Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-03
Armed Forces Need
Spiritual Ministry,
Lufherans Are Told
BY cospor Nonnes
StciT Stcff ccrrasuondant

ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., Feb.
3.-The armed forces must
maintain a spiritual ministry
indefinitely for its personnel as
nearly a million American
youths will center and leave our
military establishments an
nually" during the years to
come, a Washington Lutheran
minister declared here today.
DR.. Carl F. Jaeger. associate
secretary Of the Lutheran Serv-
ice Commission, told the Ma
tional Lutheran Council meeting
that recreation, moral and
religious activities are more i'm
portant now than they were
during the Korean conflict.
"Chaplains overseas and serv-
ice pastors warn of a serious
undermining of the moral and
spiritual character of our men
through excessive drinking and
sexual promiscuity during the
critical post-armistice period of
enforced idleness," DR.. Jaeger
said.
Seconds Statement.
Col. Gynther Storaasli, retired,
OF Washington, bolStered DR..
Yaeger'S statement by calling on
younger Lutheran pastors to join
the reserve chaplaincy Of the
armed forces.
Col. Storaasli, who will retire
in March as secretary of the
councils Bureau of Services to
Military Personnel, asserted
that "the age factor is creep
ing up on our reserve chaplains"
and "a serious depletion in their
ranks" must be anticipated.
The former Chief of Air Force
ChaplainS said mo time must
be lost to recruit our reserve
strength to the highest possible
level" even though Congress
sional cuts in the military budget
has resulted in a reduction of
active chaplaincy strength.
There are 761 Lutheran chap
lainS now in the armed services,
but only 314 are on active duty,
he noted.
DR.. Benson Reelected.
DR.. Oscar A. Benson of Min
neapoliS was reelected presi-
dent Of the National Lutheran
Council yesterday. DR.. Benson
also is president of the Angus
tana Lutheran Church.
Other officers reelected were
DR.. Henry F. Schulz Of Column
bus. Ohio, head of the Ameri-
can Lutheran Church. vice pres
ident. and Fred C. EggerStedt
of New York. of the United
Lutheran Church in America,
treasurer.
DR.. F. Eppling Reinartz Of
New Rochelle was elected secre-
tary. He succeeds DR.. Rees E.
Tulloss of Springfield. Ohio, who
was ineligible for reelection be-
cause he already had served
three terms. DR.. Reinartz is sec
rotary of the United Lutheran
Church in America.
Hits Refugee Act.
The Refugee Relief Act Of 1853
was criticized as cumbersome"
and practically unavoidable" by
speakers yesterday.
ITO say that we are diSSatis-
fed With the legislation is to
put it mildly" DR.. Paul C. Empie,
executive director of the council,
declared.
Some people feel the church
agencies should go Ion a sitdown
strike" to bring about amend
ment of the act by Congress
while others believe the agen-
cies should carry on as well as
they can under the present reg
ulations, DR.. Empie observed.
The Refugee Relief Act Of 1853
permits the admission of 214,000
refugees. escapes and expellees
as non-quota immigrants over
three-year period.
The delegates voted an $4,000
budget for a six-month trial
period to see what the council
could do in promoting re-
settlement program under the
act.