Laurel outlook., 1946-05-08
SUFFERING, NEEDS OF
EUROPE ARE TOLD BY
RETURNED CLERGYMAN

lILlUHWLU UlLHUI nHlV
Lately returned from Europe,
Rev. C. o. Anderson, pastor of Our
Savior's Lutheran church and for
the past five years a member of
the army's chaplain service, said
Tuesday at a meeting of the Rotary
club that he doubted whether Presi-
dent Truman and many other Amer
leans have a complete understand
ing of the terrible suffering which
most of Europe is now experience
ing from lack of food and other
necessities of life. The speaker
based his remarks on what he had
seen and had learned from others
making a personal survey of the
situation.
Rev. Anderson was in Italy two
years and was connected with the
army's general hospitals when they
were receiving a constant stream
of wounded soldiers. Everyone, in
Guiding the chaplains, worked many
hours each day. The speaker elo-
quently praised the doctors and
medical science for their extraordi-
nary achievements in saving lives
and preparing men for return to
normal life.
Living conditions are utterly ter
rible in Italy, he said. The black
market runs riot, and some suspect
that the government itself is a
participant.
He often visited a Protestant or
phange there where he found that
frequently for several days the
food consisted of dark bread and a
little milk.
Rev. Anderson was one of sever
al clergymen invited to visit Switz-
erland, an opportunity he accepted.
The change in living conditions was
Immediately observable after cross
ing the border; trains were immac-
ulate and on time, and the people
appeared to be in good condition.
The object of the visit was to
attend a meeting of the World
Council of Churches in Geneva,
which also was the seat of the old
League of Nations. The Leagues
many buildings, representing mil
lions in money, are now empty
except for a library. The visitor
pondered on whether it would have
been better for world peace to
have spent the money for relief
rather than sinking it in buildings.
The session of the World Council
of Churches, the real purpose of
the visit, brought clergymen and
together from many coun-
tries. The council had been pro-
~visionally formed just before the
war, and without hesitation it be-
gan to function when the war start
ed and has continued to do so in
the prevailing postwar emergency.
A moving founding spirit was a
representative of the Church Of
England who was joined by repre-
of other creeds.
The council is imbued with the
intention of bringing practical as
we'll as spiritual relief to the suf-
fering millions, and to this end
is representatives travel extensive
over Europe and Asia for first
land information which they trans
nit in written reports to the coun- |
ii. The desperateness of the far !
lung situation is appalling. AS an
Example, Rev. Anderson read a few E
ines from a council report he had /
home. 1t discussed condi- E
ions in n zone, and a sentence ;
aid that in that zone all children
,orn in 1915 and 1916 will die. /
Another line spoke of 100 births (
nd 5000 deaths in a given period. z
The speaker said the need for
God is so desperate it is beyond
e~scription. He added that Amer
"a may find herself loved or hated
n future for her aid or failure in
he time of great need.
The council is succeeding to some
in giving practical relief, but
he need is greater than its present
esources. Without goods, food,
sanitation and shelter,
loney can do little in areas where
lere is nothing. The physical ma
have to be moved in, and
this there is danger of loss from
lfering by needy persons through
hose hands the supplies have to
ass in ordinary channels. Delivery
some items is made by messen-