Evening star., 1953-04-15
City Presbytery
Hits Methods Of
Some Probers
Renewed Efforts to
Defer Statement
Fails at Meeting

Fails at Meeting
Methods some congressional
committees use during investi-
cations were hit by the Wash
ington City Presbytery yesterday.
Elders and ministers approved
a statement specifically oppos-
ing irresponsible or unsupported
accusations which, in effect, i'm
pugn the motives or characters
Of clergymen, or any others,
without due process of law"
This, the statement continued,
includes trial by jury and the
defense prior to being adjudged
defense prio rto being adjudged
guilty of a crime of subversion,
treason, sedition, or any other
such felony"
Although the House Un-Amer-
ican Activities Committee was
not mentioned by name, the brief
floor debate made it clear this
was one of the committees re-
ferred to in the statement.
A resolution denouncing pro-
cedureS some committees use
during Investigations was intro
duced to Presbytery last month.
The preceding day Chairman
Velde of the House Un-American
Activities Committee had re-
marked at a radio broadcast that
his committee might search for
Communists among the Nations
clergy. The body decided then
to postpone action until this
month so further study might be
made.
New Delay Blocked.
Another attempt at yesterdays
meeting in Knox Presbyterian
Church, Falls Church, Va, to
postpone action for still further
study was overwhelmingly turned
down. Then the reafirmation
statement, submitted by the
Rev. Howard F. Gebhart, chair
man Of Presbytery's social edu-
cation and action committee, was
passed with only a few dissent
ing votes.
"It is high time that the church
not only makes an affirmation of
faith but goes to bat and brings
some of those men to the judg-
ment Of the Christian body" de-
clared the Rev. James F. Lund-
quist, moderator of Presbytery.
IF necessary, we ought to name
committees and name names so
1t Is clear as to what is meant
and who is meant"
mo one questions the right
Of Congress to investigate" the
Rev. G.. Stewart Mckenzie, for
mer moderator. said. But they
question the right Of members
of Congress to condemn their
fellow citizens without due proc
ess OF law. We are more Jealous
than many of the publicity-seek-
ing congressman to get rid of
Communists, but we do condemn
the methods of investigation"
Lukens Sees Bias.
The Rev. Horace c. Lukens
warned that "the statement
states only one side of the pic
ture. 1t does not recognize that
there is danger to the security
to our country from those who
are diSloyal. I think it is biased
in that respect and would lose
some of it's force. 1 think we
are indebted to the congressman
who are trying to get at them
(Communists)."
Mr.. Gebhart pointed out that
the opening paragraph of the
statement declared we must be
constantly on guard against
any efforts to destroy, subvert
or in any other way undermine
our national security, and to
support duly constituted author
tiles likewise responsible.
The Rev. Keith T. Postlewaite,
pastor of Eastminster Presby-
terian Church, asserted "a min.
lister should welcome such an in
veStlgation. do not feel the
liberty of ministers is being en-
dangered in any way by these
Investigations"
OMAN Charges Cited.
II do think these investiga-
tions can do some HARM" re-
piled the Rev. William H. KEEP
Ter, pastor of Northminister Pres
byterian Church. Representa-
tive Jackson, Republican, of CAL
ifornia charged that (Methodist)
Bishop C. Bromley Oman (of
Washington) breaches the gospel
on Sundays and communism the
rest of the week. That charge
reached many people, and Ok
nam has no way of defending
himself"
DR.. E. Fay Campbell, secre-
tary of the division of higher
education, Board of Christian
Education, Presbyterian Church.
United States of America, warned
the gathering earlier that in
creased financial support of
church-related colleges is essen
| ton If thew are tn survive