Evening star., 1952-05-03
Churchman, Layman
Of The Year Receive
Awards Tonight

Awards Tonight
Presentation of awards at th'
churchmen of the year Dime
will highlight the Washington
pilgrimage tonight, after yester
days session heard testimony
from presidential candidates anc
other prominent figures on theil
religious faith.
Specially prepared messages
we're read in the National City
Christian Church, attended by
Catholics, Jews and ProtestantS
Tonight's dinner will be held al
$50 o'clock in the Washington
Hotel.
The three-day pilgrimage, which
concludes tomorrow, is a non
profit venture sponsored by a COM
mittee of so prominent church.
men from coast-to-coaSt. Noting
that America was founded as a
haven for people who wished to
obtain religious liberty, the COM
mittee organized a tour of the
Nations Capital Ito recapture the
idealism which was prevalent" in
the early days of the United
States, as indicated in it's shrines.
Award Recipients.
Receiving the awards will be
DR.. George A. Buttrick, pastor
of the Madison Avenue Presby-
terian Church in New York,
"Churchman of the Year" and
Theodore P. Beasley. president of
the Republic National Life In
Surance Co. of Dallas, Tex, Lay
man of the Year"
DR.. Buttrick is chairman of
the editorial board that produced
a scholarly 12-volume work THE
interpreters Bible" Mr.. Beasley
was chosen for outstanding work
with youth groups and for pro-
noting interdenominational har-
morfs. The editorial board of
Church Management Magazine
made the selections.
Earlier today, the hundreds of
clergymen. laymen and public
figures attending the Pilgrimage
were to visit the White House and
the Lincoln and Jefferson Memo
rials. where inspirational talks
were to be given.
Last nights messages were pre-
sented by DR.. Frederick Reissig
executive secretary of the WASH
ington Federation of Churches
Excerpts follow:
Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson of Illi-
nois: "The foundations of our
Nation were laid by men and
women who believed in God and
in His influence in human affairs.
The leaders who brought our
country through it's times of
gravest danger were men of faith.
From the earliest days, religious
influences and spiritual aspira-
tions have been a vital force in
American life"
Harold E. Stassen: Does not
the American experience indicate
that our religious heritage con-
tains certain universal principles
found in all of the great moral
systems of the world which can
serve as the only secure basis for
world peace? Over and above the
great and beneficial variety o1
divergent backgrounds and nation
alitieS, there is a common unity
of moral principle. 1t is my con-
viction that without a mutual
recognition and acceptance of this
fact there can be no real world
peace"
Senator Kerr, Democrat. OF
Oklahoma, Through the develop
ment of the spiritual resources of
our country we must build some
thing within the hearts of men
around the world that will cause
them to seek peace. If we do this
they will respond in the only way
that, in my judgment. can elimi-
nate from the hearts of wicked
men the passion and hatred which
impels them to make war;
Other Speakers.
Also speaking last night were
Senators Case, Republican, of
South Dakota, and Monroney
Democrat, of Oklahoma.
Senator Case said: "The BROTH
erhood of man has been neglected
as an instrument for the solution
of our practical problems in this
country. We have tried to match
force with force in our domestic
problems as in our international
problems. There is a better way
That is the basic principle of the
Sermon on the Mount"
Senator Monroney declared that
the Washington Pilgrimage brings
visible evidence of our foundation
in religious principles of character
and of the deep and abiding re-
Spect that all men should have fol
the traditions of Christianity"