin E. Mays, president of Warehouse col- lege, Atlanta, Ga, who was recently elected vice-president of the fed- eral council of Churches. The other members of the committee are pr. Charming H. Tobias, secretary of Colored Work of the National Council of the YMCA, Dr. Charles H. Wesley, president of Wilberforce college, and Miss Olivia P. Stokes, associate director of the Baptist Educational Center of New York.
 Urging ministers and church lead- CTS to take the lead in preventing a recurrence of the race conflicts which followed the last World War, the Negro churchmen warned that too many of the present and post war interracial proposals are nega- tive in character. They aim to keep down race riots by having the armed officials of the law on the alert without seeking first to remove the causes that make for conflict"
 Church leaders should call upon governors, chiefs of police, mayors and other civic officials, asserted the statement, and urge them to be just and humane in their treatment of all soldiers now and when they re- turn to their respective communities after the war, and during the period of readjustment and rehabilitation.
 In answer to the contention that the time is not ripe to make changes the churchmen said:
 "To the Minister of Christ the time is always ripe to correct a wrong. Ministers, both Negro and White, must do more than urge Negroes, Jews and other racial min critics to be patient. They must urge that all of us begin now, and con- tinue after the war, to make changes that make for justice, democracy, ana brotherhood. The time is ripe now to- equalize educational and work opportunities; to administer justice in the courts; to give the bal lot equally to all citizens, irrespec- tive of race; to provide opportuni- ties for all to live in a healthy en- vironment; and to guarantee equal access to healti- and disqualification. '
 As specific steps in the promotion of better racial relations, the state nlent urged church leaders.
 to endeavor to bring the power of public opinion and civic pressure to bear upon inequalities ir. education, in housing, health and recreation and against discrimination in the armed forces and in voting;
 to make known and available the facts about the contribution of the cclored people to our culture;
 to discourag ethe use of terms, which disparage minority groups, such as "nigger," "darky,' cracker, ;" 'Dago," Jap" etc.
 to invite members of minority rac- ial groups on an equal basis with other groups in the community, to meetings which concern the inter ests of the whole community.
 Among the signers of the state- ment are: Bishop w. Y. Bell of the Colored Methodist Episcopal church Cordele, Ga, Dr. M s. Davage of the Board of Education of the Meth odist church, Nashville, Tenn, Rev James w. Eichelberger. Secretary ot the Board of Christian Education of the A. M. E. Zion Church, Chi cago, H., Dean w. J. Faulkner oi Fiske University, Nashville; Bishop J. A. Gregg, of the A. M. E. Church Kansas City, Kans.; Dr. Gordon B Hancock, Professor of Sociology Virginia Union University, Rich- mond, Virginia; Dr. George E Haynes, Executive Secretary of the Race Relations Department of the Federal Council of Churches, New York; Rev. William Lloyd lines Pre- dent of Knoxville College Knoxville, Tenn; Dr. w. H. Jernag- in of the Fraternal Council of Negro Churches, Washington, D. C.; Mrs Josephine H. Kyles of the Washing ton Federation of Churches, Wash ington, D. o.; Bishop c. H. Phillips of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, Cleveland, Ohio; Rev. A. Clayton Powell, Pastor of the Abys- sinian Baptist Church, New York Bishop P. w. Wallace of the A. M E. Zion Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.