Evening star., 1950-08-27
The Week in Religion
By RELIGIOUS News Service

growing prayer uOVcuucAt
FOR world peace is developing
among churches, religious groups
and individuals throughout the
country.
This movement has nothing in
common with the Communist
sponsored peace propaganda cam
paign. 1t is an earnest effort on
the part of religious people to
seek Gods guidance in the pres
ent world situation. If the church.
men want peace they do not want
1t at the price of injustice.
Prayers for peace and world
brotherhood are being said regu-
larly in Protestant and Roman
Catholic churches and in Jewish
synagogueS. Church leaders have
asked President Truman to set
aside q national day of prayer
and the President has said that
he Is considering the suggestion.
Joint Broadcast Is Urged.
Ministers and laymen of differ
ent denominations in Atlanta,
Ca, have urged Mr.. Truman to
set a 15-minute, all-network
broadcast conducted by a Prot
estant minister. a Catholic priest
and a Jewish rabbi.
Episcopalians in the Texas do
eese have instituted a continu-
Gus, 24-hour vigil for peace. A
diocesan committee has worked
out a schedule so that prayers
will be offered in at least one
Episcopal church during any hour
of the day or night until after
the Korean fighting has stopped.
In Oklahoma City, a continuous
prayer vigil for world peace and
Justice is being kept by prayer
groups from IS churches.
Sacramento, Calf, is now in the
middle of a 30-day prayer move
ment launched by the Sacra-
mento Ministerial Association.
The prayer period was officially
proclaimed by city officials.
Other Movements Advance.
Three prayer movements orig
mating separately in the Middle
West, the South and New Eng
land are gaining followers.
A volunteer prayer army
launched in Topeka. Kans.. is re-
ported to be spreading to other
parts of the Midwest.
AvorNn iv1 thn xynlNIY1tnn1s
prayer army volunteers need only
send a card to the movements
headquarters, Box Ill, Topeka,
giving name and address and in
dicating willingness to set aside
O few minutes every day for
prayers and meditation. This is
TO enable army headquarters to
mail members prayer requests and
suggestions. No dues or fees are
asked.
The Army's slogan is Prayer
Changes Things" Members are
asked to pray for these seven
aims:
Cd That Gods will be done to
bring peace and understanding
among men and nations.
CD For a worldwide spiritual
awakening that will cause multi
tudes to repent and turn to God.
90 For the leaders and armed
forces Of our and other countries
who are aligned to preserve de-
mocracy and personal freedom.
"a For our enemies, that they
might be led to the knowledge Of
truth and right.
(5l For individual strength and
peace Of mind.
60 For a spiritual unity Of be-
hevers that will transcend de-
nominational barriers and unite
all around the living Christ.
CD That revival might begin
with those who pray.
The second effort, the Prayer
Keys movement. was initiated In
Memphis, Tenn, by the Rev.
Israel H. Noe, rector of st. James
Episcopal Church. who obtained
the backing of many local congre-
cations.
The Prayer Keys movement is
designed to bring the power of
prayer to bear on turbulent world
affairs.
The prayer effort spreads in
chain reaction fashion. A Prayer
Key Is defined as a group Of seven
persons representing the seven
keys Of universal harmony. Each
Of the seven selects seven others
and becomes chairman of that
unit. The selected seven, in turn,
chooses still other groups of seven,
and so on.
AS friend wrote friend in dis
tant cities, Prayer Keys estab-