War and Peace

America's part in the war was an issue at five Protestant denominational assemblies last month. This is what they did about it:

Northern Presbyterians weaseled, passing a resolution which, in the wry words of their almost moderator, Dr. Henry Sloane Coffin, "takes back in the second half what it says in the first." The original draft was strongly pacifist, but such words as "war is without capacity to accomplish righteous aims" were voted out and replaced by a plea to sustain the democracies "to the utmost in their brave struggle"--except that "much more still is to be gained by America remaining free from military participation." Southern Baptists adopted a ringing affirmation of the faith of the Church militant. "We declare our belief that some things are worth dying for . . . and worth defending to the death. . . . We are ready to oppose any tyrant. . . . England's heroic resistance ... is one of the great sagas of the human spirit." They voted for all-out aid to Britain, speedier rearmament, an embargo on arms for Japan.

Northern Baptists stuck to safe middle ground with a compromise expressing "sincere sympathy with democratic peoples in their struggle against tyranny" but commending the President for his "repeated efforts to keep our nation from armed participation in foreign wars while giving great aid to democracies." Their solution: "The President should use every influence ... to mediate a just and lasting peace among the nations at war." Disciples of Christ voted 2-to-1, after much debate, to request President Roosevelt to use the powers of his office to keep the U.S. out of war.

At a five-day meeting Southern Presbyterians did not consider, debate or discuss U.S. participation in war; but they prayed for an Allied victory, telegraphed the President they had done so.

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