The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-09-01
GOVERNOR LAUDS
GREEK LOYALTY
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generous in the supporting and
building of this church.
That your Greek American
group has made itself an integral
and vital part of the life of this
community and of this state is to
be seen in the manner in which
the leaders in your church move
ment here-which is being so hap
PLY climaxed today - have been
and are taking an active part in
the civic life hereabouts.
The history Of the Greek Ortho-
dox Church is an important and
interesting story, and one familiar
to you all. 1t dates back almost
to the dawn of organized religious
worship and now, understand,
has an estimated membership of
over 100 millions and ranks third
in Christiandom. In the United
States alone a recent census of
Religious Bodies gave the Eastern
Orthodox churches a membership
of nearly 100000.
The early separation of the
Greek church from the Latin
church may be traced to the
founding of Constantinople and the
political divisions of the Roman
Empire. In the year 484 an es-
arrangement between the Latin and
Greek churches had appeared. 1t
was not, however, until the ninth
century that the "great schism"
began. Ignatius, patriarch of Con-
stantinople, had been deposed and
was succeeded by the learned Phe-
tius, who convoked a synod at Con-
stantinople and passed sentence OF
communication on the Bishop OF
Rome. He denounced as heresy the
addition of a certain Latin phrase
to the Nicene creed. This principal
doctrinal difference between the
GreekSGreek and Roman churches
wherein the Greek church insists
on the supremacy of the Father in
the Trinity; rejects the authority
of the Pope; and rules out the
word "purgatory," although your
creed indicates belief in a state
of purgation after death and IN
the efficacy of prayers for the
dead.
1t is a significant thing, think.
that the entire life of your church
here in Wilmington, from the in
ception of the idea to this corner
stone laying occasion has in ITS
entirety been during a period OF
time when our country has been
engaged in a Notwithstanding con-
flict. North Carolina has partlcl-
pated in this conflict and has made
large contribution of mlanpoWer'
material, and products. i n a l
means that you and all North Car
olinians have had a hand In the
general war effort. I think that
It is also significant that, with the
stress and strain of Wartlmes, you
have not only remembered your
church. your faith, and your Coo,
hit have during this trying PERIOD
also found the extra time and en-
ergy to erect temple OF worship.
But peace has come to all ma
tions now - the conquerers ana
the conquered - and guns are 81
lent for the first time IN many
months. The task ahead is one LOOK
ing toward universal peace ana
world prosperity. Education must
renlace brutality. Commerce ana
industry must succeed terror ana
cruelty. Dignity, decency, and hon
or have proven themselves and Will
again rule the world. AS you nave
been successful on your local pro-
ject here, your state Will be sue,
cessful in this postwar era, ana
YOUR nation will faithfully complete
it's tasks. This is true because gov
ernments begin with human beings
- lust such human beings as your
selves. The better the Individual
the better the government. 1t is
a heartening sign that some groups
of our individual citizens remem-
her God and look to the future as
they work desperately to take care
of the emergencies OF today.
The world now knows how gooo
we can be. You have a new concep-
tion of the power of your nation
and the extent to which it will
WELD a mighty arm for justice ana
right These past few years nave
given the world now standards -
American standards. America is
now largely judged by these stand
ards. The world will know If we
fail to meet the standards we our
selves have set for ourselves ano
for the world.