Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-21
The Week in Religion
By Religious News Service

In hundreds of Minnesota
homes Tuesday night small
groups Of people will gather in
q series of unusual parties.
The gatherings, of about 10
guests each, have been set up
as Brotherhood Parties" OFF,
cialS of 16 Minnesota human
relations agencies have been
securing the State for 1000
hosts and hosteSSes.
These volunteers have been
asked to invite several neigh
bors into their homes for friend
~ get-togetherS.
The plan is MinneSota'S way
Of putting into action the Broth
erhood Week theme, Let's Get
Together,
Brotherhood Week is being
observed in more than 10000
communities in the United
States and Canada under aus
pices of the National Conference
Of Christians and Jews.
Typical of Promotions.
The Minnesota campaign is
typical of the most vigorous of
these promotions. The States
celebration is the result of a
suggestion from Gov. c. Elmer
Anderson.
The Is human relations agen-
cies have urged the volunteer
hosts to start their brotherhood
parties with coffee and simple
dessert at 1880 pm. At 8 pm.
the parties will tune in to a
radio-television program to be
presented over at least half
dozen Twin Cities stations.
After the half-hour program,
the neighborhood groups will
carry on their own discussion Of
the questions aired on the pro-
gram. Special discussion kits are
being given to each host by the
Minneapolis Office Of the Ma
tional Conference of Christians
and Jews.
This is the twenty fourth an
nual observance of the special
week aimed at promoting good
will and understanding among
persons Of all races and creeds.
First Held in 1884.
It was first held in 1884, with
300 communities participating,
at the suggestion of Msgr. Hugh
McMenamin, a Catholic priest
Of Denver.
MSgr. McMenamin urged the
National Conference to sponsor
a special period when the people
OF all religious groups in the
United States would be invited
TO consider together the need and
implications of brotherhood.
Since its beginnings, brother
hood week and year round
brotherhood work in this coun-
try have had a strong spiritual
flavor. -
DR.. Everett R. Clinchy, presi-
dent OF the National Conference.
observed recently that "the spir-
ltual essence of Brotherhood
Week grows out of the common
kinSh1p OF man under God"
brotherhood Week has spread
beyond the boundaries of the
United States and Canada. It is
being celebrated simultaneously,
in the free nations of Europe
under the auspices of World
Brotherhood. international coun-
terpart of the National Confer
ence.
Services Play Big Role.
Religious services in churches
and synagogues are playing in
important part. In many COM
munities, studies of Americas
moral and spiritual resources
required to counterfeit the ma
terialism, moral chaos and anti
intellectualism of this period of
history are being launched.
Radio and television programs
are carrying the message and
airing a special song, Lets Get
Together" written by song
writer's Hy Zaret and Lou Singer.
The Nations $4,000 motion
picture theaters have organized
a Brotherhood Week campaign
to enroll 100000 new members
for the National Conference.
President Eisenhower, serving
as honorary chairman for the
week. has been aided by procla-
nations from the governors of
almost every State and the may
ors of many cities and towns.
Plan Special Activities.
Civic bodies. schools, colleges.