Religion: Amity at Williamstown

Last week, as it does every other year, the National Conference of Christians and Jews held its Institute of Human Relations at Williamstown, Mass., discussed in mani-fold aspects the general theme “Citizenship and Religion.” Typical forums were on the Church’s relationship to economic reform, legislation, civil liberties, education, entertainment, social welfare.

Even on the prickly problem of Labor, the institute was in harmony. Catholic Missionary Edward L. Stephens asserted that workers have a duty to become members of “free unions, independent of companies, and guided by Christian principles of charity and justice.” Rabbi Robert Gordis called upon the Church to “attack specific evils by urging specific remedies. Such problems as child labor, cooperatives, housing, minimum wages, are examples . . . where the Church should . . . strive to galvanize its membership into action.” Methodist Episcopal Bishop Francis J. McConnell suggested that the Church set “its own economic house in order,” declared: “It is nothing short of a scandal to find Churches standing out against labor unions on the plea that all Church earnings go to benevolent causes.”