Evening star., 1950-07-30
The Week in Religion

tian missionary enterprise nangS
in the balance in various parts OF
the world today.
The advance of communism
poses the No. l threat to the fu-
ture of mission activity, a situa-
ton thrown into sharp focus by
current developments in the
Orient, notably in China and
Korea.
Another danger is the stress on
nationalism in various countries
which have attained political in
dependence. The possible result
might be to curtail the right to
preach and propagate the gospel
unless Christian forces exert spe-
cial efforts to safeguard full re-
ligious liberty.
Both problems figured promi-
nently In the news of religion
during the past week. At To-
ronto, Canada, the Central Com
mittee of the World Council OF
Churches laid emphasis on the
vital Importance" of incorporat-
ing adequate guarantees OF re-
ligious liberty within national
constitutions.
Indian Safeguard Praised.
It expressed qualification over
the recent enactment of such con-
stitutional safeguards in various
countries, notably India. All gov
ernments were urged when draft
ing or amending constitutions OF
laws to secure for all people
within their jurisdictions the
fundamental right of religious
freedom"
At Princeton, N. j.. DR.. Toyo-
hike Kagawa, famed Japanese
Protestant leader. said that Chris
tianity is now engaged in a life
and death struggle with COM
NUNS min East Asia.
At Whitby. Ont. Miss Sarah
Chakko, secretary Of the commits
sion on the Life and Work OF
Women in the Church Of the
the World Council of Churches
told the Christian Youth Commis-
sion that the Christian Church
must give "a clear answer to the
Communists and totalitarianism. u
There are two groups in Asia,
the hungry and the idealists." SHIT
said. Communism cannot be
overcome by theory. Therefore. 1t
must be answered by facts and by
demonstrating that religion sat-
isfles the demand for social JUS
tice."
Bishop Moore Concerned.
A further warning came from
Methodist Bishop Arthur ]
Moore of Atlanta, who said al
Lakeside, Ohio, that if Russia
dominates the world mot only will
peace and freedom be imperilleo
but Christianity, with its guard
ianship of human values, will be
seriously weakened"
Bishop Moore declared that I'll
atheistic communism prevails in
the world or in any large part OF
1t, the human race will be more
seriously wounded than 1t could
be by any other system of eco
nornics or politics. however bad. u
Conflicting opinions continue to
becloud the situation in China.
Some churchmen say the Comnau-
mist government there Is simply
tolerating the Christian Church
as a temporary expedient. and
that the future for missionary
work looms dark. Others main
tain that the work of the church
will go forward.
The Methodist Federation for
Social Action was told at its an
nual meeting at Xenia, Ohio, that
the new government of China has
not interfered with the Christian
religion there.
DR.. Porter Lauds Mao.
DR.. Lucius Porter, who was born
in China and spent IA years
teaching there, spoke, favorably o1
Mao Tsetung's government. HI
praised "the army Of liberation
which led to its creation. But HI
declined to call the new govern
ment Communist.
A dispatch from Shanghai re-
vealed that a series of conference!
was held in Peking between higf
government officials and Christian
leaders, with Premier Chou En-
lai presiding. He is reported tt
have given assurances that foreign
personnel working in China, sucf
as missionaries, teachers and doc
tors can stay. He was cautious
however, on the matter OF admit
ting additional foreign missionary
a4,~rY