Református ujság - Fraternity-Testvériség, 1940 (18. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1940-09-01 / 9. szám
TESTVÉRISÉG 19 much in the cost of management and extend the benefits of cheap but sound insurance to those who cannot afford ordinary insurance. Expenses should be kept within the proper limitations and the temptation to use mortuary funds for expenses must be resisted. Opportunity for Patriotic Service But the great opportunity and duty of the fraternals is not merely to distribute sound and cheap insurance. There are a sufficiency of qualified insurance companies to take care of the demand. The radio, the automobile and the moving picture have made it difficult to maintain the lodges and meetings in full force and vigor. Yet the extensive tax exemptions enjoyed by the fraternals can only be continued if they are true to their original purpose—bringing people together for social, educational, philanthropic and cultural purposes and the spreading of the fraternal spirit among men. Never in the history of our country was there greater need for the fraternal spirit. Never has a greater challenge been put to the fraternals for patriotic service to the nation and to the world. Colonel Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, has recently warned the nation of the serious danger of the fifth column. Its purpose, he says, “is to create confusion of thought, suspicion and dissension among the masses in order to weaken their morale and lower the stamina of the people * * * to incite jealousy and antagonism between different classes of society, as well as between various political, racial and religious groups. This is an effective means of weakening a country by disrupting its unity of purpose and action.” The danger to America and its free institutions comes probably not so much from hired agents of the totalitarian powers who must of necessity be small in number and circumscribed in influence, as from some of our own people, unsuccessful, perhaps and frustrated, who weakly lean to any change which they think may help them personally and will tear down those whom they envy or dislike. While small in number it is these unthinking people who can be played upon and influenced who are most dangerous to our nation and all it stands for. Faith and confidence in our free institutions and the preservation of our morale and spirit are more important than any number of witch hunts. The remedy is said to be the spread of toleration. Without toleration no free and self-governing people can long endure. But toleration is a negative word. It is not sufficient in these days of stress and uncertainty. A positive message is required. That is fraternity. Fraternity requires enthusiasm and devotion. It must catch the imagination and arouse the same devoted support of the youth of free countries as has the supremacy of the governing race and regimentation and power in the German state. Fraternity has been the heaven and hope of civilization in our crucial periods. It generated the Christian religion. It brought new hope to the world as the main concept of the French Revolution. Fraternity means also liberty and equality. It is more difficult to achieve than liberty or equality and was the first to be forgotten by the Terror and by Napoleon when he sought to make of Europe a great personal dynasty. Fraternity is inconceivable in a state built upon the powers of a ruling class. In such a state it is naturally looked upon with scorn and contempt. In a democracy there must be a fraternal spirit or self-government and equality of opportunity cannot endure. Fraternity had its first expression in France as the result of the teachings of Voltaire and Rousseau. The Marseillaise was sung by marching throngs and the people were stirred with new hopes of popular government, and human brotherhood. It is sometimes said that fraternity can only be achieved in a nation of one strain or race. There are few such. France which gave the world the slogan liberty, equality, fraternity is not a nation of pure blood. It is made up of all three of the original European strains. Countless tribes from Eastern Europe and Asia conquered and were absorbed. It boasts the civilization of both Greece and Rome. It is as much Germanic and Nordic as it is Italian or Latin. The only difference between France and the United States is that the fusion of races and peoples in France took place long ago while ours is more recent and is still in the making. In our public schools, our colleges and universities, our political, social, philanthropic and civic life all peoples and all races mingle and benefit. We manage not Only to get along but to respect and like one another. Our very differences make for a stronger and a richer civilization. Those who achieve greatness and contribute something to the world whether in the arts, the sciences, music or business or public life, are respected and admired without regard to origin. This great experiment in democracy and self-government is based upon the rule of the majority and the equality of opportunity of all races and peoples before the law. We must march behind fraternity with enthusiasm if our great experiment in democracy is
