THE UNITED AMERICAN
February 1927
Education Associations is to be a conference devoted
to throwing light on the subject,how race and religious
hatred may be eliminated, we lose that sense of lone
liness, for we observe that the cause which we have
sacrificed so much to advance, has gained recogni
tion to the extent that it is regarded so serious that
its eradication is deemed an educational matter of
vast and immediate importance.
What a wonderful thought it is to know that
kindred souls are beginning to put on the armour
of truth and are offering themselves for any service
required in the battle against intolerance—the
monster of ignorance, falsehood, malice and hatred.
What a “lame duck” gospel of Americanization we
should preach if we sidestepped the issues of racial
and religious intolerance!
What influence for good citizenship could we
exercise with the new citizens; or the citizens in the
making who feel the sting of ostracism because of
religion or race, if we counseled unconditional sur
render of race pride, and cautioned abnegation of a
religious faith, lest the full benefits of American
citizenship might be forfeited?
What a mistake we should make if we become
just “nice” conformists and “lined up” with some
of the spasmodic and sporadic friends of the cause
who assume a patronizing attitude at the start and
“drop behind” when they fail to accomplish anything,
or fail to put over any of their pet notions of how to
fix up the foreigners?
What a miserable excuse for our existence we
should have if we compromised in principle and per
mitted patronage, with its paltry reward, to blur our
vision of Washington’s and Lincoln’s America, and
cause us to give the immigrant citizen a wrong con
ception of true Americanism ?
What defense could we eventually set up for hav
ing deserted the cause of true interpretation and for
having joined forces with those who advocate an
Americanism tainted with intolerance and political
aspirations ?
We may not live to harvest where we have sown—
pathfinders seldom have—but we shall be happy to
join the immortal host of those who fought wrongs
in this life, without adequate reward, rather than
sacrifice for lucre one grain of the immortal truth in
the belief that represents the ideal—America.
As long as Providence permits us to blaze the
trail and preach the gospel of true acceptance of
American citizenship to those who are looking for
guidance of thought, where there are so many diverg
ing cross currents of hatred and false patriotism; as
long as loyal friends will rally for an unadulterated
gospel of Americanization, so long will we carry on
for that broader and better concept of citizenship
which draws no line between Protestant and Catholic,
between Gentile and Jew.
AN HONEST FRIEND
J N THE AMERICANIZATION service in this state
the immigrants have an honest friend in Fred
W. Park, who has been in the state Americanization
service since last fall. His work has largely been
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confined to Portland where, as an official of the
Americanization Council, he has been at work interest
ing the Americans in Americanization and its needs,
while seeking to influence the immigrant people to
greater attendance in the adult elementary training
classes in the public night schools. For want of that
more intimate knowledge of the often complex racial
background situations which furnish the first prob
lem in Americanization, many well meaning Ameri
cans, with a heart in the cause, have failed to accom
plish that contact which is essential to progress in
that field. Mr. Park has overcome much of that
common handicap by a genuine brand of sincerity
and sympathetic earnestness which many simu
late, but so few know as a reality. The foreign
born can fully trust Mr. Park. He will never violate
confidence, his advice will be sound and, as far as
he is able, his leadership will never be questioned for
want of integrity.
A COMMENDABLE PRAYER FOR AMERICANS
VV HILE SOME people fight and quarrel over God
* and religion with a zeal that harbors fanaticism,
it is refreshing to note that three preceptors of
religion and the Diety, in Urbana, a little town in the
state of Illinois, a rabbi of the Jewish faith, a minister
of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a Catholic
priest, together have worked out a common prayer
which breathes a new precept of tolerance and good
will to every citizen of our land, in keeping with the
fundamental intent of religious freedom upon which
this our nation was founded. For simplicity and
directness this prayer has everything, in American
religious formulas backed off the map, for it surely
stresses the point of Brotherhood, of the kind we want
among the citizens of this fair land, beyond any
thing contained in our many denominational formulas.
Besides, it puts everybody on the same level, making
all confess to the same weaknesses and inducing a
common brand of humility and contrition of heart.
This prayer, which may well be adopted as the all-
American prayer, is as follows:
Almighty God, we who are members of different races and
faiths desire together thy fatherhood and kinship with
each other. In our difference we find that many of our hopes,
our fears, our aspirations, are one. Thou art our father and
we are thy children.
We are heartily sorry for the mists of fear, envy, hatred,
suspicion and greed which have blinded our eyes and thrust
us asunder. May the light that comes from thee scatter
these mists, cleanse our hearts and give health to our spirits,
teach us to put away all bitterness and walk together in the
ways of human friendship.
Open our eyes to see that as nature abounds in variation,
so differences in human beings make for richness in the
common life. May we give honor where honor is due . . .
regardless of race, color or circumstance. Deepen our respect
for unlikeness and our eagerness to understand one another.
Through the deeper unities of the spirit, in sympathy, insight
and cooperation, may we transcend our differences. May we
gladly share with each other our best gifts and together
seek for a human world fashioned in good under thy guid
ance. Amen.
How is that for a community supplication?
It seems to us that Rabbi Benjamin Frankel, di
rector of the Hillel Foundation, the Rev. James C.
Baker, pastor of the Trinity Methodist Church, and
Rev. Father John O’Brien, pastor of the St. John’s