For Christ & Church

Is it folly to ask earnest Protestants to keep silent on the moral issue (Prohibition) which they originated, merely because it has been taken up as a political issue by the two great contending parties? Two million Presbyterians were told last week that it is "folly amounting to an absurdity."

If they are not to keep silent, what are they to do? "The plain duty of every churchman is to work and pray and vote for the election of Herbert Hoover."

Hearing the above quoted unequivocal, politico-religious dicta, a militant partisan or a non-partisan might seek their source. He would find these statements in The Presbyterian Magazine. He would find that the author of the pronouncements is Dr. Hugh Kelso Walker, who, as moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A.* occupies Presbyterianism's highest eminence.

Dr. Walker's own pastorate is the First Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles. He is 66 years old and during his lifetime has been an increasingly potent advocate of Prohibition. In the long, well-considered, closely reasoned statement which he issued last week, he said: "More than 40 years ago I entered into the fight while a pastor in the South,* a section most conservative in the matter of mixing politics and religion. We were given the unqualified support of all good men, regardless of party, and no one ever intimated that we were doing anything more than our plain duty. . . . And now in this good year 1928, the major political parties have taken up the issue as a political one. The issue is clearly drawn between them not because of any material difference in the platform declarations but because one candidate has deliberately repudiated the plank on prohibition which his party had solemnly set forth. . . . Let it be clearly understood that we will fight to the bitter end the election of Alfred E. Smith, not because he is a member of the Catholic Church . . . but because he has gone out of his way to announce himself as the implacable foe of things that we count most dear. . . . Let there be no wavering. Let us march steadily forward to victory. 'In the name of our God, we will set up our banners.' Let us baptize afresh our Christian Endeavor motto, 'For Christ and Our Church.' "

Two things will pondering non-Presbyterians remember in considering Dr. Walker's pronouncements: 1) that the intellectual qualifications for entrance into the Presbyterian clergy are higher than those of many another church; 2) Presbyterians are proud of their traditionally (Scotch) sturdy individualism. Both points are illustrated in this case. Dr. Walker exhibited no Stratonian looseness; he made out a good case on a high plane. Nevertheless, Presbyterians will not all follow him sheeplike. Thus, three famed Presbyterians had already declared for Nominee Smith: Edward Stephen Harkness, Arthur Curtiss James, among the richest Presbyterians in the U. S., and Dr. Henry Van Dyke, Princeton pundit, Presbyterian divine.

Dr. Van Dyke issued a smashing reply to Dr. Walker: "May a humble Presbyterian, who has himself held the honorable office of Moderator in that church be permitted to ask politely by what right or authority Dr. Walker assumes this 'Temporal Dominion' in the United States? ... I have not the pleasure of knowing Mr. Volstead personally, but I am unwilling to believe that he is wiser or better than the Lord Jesus Christ, who not only used wine but . . . made it. . . ."

But well might Democrats quake. Though three other sects have been indirectly affected by political pleas of one sort or another, the Walker pronouncement is the first direct appeal from the highest official of a denomination to all members of his communion. It is therefore signifcant as the possible beginning of a formal Dry crusade led by unanimous Elder Statesmen of U. S. Protestantism. Not carelessly to be dismissed are the following spurts, which though lacking the universal imprimatur of the highest church officials, may be taken as indicative of how a Protestant army is being mustered:

Methodists. The vehemence of her cry, the importance of her position in the federal government, rather than the national importance of the gathering she addressed, have lent notoriety to Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt's earnest charge to 2,000 Methodist ministers in convention at Springfield, Ohio (TIME, Sept. 24). "Take to your pulpits!" was her cry. "Preach that message! Rouse your communities! The [enforcement] issue is bigger than party lines." As everyone knows, Mrs. Willebrandt is Assistant Attorney General of the U. S. Her speech was not repudiated by Methodist Bishops.

Lutherans. Less spectacular, not as good copy as Mrs. Willebrandt's politocsin, but able to knock the Democratic campaign among Lutherans to Smithereens is the National Lutheran Editors' Association, whose media reach two million readers. Apropos of the campaign the editors voted to tell their readers that the Catholic Church requires of its members allegiance to a "foreign sovereign." (TIME, Sept. 17).

Baptists. Strictly interpreted, the statement of the "officially appointed agencies on temperance and law enforcement of the Northern Baptist Convention" was routine, coming from temperance and enforcement workers of the church. It asked all good Baptists to vote against Smith, for Hoover (TIME, Sept. 24). But no such statement has routine effect in a presidential campaign; such statements are read with avidity, especially by the 1,250,000 persons who are represented in the convention.

In addition to the above there have, of course, been innumerable campaign speeches from individuals such as Manhattan's Straton and Virginia's Bishop Cannon.

There were no indications, last week, that the ecclesiastical campaign for Hoover & Prohibition would abate. Days passed, and no great Presbyterian preacher promptly repudiated Dr. Walker. On the contrary, many applauded him. Indications were that the ecclesiastical campaign would grow in vigor.

Dr. Walker was promptly rebuked-out only by laymen. Outstanding among them was Presbyterian Democrat Breckinridge Long of St. Louis, onetime (1917-20) Assistant Secretary of State, now practicing international law in Washington. In a long telegram (nearly 1,000 words) he expressed to Dr. Walker "directly and immediately (his) entire disagreement with a policy which can but lead, if followed, to a situation in this country which it was the particular concern of the founders of our Government to destroy."

Continued Lawyer Long: "I speak not only as a member of the Presbyterian Church, and baptized in that church, but as one who comes from a family the members of which the Church numbers among its devoted exponents. My grandfather, Samuel M. Breckinridge, died on the rostrum of the Presbyterian General Assembly in Detroit, and died in giving voice to expressions of belief which if applied to the present situation would find him in disagreement with you. . . .

"I, for one, a member of the Presbyterian Church, am frightened, and resent your attempt, and express my entire disapproval of your course."

*He was elected at its General Assembly in May, will hold office one year. *Among his southern charges were churches in Marietta & Atlanta, Ga., Birmingham, Ala.