Evening star., 1962-01-31
Tax-Aid Drive
For Paroc|1ia|
Schools Seen
BY CASPAR NAMES
Star Staff Writer

IA AI11N IN ~ 4Ns ~ oaAA
81. "A leading Lutheran
spokesman on Government af-
fairs today predicted that 1862
will see vigorous efforts made
to secure public tax funds for
parochial and private schools.
DR.. Robert E. Van Deusen,
Washington secretary of the
division of public relations,
National Lutheran Council,
forecast "a concerted and pow
erful effort will be launched to
win acceptance for the idea
that nonpublic schools should
be eligible for some measure of
public tax support"
DR.. Van Deusen said a deci-
sion to provide Federal funds
for parochial grade and high
schools would be IAN important
one, with far-reaching conse-
quences.
He spoke at the 44th annual
meeting of the National Lu-
theran Council, cooperative
agency for six Lutheran bodies
having about two-thirds of the
8 million Lutherans in the
United States, in Cotton Manor
Hotel.
They are the United Lutheran
Church in America, American
Lutheran Church, Augustana
Lutheran Church, Lutheran
Free Church, Finnish Evan
gelical Lutheran Church or
Suomi Synod and the American
Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Turning Point"
DR.. Van Deusen told the
gathering that 1861 was a
turning point in relations be-
tween the church and state.
More openly and more vigor-
ously than in previous years.
the Roman Catholic Church
pressed for public acceptance
of the idea that church-oper-
ated elementary and secondary
schools should be included in
Federal aid to education.
But he urged that frank dis
cussion of the issue should not
be permitted to engender bitter
ness between those holding op-
posite convictions"
Despite cleavages on the
school aid question there has
been a growing trend towards
better understanding between
Protestants and Catholics, he
said, creating a climate con-
ducive to honest discussions Of
conflicting views.
Next to the Roman Catholic
Church, the various Lutheran
denominations have the largest
number of parochial schools.
They are followed by the
Seventh-day Adventists in this
educational field.
President Elected
DR.. Raymond M. Olson Of
Minneapolis, Mimi, steward
ship director of the American
Lutheran Church, was elected
yesterday to a one-year term as
council president. DR.. Olson
served as vice president for the
last three years, and for the
three years before that was its
secretary. A native Of Eagle
Grove, Iowa, the 52-year-old
minister is graduate of Au-
gustana College. 1884, and the
Luther Theological Seminary at
st. Paul, Mimi, 1889.
DR.. George F. Harkins of
New York was elected vice pres
ident, Cyrus Rachie Of Mime
apolis, secretary, and Fred C.
Eggerstedt of Richmond Hills,
N. Y, treasurer.
This probably will be the last
year the council will function
as presently constituted. In
June, four Of the bodies COM
prising the organization
United, Augustana and Amer
lean Evangelical Lutheran
Churches and Suomi Synod
will merge into a new Lutheran
Church in America.
New Body Planned
Discussions are now being
held regarding the feasibility
OF establishing a new Coop
erative body that would in
clude the three remaining
groups and the 2.5 million :
member Lutheran Church.
Missouri Synod, which is not
member of the council but
co-operates with it in several
phases. If such an agency
came into being it would rep
resent more than 8 million
American Lutherans.
The council yesterday passed
a resolution reaffirming its
1851 statement in support of
the United Nations.
Washington Lutherans
elected to council posts yester-
day included the Rev. Carl c.
Plack, secretary for Chaplaincy
Service, Division of Welfare;
DR.. Carl F. Yaeger, executive
secretary Of the Bureau to
Military Personnel and Mr.
Mldboe, executive secretary of
the Bureau of Service to Mill
tary Personnel.
The council meeting, which
opened yesterday, will end to-
morrow.