Baptist on Brotherhood

Ex-President Truman rode over to St. Louis from Independence this week to honor one of his favorite clergymen : Rabbi Samuel Thurman, 71, for 40 years in charge of St. Louis' United Hebrew Congregation. Rabbi Thurman, like Truman a 33rd degree Mason, had worked with him for many years in state Masonic activities; in 1949 he offered a prayer at Truman's inauguration, the second rabbi in history to participate in a presidential inaugural.-- Others at the Jefferson Hotel's banquet table were the Very Rev. Paul C. Reinert, S.J., president of Roman Catholic St. Louis University, and Episcopalian Ethan A. H. Shepley, chancellor of Washington University. As the guest speaker, Baptist Truman had something useful to tell them all about that much-abused term, brotherhood. Excerpts from his speech: "

The first step of every enemy of this country has always been to attempt to separate the different strands of faith and belief out of which this nation has been woven. Our enemies have tried to set group against group, faith against faith . . .

"All the great religions, whatever their differences, acknowledge a belief in God as the father and creator of mankind. For us, therefore, brotherhood is not only a generous impulse but also a divine command. Others may be moved to brotherhood only by sentiment. We acknowledge brotherhood as a religious duty.

"Those of us who believe in God, therefore, can never be content to live for ourselves alone. We must always be working to eliminate injustice and intolerance, and to create a society which carries out our ideals . . .

"The beliefs on which we have founded our form of government and our hope of a better world are under attack . . . The defense of mankind against these attacks lies in the faith we profess--the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. Men and women who have this faith will refuse to bow to force. They will refuse to worship the power of the state. They will refuse to set their own nation and their own group above criticism. For they understand that above all these works of men there is the eternal standard of God by which we shall all be judged.

"It is only the people of religious faith throughout the world who have the power to overcome the force of tyranny. It is in their beliefs that the path can be found to justice, freedom and truth. Their religious concepts are the only sure foundation of the democratic ideal."

* The first: Rabbi Gershom Mendez Seixas, who firstook part in George Washington's first inaugural.

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