Bishop on Business

Of the Protestant churches in Chattanooga, Tenn., First Baptist is the largest, First Presbyterian the richest, St. Paul's Episcopal the most swank. Last week at St. Paul's the Episcopal diocese of Tennessee was holding its annual convention, and rich Zeboim Charles Patten, chairman of the church's endowment corporation, was telling assembled laymen and clergy about investments. Up rose Rev. Alfred Loaring-Clark, diocesan chairman of religious education.

"Mr. Patten." asked he, "may I ask whether any of the endowment investments have been placed in securities of corporations violating the principles of Christianity?''

Shuffling his papers, Churchman Patten replied that no definite policy had been adopted, that such a question might well be broached "when conditions become more settled."

Against the background of conservatism imposed upon their church by Southern laymen, Episcopalian Loaring-Clark's speaking up in meeting was noteworthy. Even more so was the speech with which the Chattanooga convention was opened by well-beloved, 79-year-old Bishop Thomas Frank Gailor who has shepherded Tennessee Episcopalians since 1898. A onetime (1916-22) chairman of his House of Bishops and a onetime (1919-25) Presiding Bishop of his Church, Bishop Gailor was lavishly honored by Church & State a year and a half ago upon the 40th anniversary of his consecration, the 25th of his chancellorship of the University of the South at Sewanee. A onetime vice president of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, he has quietly refrained from splashing the front pages of newspapers with his social and economic views. But last week this venerable churchman broke his silence and boldly plumped for "wise interference of Government in control of private business." Said he:

"Material wealth can only rightly be interpreted in terms of human lives. . . . The fundamental challenge to the Christian gospel is the fact of human fellowship. That is the gospel. But will professing Christians live up to it? Will good men be content to be less wealthy, less powerful, less secluded, if only they can give more health, greater freedom and larger opportunity to the whole body of the people?''

Not directly answering his own question, Bishop Gailor continued: "The capitalistic, profit-motive machine system defeated itself." Then he offered his own solution: "The Christian religion has demonstrated its power to mould the social and political character of the world; but its real force is in working from within by influencing and transforming the individual human sou!. It is not a mere system of philanthropy. It is not a cure for social misery that can be applied from the outside; but ... it brings to each man and woman the message of redemption, and offers them a new nature and new life through faith in Jesus Christ."

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