Evening star., 1952-11-16

tlon lies the real danger to our
country.
Fundamental Obligations
Of a Religious People
Although there have been
many evidences of the weaken
ing of religion among our people,
In recent times there have been
unmiStakable signs of a renewed
religious interest. The number
of religious books which have at
tanned wide circulation, the fire.
quent serious discussion OF re-
ligious topics in the daily papers
and influential periodicals, the
reported increase everywhere in
church attendance, the frequent
and effective use of radio and
television for religious programs
all these are encouraging
signs. Moreover the vitality of
the religious tradition in our
country has recently been at
tested by the Supreme Court.
when in its majority opinion it
stated that I'VE are a religious
people whose institutions pre-
suppose a Supreme Being" and
when it declared that when
the state encourages religion in
struction or co-operates with re-
ligiouS authorities it follows
the best Of our traditions.
But our best religious tradi-
tions are not fulfilled by mere
theoretical acknowledgment of
religion as a possible aid in
solving our problems. nor by a
perfunctory attendance at Sun
day devotions, or even by a stiff
bow on the part of Government
in the general direction of God.
If our country is truly religious,
the influence Of religion will
permeate every part of our ma
tional life. The state will not
merely tolerate religion; it will
honor and welcome it as an in
dispensable aid in building the
complete good life of its citizens
much as the influence of re-
ligion has been welcomed in our
armed forces.
In its internal and external
affairs the state will uphold,
and it will expect its citizens
and it's officials to uphold, that
standard of morality which
flows necessarily from belief in
God and in Gods law. From its
own officials and employees it
will demand an even Stricter
observance of the moral stand
ard than it can enforce upon in
dividual citizens or business
institutions. In dealing with the
latter, the state is often using
its police power, rightly re-
stricted by constitutional and
other legal guarantees. In the
case Of public servants the state
is dealing with individuals
whose public employment is
conditional on their honesty,
their honor, their truthfulness,
their efficiency and their devo-
ton to the national welfare and
the public good.
Religion requires that justice,
tempered by charity, must pre-
vail in the states legislation and
policy relative to economic
groups. It will also inspire and
guide the employer in the full
fillment of his duties towards
his employees in the spirit Of
justice and charity. In the work.
ingman's struggle for his
rights, the religious conscience
of the Nation was not among
the least of the forces that sus-
tanned him. Now that those
rights have been largely vim
dicated. religion still insists on
his responsibility to his en-
ployer and to society in the
achievement of a right economic
solidarity.
Religion will lead a nation
not only to hold forth its
bounty to the needy Of other
nations but also, in a spirit Of
charity and justice, to do its
part to alleviate the plight of
the homeless and dispossessed
Of other lands.
A religious people is a people
which prays. If the spirit of
religion has declined in our
times. it is bacause many. i'm
mersed in worldly pursuits,
have ceased to pray. Most
earnestly, therefore, we urge a
return to a life sanctified by
prayer. But prayer itself can
be effective only when it is the
fruit of calm and ordered re-
Election on the great spiritual
realities which underlie our
whole existence. Once the OPP
portunity of such reflection was
afforded largely by the reverent
observance of Sunday, the day
of the Lord. We call upon our
people to return to the proper
religious observance of the
Lords day and the practice Of
family-prayer.
1t is a cherished tradition for
our Government to call its citi-
zens to prayer and public wor-
ship. Too often the proclama-
ton of days of prayer, tradi-
tional in our country, has come
to be regarded by many as q
pious formality. The realization
of the immeasurable benefits we