Evening star., 1952-05-20
National City Church
To Start Work in 50
On S75O,OOO R:::::''a.lly
BY Cospor Nonnes
Stur StoH CORRESPONDENT

S~' ~'S' ~~'S~f>~''N~"'
CHICAGO, May 20.-National
City Christian Church of WASH
ington plans to break ground for
its $750.000 education building ad-
joining the present church at
Thomas Circle early in 1858, The
Star learned today at the opening
session of the Disciples of Christ
International Convention here.
The Washington church is un-
usual in that it is the only Disciples
church owned by the denomina-
ton rather than by the local con-
gregation.
DR.. j. Warren Hastings, min
lister of the church, told The Star
today that $275, 900 has been given
in cash or pledged toward the
100000 needed before work on
the new structure can begin. He
said the $125,000 needed is ex-
pected to be contributed before
January /.
Seats for $50 Persons.
The Alexander Campbell Edu-
cational Building, fronting Massa-
chusetts avenue, will have a social
hall seating 750 persons, a kitchen
and a printing shop.
The meZzanine floor will have
locker rooms, library and a mems
Bible class room. A chapel seating
1876 persons, three claSSroomS and
three other rooms for children, as
well as an Office for the director of
religious education, will be on the
first floor. The second and third
floors will have Sunday school
clasSrooms and a gymnasium on
the upper floor.
Action on National City Church
plans must be approved by the
national meeting. The denom-
ination has a Board of Trustees
for the church.
More than 5000 delegates are
expected to attend the f1ve-day
convention, which opened last
night and ends Friday.
The meeting, being held here at
the same time as the American
Baptist Convention annual con-
ference. is in Medina Temple. The
Baptists are meeting in the Inter-
national Amphitheater.
Numerous Issues Involved.
Delegates will vote on numerous
secular as we'll as church issues
this week. In keeping with many
other Protestant groups, resolu-
tion opposing sending an Ambas-
sador or any other representative
to the Vatican undoubtedly viii
be strongly supported.
Another issue expected to reach
the floor is a motion urging the
National Council of Churches tt
establish permanent headquarters
in Midwestern city. The coun.
Gil, organized in 1850 at Cleveland
now has its temporary quarters ir
New York. A decision on this hotly
debated question is expected wher
the National Council holds its
meeting at Denver in December.
Attacks on leading American
citizens without proof and in ;
manner that gives them mo way
to combat it or to defend them.
selves without resorting to meth
ods which, as Christians, they
cannot use" were denounced last
night by Mrs. James D. Wykel
of Columbia, Mo-, vice president
of the denomination. Mrs. Wykel
is presiding this week in place
of DR.. Marvin o. Sansbury o1
Des Moines. Iowa, president, who
is ill.
I'VE are one in our hatred oi
subverSive activities, Communis
or Fascist, but we must find way.
of dealing with the enemies o1
our democracy without crucifyins
some of our best citizens" tht
speaker declared.
Cites Competitive Scramble"
Mrs. Wyker asserted that ,
competitive scramble" for church
members among ProtestantS ha
been a major cause in the disinte
grafton of the rural church. Sh
pointed out that specialized train
ing for the rural church is neces
sary and that lit is a career il
itself rather than a step to urbal
churches"
A joint meeting with the Ameri
can Baptist Convention will b
held tonight in the Internations
Amphitheater.
DR.. Edward Hughes Pruden G
Washington, former president {
the American Baptists. and D
Hampton Adams of st. Louis, for
mer president of the Disciples {
Christ. will be the principal speak
ers. Mayor Martin H. Kennel
Of Chicago will welcome the tw
religious bodies to the citV.