Religion: Tolerance Trio

They were not in blackface, but otherwise a Catholic priest, a Protestant minister and a Jewish rabbi who appeared last week in Chapel Hill, N. C. went through a religious routine which closely resembled a minstrel show. On the platform at the University of North Carolina’s Memorial Hall, the Protestant asked the Catholic: “Do Catholics believe that all Protestants and Jews are going to Hell?”

“No,” replied the Catholic with the practiced ease of an end-man, “we believe that no one loses his soul who does not knowingly sin against the Light. With repentance, anyone will be saved if he follows the Light. . . .”

Turning to the Jew, the Protestant inquired if the Jews are a solid bloc.

“No,” said the Jew. “The Jew is to be classed just as any other group, because, instead of being a solid bloc, they are in disunion. There are good Jews and bad Jews; rich Jews and poor Jews. . . . The tragedy is that every Jew wants to be a leader.”

The three churchmen were employing minstrel technique for a definite purpose— to kindle tolerance and goodwill among their respective faiths. Called the “Tolerance Trio,” they were embarked last week on a Southern tour under the auspices of the National Conference of Jews and Christians, a body jointly chair-manned by Protestant Newton Diehl Baker, Jew Roger Williams Straus and Catholic Carlton Joseph Huntley Hayes. The first Tolerance Trio went out in the autumn of 1933, traveled 9,000 miles, visited 38 cities. The current trio is composed of:

Rev. Everett Ross Clinchy, tall, quiet Presbyterian. Schooled at Yale, Columbia, Union Theological Seminary and Wesleyan, he specialized in sociology. In his late 30’s, he is popular among students.

Rabbi Morris Samuel Lazaron, 46, shepherd of Baltimore’s Hebrew Congregation since 1915. Descended from an old Georgia family, he was a Wartime chaplain, is still a Reserve Corps major.

Rev. T. (for Thomas) Lawrason Riggs, broad-faced chaplain of Yale’s Catholic Club and Associate Fellow of Yale’s Calhoun College. Born 46 years ago into an old Maryland family, Father Riggs taught English at Yale and Harvard, served during the War in the Intelligence Corps, did not become a priest until 1922.

Available for use in the second Tolerance Tour is the dialog prepared after the completion of the first last year. Excerpts :

Protestant—Didn’t the Pope tell you to vote for Al Smith?

Catholic—No, the Pope is not interested in American politics, as non-Catholics generally seem to think. As a matter of fact, many Catholics did not vote for Al Smith.

Jew—i condemn, as strongly as my Christian fellow citizens, those Jewish motion picture producers who are responsible for vulgarization of public taste and lowering moral standards.

Protestant—But don’t forget, Rabbi, that the Presbyterian Elder, Mr. Will Hays, is supposed to be the conscience of the motion picture!

Catholic—And don’t forget there is considerable Christian money invested in the motion picture industry. . . .