Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-04-14
;PIRES OF THE SPIRIT
He Rides Again
By DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplain Of the United States Senate

The Christ, who in the LIST
century before Palm Sum
day had proclaimed his revo-
lptionary principles from the
bow Of q boat, speaks once
again in this goth century
from the deck of a ship. Who
can doubt that the living
Christ sailed on the good
ship HOPE on her fabulous
mission to Trujillo, Peru, from
which she has lately re-
turned in triumph. There is
enough back of that an
nouncement to pull out all
the stops of the national
organ of exultation as mil
lions of proud Americans,
and the people Of Peru, Join
in the refrain God Bless
America!
Let us confess that there
Is very much that can be
said with truth about the
imperfections Of our ways
and way. Nevertheless, with
all its faults, it is a way
which has done more benefit
cent things for more people
than any social system in the
history Of mankind. The
amazing thing is that in spite
Of the dross of selfish privi-
lege, which so often mocks
our creed of equality, the
melting pot process still goes
on producing its miracles of
personality and achievement.
And where oh! where, but in
America, Is God so acknowl-
edged, liberty so cherished,
plenty so shared, need so
alleviated, CULTS SO bridged,
and compassion so abound
ing?
In spite Of the bitter con-
temporary indictments tinged
with uniformed hatred and
envy, America is the land of
the friendly face turned to
all the world. OF nations, as
well as individuals, the final
test is that by their fruits
We shall know them" That
vivid realization wells up in
our grateful hearts as the
hospital ship HOPE docks
in the home waters of New
York Harbor with a record
which sounds like a modern
edition Of the Acts of the
Apostle.
On this Easter Sunday
countless millions are think
ing Of Mans Best Man as
through the streets of old
Jerusalem He rides forth to
die and, to live on the other
side of the gallows Of that
day. For Easter says that a
cross could not stop Him, it
could not veto the truth He
enunciated for all time and
all men. He alone, among all
the teachers of the ages who
have wrestled with the funda-
mental questions of human
relationship, declared that
the only force that can ade-
quately conquer hate is love.
TranSgreSsionS can only be
transformed into blessings by
a forgiveness that keeps no
books. The admonition of the
Man Of Nazareth, as unarmed
He rode a lowly beast into
the crowded streets of His ma
tons capital was-"You can
only overcome evil by good
ness. Do good to those who
despitefully use you" It is
the meek, insists Jesus, who
shall inherit the earth.
But what has all this to. do
with the ship called HOPE?
1t is because that floating ark
Of mercy speaks Of exploits
which are a saga, which hal
lows q cargo of uncalculated
love, a passion to minister
even to hostile misery. In its
mission to Peru it expected
no welcome and got none.
When, not long after last
Easter, the HOPE dropped
anchor In the southern har-
Dor, DR.. William B. Walsh
moving spirit behind the en-
terprise-tells of the savage
reception it received. They
found a city plastered with
signs: CUBA, yesl YANK-
EES, no." The air was filled
with threats against the i'm
perialistic, deceptive invad-
ers from what the Commu-
nists, with all sorts Of false
propaganda. had declared was
the colossus of the north,
pictured as a ruthless cut
throat wearing a Good Sa-
marian mask.
But on the HOPE, turning