Evening star., 1948-10-08
Lutheran Report Hits
Communism in Urging
Action 10 Prevent War
BY Cospor Names
SAnx XfaH Sa.rssnondanA

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. s.-The
danger of war between Russia and
the United States will continue,
unless the intemperate voices Of the
molders Of public opinion and the
hysterta Of our people are calmed,"
the sixteenth biennial convention of
the United Lutheran Church in
America was told today.
The church body's Board of So
cial Missions, in a report, further
warned the gathering that the coun-
try's present mood can turn ANY
incident, no matter how insignifi-
cant, into a war" and asserted ut is
against this threat that we should
direct a program of action now"
Nothing that there are sharp
differences between the two coun-
tries, the report nevertheless de-
clared these basic differences need
not result in war-and. in fact,
cannot be resolved by war.
Communism has gained its
chance in Russia and Central
Europe only through the chaos and
impoverishment resulting from two
world wars" The report said, "A
third world war would almost GER
tainly result in the loss Of our own
democratic freedom, and in the dis
ruption and anarchy on which COM
munism grows
Methods Cited.
The report pointed out sharp
differences exist between Russia and |
the United States over commu-
nism's methods of spreading its
faith Through infiltration, fraud
and terrorism" in the division be-
tween "the Communist faith and
the Christian faith" and in the
suspicious of the Soviet leaders
because many policies and prac-
tices of the United States have not
been fully democratic and because
they have been promoted in an
intemperate and inconsistent man
ner."
A sound program Of co-opera-
ton between America and Western
Europe leading to speedy economic,
social, political and moral recovery
Is the best bulwark against Com
munist infiltration and terrorism"
the report added.
The church can help the fight
against war by challenging those
who say war Is inevitable" and |
those who urge "a preventive war"
with Russia, by speaking personally
or sending letters about the inter-
national situation to members of |
Congress; by supporting program
seeking sound democratic cooper
alton with other nations" and by
praying daily that the leaders OF
the nations may know and follow
Gods will"
ERP Support Urged.
Support of the European Recov-
cry program through Congressional
appropriations sufficient ito give
that program a chance of success
In fulfilling its purpose of feeding,
clothing and restoring the victims
Of war" also was advocated by the
report.
1t favored the Reciprocal Trade
Agreements Act "as a means of
helping the recovery of war-torn
countries and of furthering interna-
tional trade upon which in part
peace depends"
The convention yesterday ap-
proved a drive to raise $1,000, 200
for its colleges and seminaries. The
campaign which will last Is months,
will get under way January 1, 1850.
There are IA colleges and 10 SEM
tnaries sponsored by the church and
which will be affected by the drive.
DR.. Gould Wickey of Washington
was a member of the committee that
set up this program.
The Maryland Synod, to which
the 13 United Lutheran Churches
in the Washington area belong, will
have as its quota S275,000. Of this
amount, the apportionment for the
District area churches will be
$4,000.
DR.. Clarence c. Stroughton of
New York, executive director of the
Lutheran Laymen's movement for
Stewardship, last night called for
more "dissatisfied laymen" in the
church. He declared laymen are
too often satisfied, content, COM
Portable, easy, complacent in their
religion"
For the satisfied church, the
comfortable church, the church
that ministers to our ease is a
church that is dying or dead" he
asserted. The victories of faith are
with the unsa tisfied churches and
with the unsatisfied Christians"