Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-15
Baptists Urge Tighter
Laws on GAMBLING
And Use OF Narcotics
By Casper Names
Star Sfeff Correspondent

~'~' S'Si' ~StfSSPVtsoSW
BUFFALO. N. Y, June Is
The American Baptist Convention
today passed a resolution urging
local, State and national legisla-
tive bodies to pass new laws, where
needed, to provide for a more
adequate basis" for prosecution Of
gambling and bribery tieups be-
tween gamblers and public
officials.
E Declaring the Nations con-
science has been sickened by re-
cent exposures of the United
States Senate Crime Investigating
Committee hearings, the motion
condemned "legalized race track
wagers, betting on athletic events,
lotteries. bingo" and all gambling
activities. 1t further commended
members of the Senate Crime In
vestigating Committee for "ac-
lively promoting the cause of
social righteousness and govern
ment" through the recent investi-
eating hearings.
Another motion approved byI
the 5000 delegates, representing
more than is million Americana
Baptist Convention members de-
manded that sellers of narcotics,
particularly to school children, be
given jail sentences rather than
fines.
Want End of Segregation.
Still another resolution called
on Baptist churches to move
more rapidly toward the estab-.
lishment of completely non-segre-
gated institutions within our fell
lowship."
Another resolution urged Con-
gresS to continue a strong low
rent public housing program I'M
til adequate housing for the Ma
tion's families has been provided.
DR.. Kenneth S. Latourette, pro-
fessor of missions and Oriental
history at Yale University, was
elected today to succeed DR..
Edward Hughes Pruden of Wash
ington as president of the denom-
nation. DR.. Pruden had been
asked to accept another nominal
ton as president. but refused as
his church, the First Baptist of
Washington. is having its l50th
anniversary next year and is push
ing strongly ahead in an effort to
start work in 1852 on its pro-
posed new 81 million church. Flee
tons will be held today.
Other Officers Elected.
Other officers elected in
clude w. D. Wight, Idaho Falls,
Idaho, first vice president; Mrs.
H. w. Smith, Ardmore, Pa, Sec
ond vice president, and j. H. Ma
son, Brooklyn, treasurer.
DR.. Pruden was elected to
serve on the board of man
ayers of the Foreign Mission So
ciety; DR.. Clarence w. Crawford,
pastor of Calvary Baptist Church,
Washington, on the board of
managers, Home Mission Society,
and DR.. E. O. Clark. pastor of
Chevy Chase Baptist Church. on
the council of missionary CO.
operation.
DR.. Benjamin E. Mays of At
lanta, Ga, president of MorehouseE
College, for Negroes, charged last
night that there was more racial
prejudice in the churches than in
the Keater or secular world. /
TT is happening fairly often
that business concerns are drop
ping the color bar" DR.. Mays told
a mass meeting of the denomina-
ton. THE sport world has
dropped the color bar. The
theaters are more democratic in
their interracial behavior than
many churches. The public |
schools. colleges and universities
of the North are possibly far
ahead of the churches in inter-
racial behavior and practices.
I'm the South it has been in
the main non-church agencies
that have spearheaded movements
that are breaking down segrega-
ton through Supreme Court &C.
ton. It will be a sad commen-
tary on the home church if it is
to be the last bulwark of segrega-
ton in the community"