Evening star., 1947-08-03
Disciples Of Christ
Oppose Compulsory
Military Training
By Cospor Nonnes
Sxm. Sx~eS


BUFFALO, N. Y, Aug. 2.-Oppo-
sition to peacetime compulsory mill
tary training was voted today by the
Disciples Of Christ at the final busi-
ness session Of their Oath interna-
tional convention.
The meeting will officially close
tomorrow afternoon when a joint
communion service with the Third
World convention of the Disciples
Of Christ will be held. The latter
gathering, representing IA countries
in addition to the United States and
Canada, will convene tomorrow
night with an address by George
H. Stewart of Winnipeg, Canada,
president Of the body.
Feature of the opening session
will be a pageant of the flags and
the roll call of Nations" directed by
Mrs. ]. Warren Hastings of Wash
ington, wife of the pastor of the
National City Christian Church.
Approve Debt Payment Fund.
The convention today passed a
resolution calling on the churches
and individual members of the Dis
ciples brotherhood throughout the
country to unite in raising 100000
to eliminate the remaining debt on
the National City Church.
In presenting the motion, Oreon
E. Scott of St, Louis, president of
the National City Christian Church
Corp, declared the church, dedi-
Gated in October, 1890. has rem
dered an unusual service to our
people in this Nation"
Reviewing the efforts made
through II years to liquidate an
original cost of 81, ,500,0 900, Mr.. Scott
pointed out the church now has
an Indebtedness of $4,000. OF this
amount, he noted, $65, 900 has been
pledged, leaving only $4,000 to be
raised.
DR.. Hastings Halls Action.
DR.. Hastings said, II am very
happy the convention has voted to
wipe cut the debt on the National
City Christian Church. The action
Is a great inspiration to our people
in Washington. There is no doubt
the debt will be completely gone
by December 81, 1947."
Earlier he had pointed out the
church was the national church of
the denomination and as such had
rendered great service in the Ma
Jion's Capital.
The resolution opposing peace
time military training also con-
demned the use of public funds by
the military to influence legislation
and public opinion in its behalf. It
further voiced alarm at the appoint
ment of professional military men
to high Offices in civilian admin
istration at home and abroad" as
giving undue influence to military
trained men in our international
relationships.
Urge Amnesty for Directors.
Motions calling for a general
amnesty to persons convicted of
violation of the Selective Service
Act Of 1910 because of conscience
and urging the elimination of seq
regation by reason of race or color
also were passed.
In the former instance the resolu-
ton noted that approximately 1000
meen still were imprisoned because
of conscientious opposition to COM
pulsory military service. President
Truman was urged to proclaim
general amnesty for them and the
$4,000 others released after serving
sentences so they may regain their
civil rights.
The segregation motion denounced
fthe pattern of segregation in race
relations as unnecessary and un-
desirable and in violation of the
gospel of love and human brother
hood"
The growing tendency of Protes-
tant Church denominations toward
union was brought to the fore today
when the convention authorized its
Association for the Promotion of
Christian Unity to explore the posi-
bilities of affiliation with the prob
able unification of the Evangeli-
cal, Reformed and Congregational
Christian Church bodies in the next
few years. The association will re-
port its findings to a future meet
ing of the international convention.
Controversial Issue Delayed.
Further support of the unity con-
cept for Protestant churches was
voiced in the approval of a recon-
mendation asking the Federal Coun-
Gil of Churches of Christ in Ameri-
ca "to develop a plan to correlate