Evening star., 1950-01-08
This Week in Religion

Largest OF the youth gatherings
attended by more than 1000
delegates-was the fourth Nation
al Methodist Student Conference
at the University of Illinois at
which special message was read
from President Truman stressing
the Importance of the conference
theme, THE Christian Use of
Power in the Secular World"
The President lauded the con-
ference for performing a valu-
able service to the Nation in
studying ways in which Christian
principles can be brought to bear
on present threats to world peace
and other problems of the mod
ern world.
You can give important lead
ership," he told the students. lin
focusing attention on the spirit
ual values that must be inherent
in any form of permanent peace.
You can explore ways of revitaliz-
ing in day-to-day living the simple
but dynamic principles of Christ's
teachings. and thus help to COM
bat the destructive effects of frus-
tration, confusion and selfish ma
terialism" /
Oman Is Speaker.
Methodist Bishop G. Bromley
Oman of New York was one of
several prominent speakers who
discussed the need for making
Christian influence felt in politi-
cal, social and economic life.
The bishop declared that the
"channeling' of spiritual power is
not so much a matter of organi-
zation as of having within organi-
cations competent individuals who
are dedicated to the church and
who appraise all situations as
Christians. /
He cited as examples the work
of the World Council of Churches
Commission on international AZ
fairs in making creative contribu-
tions to international policies, and
the role played by churchmen in
the planning, drafting and adop-
ton of the United Nations dec
laration of human rights.
Asserting that students them
selves can do much toward chan
neling spiritual power. Bishop Ok
nam said that the Methodist Coun-
Gil of Bishops has a plan under
way to recruit so young Christians
each year, who, after proper train
ing, would spread the Christian
message as laborers in factories
and mines and as members of
labor unions.
Responsibility Discussed.
The individual Christian re-
sponsibility in secular affairs WAS
also discussed by Methodist Bishop
Hazen G. Werner Of the Ohio area.
who declared that "the sin of our
day is the sin Of living as If man
were enough, relegating God to q
place of unimportance"
Racial intolerance was one of
the major problems discussed at
the conference.
Dean Liston Pope of the Yale
University Divinity School said
that an adequate solution to the
problem called for putting the
principles of social justice into
active practice rather than merely
propagating "a simple philosophy
of good will to all men,"
A warning was sounded by DR..
Walter White, executive secretary
of the National Association for the
Advancement Of Colored People,
who stressed the dangerous effects
OF news Of racial discrimination IN
the United States upon the Ma
tion's reputation with peoples Of |
other lands.
Racial Prejudice Cited.
Racial prejudice was also a topic |
at the second triennial inter-
seminary conference held at Au-
gustana College, Rock Island, H., |
and the quadrennial meeting of |
the. Disciples of Christ Student |
Fellowship at Des Moines, Iowa.
At the Rock Island conference,
which was attended by 750 SEM
mary students from all parts of
the Nation, Kermit Eby, associate
professor of social science at the
University of Chicago, urged Prot
estants to end all traces of segre-
cation In their churches.
Speaking at the Des Moines
meeting, the Rev. Lawrence Bash,
Of Austin, Tex, said that hope
OF solving the problems involved
in racial prejudice lies with young
people under 80, who are open
minded on the question" He ad-
monished the 415 student dele
gates from 100 colleges and SEM
inaries, that when dealing with
racial prejudice they should speak
out with conviction atd state their
beliefs with enthusiasm as John
and Peter did"
At both the Rock Island and
Des Moines meetings delegates
heard appeals for Protestant unity
and for a greater spirit of Coop
Grafton among the. denominations |
In meeting common problems.
The strongest plea for Protes-