Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-04
Segregation Hearing
Seen as Vital Issue
To Church Groups
By Cospor Nonnes
Sfor StoFf Correspondent

ATLANTIC CITY, N. D., req.
"A Washington clergyman to-
day called the Supreme Courts
hearing on segregation in the
public schools one of the three
most significant events last year
for church groups.
DR.. Robert E. Van Deusen,
secretary of the Division of Pub
lie Relations, National Lutheran
Council. said the other two events
were Preside mt Eisenhower
"atom-for-peace" proposals and
the appearance of Methodist
Bishop G. Bromley OMAN of
Washington before the House
Un-American Activities Commit
tee.
DR.. Van Deusen told delegates
to the councils annual meeting
that whatever decision the Su-
preme Court gives "it will chal-
lenge the churches of America
to greater efforts toward racial
equality" A ruling is expected
by the Nations highest tribunal
before June.
The speaker said the Courts
decision will give the churches
a chance Ito redeem themselves
IN some degree" for their SLOW
ness IN encouraging non-Segrega-
ton in their own life"
Church Leadership Cited.
IF the Supreme Court decides
that segregation must be elimi-
mated. there will be an urgent
need for cool-headed leadership
IN making the transition" he
asserted. "The churches are
equipped to provide this. If the
court permits segregation to con-
tinue. the churches will have an
even greater opportunity to lead
the movement toward voluntary
non-segregation."
The Lutheran minister called
President Eisenhower's speech
before the United Nations on
how atomic war might be avoided
IAN imaginative beginning" even
though it was far from a COM
plete answer to the grim atomic
dilemma"
The Presidents proposals to-
ward "a constructive solution"
envisioning the "harnessing of
atomic power for useful ends"
and calling for "co-operation
rather than competition in the
use Of atomic energy" were
praised by the speaker.
The concern of the churches
for soundly based peace led
church leaders to welcome
warmly this new initiative on the
part of the United States. They
were especially gratified that the
proposal was within the frame
work of the United Nations
rather than on a unilateral
basis"
Public Sentiment Turned.
DR.. Van Deusen declared |
Bishop Oxnam's hearing before |
the House Un-American Activi- |
ties Committee was "a real turn
ing point in public sentiment !
and In the attitude of Congress
toward the abuse of the privi- |
lege of investigation of congress
sional committees.
The hearing, he said, marked |
"a high point in the fight against |
the labelling of Protestant clergy |
as being soft toward COM
munism."
This public hearing, the
largest since the Alger Hiss case,
opened the eyes of many con-
gressmen to the basic confidence
of the public in the integrity and
loyalty of the Protestant clergy,
and to the unfairness of the
methods of some congressional
committees"
The council, representing
eight Lutheran church bodies
having As million members, yes
terday adopted a resolution call
ing on the State Department to
ask the United Nations General
Assembly Ito issue a new appeal
TO the Arab nations and Israel
to meet in conversation for the
purpose Of finding a way to
peace"
Urges Prayer for Opponents.
DR.. Fredrik A. Shiotz, execu-
tive secretary of the councils
commission on younger churches
and orphaned missions, in sub
uniting the resolution said the
time has come "for churchmen
everywhere to give more time to
prayerful intercession on behalf
OF the two parties in the Middle
East struggle, and to use every
legitimate means of encourag-
ing them to meet in consulta-
ton"
DR.. Paul c. Empie, executive
director of the council, told the
delegates yesterday relief needs
of Lutherans throughout the
world called for increasing this
years fund drive from $2.6 mil
lion to SO million. The former
figure was set last year as the
1854 Lutheran World Federation
goal.
DR.. Empie pointed out most
of the current needs overseas
centered on assistance to refu-
gees. including physical aid and
spiritual care while emigrating
as we'll as help in the lands
where they will ultimately settle.
E ~,