To turn from history to the contemporary present; these very days there has been and is being organized a weel articulated movement of sinister mean and considerable proportion and with a disarming name—the so-called “Christian” Front, with its subsidiary the “Christian Mobilizers.” All the improved techniques of the Nazi group are employed in this propaganda. They boldly speak of “the poppycock of Democracy” and advocate a “corporate state.” In action they are rabidly anti-Semitic, and stabbings have taken place on the streets of New York. Hoodlum tactics, disregard of the rights of others, violent utterance, an incitement to riot—such things do not fit the American scene and must not become part of the American life.
The use of the most sacred noun and adjective of our vocabulary to characterize this sort of procedure is sheer impudence and profanation. No catalog of high-sounding principles can redeem hate-inciting vociferations and active persecution of a minority. “Christian” certainly ought to take its quality from the Christ. He it was who said “By their fruits ye shall know them.” There is no substitute for action; words speak loudly but actions louder.” What you are and do speak so loud I can’t hear what you say.” And our Lord, Himself, gave the final test of allegiance to himself in these words—“Why call me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say.”
Let the so-called “Christian” Front get a name that fits its character; no brand of Christianity of which I have any knowledge would care to have “Front” behavior called “Christian.”
In 1855, Thomas F Marshall speaking to a Kentucky audience (largely in sympathy with the intolerant doctrines of the Know Nothings, clearly and bravely stated the situation—
“If the persecuting temper of the 16th century is to be renewed here, if American Protestantism so far forgets its mission as to aid in rekindling the religious wars . . . religion will suffer most. True Christianity will veil her face. Men will be divided between a sullen and sordid fanaticism on the one side and a scoffing infidelity on the other. Our national characteristics will be lost. American civilization will have changed its character, our Federal union will have sacrificed its distinctive traits and we shall have exhibited a failure in the principles with which our government commenced its career, at which Hell itself might exult in triumph.”
Those same words are cogent today. The performance of the so-called Christian Front makes one ashamed—and makes one afraid. Except as one is led to believe in the common sense appraisal heretofore made by the American public of similar un-American, anti-social movements.
The most heartening thing that has come to my attention lately is this incident, illustrative of the very best American tradition. It transpired a few days ago in the Tombs Police court in NY City. Nothing more typical of the best American spirit and our high tradition of fair play can or needs to be quoted.
Magistrate Michael A. Ford was sentencing Miss Florence Nash, a 42-year-old saleswoman of [Coughlin’s] Social Justice. She had made her denunciation, which has been characteristic of Coughlinites, as she held out a copy of the paper. Judge Ford, having sentenced her to thirty days in the workhouse, and having suspended execution of the sentence, contingent on future good behavior, declared:
“I think you are one of the most contemptible individuals ever brought into my court. There is no place in this free country for any person who entertains the narrow, bigoted, intolerant ideas you have in your head. You remind me of a witch burner. You belong to the Middle Ages. You don’t belong to this modern, civilized day of ours. I’m ashamed of you. I take it you belong to the Roman Catholic Church. I’m a Roman Catholic myself, I’m ashamed of you because of the idea you have expressed.”
The magistrate then asked Miss Nash: “Where did your parents come from?”
“From Ireland,” she replied, and added with sobs, “both are dead.”
“They undoubtedly came to this country, as my parents did, to escape the persecution of the English Government,” said the magistrate. “The persecution you have perpetrated could be perpetrated also against your own race. He who instills such ideas in your head, be he a priest or anyone else, does not belong in this country.”
Magistrate Ford’s scathing lecture to this peddler of ill-will, incorporating his respects to Father Coughlin, who inspires the peddling, must have been as refreshing to decent Roman Catholic citizens of New York as it has been to citizens of other churches and none. It offered a striking contrast to the action of many other magistrates who have been handling cases of arrests brought about in the past few months as a result of the tactics of Coughlin’s “storm troopers.” Furthermore, his words constitute an excellent lesson in democratic conduct. It should be studied by those citizens, including churchmen, who have so far forgotten the primary obligations imposed by the democratic idea as to indulge in anti-Semitism.
This is the reaction of every true American.
Eternal vigilance is the price of our liberty. I believe if we tell the facts fearlessly the American public will respond in the spirit of the Constitution and of the Bill of Rights. I also believe with all my heart that “Christian” can mean and does mean the highest quality of brotherly behavior that eschews hatreds and prejudices of all sort. I sing the Te Deum and exalt the Christ* “Thou art the King of Glory O Christ” but with the Te Deum I go on to add “we believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge.” No one can honor Christ who hates his brother nor claim the name of Christian who foments confusion strife and every work.
4 pages from an untitled sermon by Rev. Jesse Halsey typed on the back of the Seventh Presbyterian Church stationery.
[Ed note from Dictionary.com: weel [wiːl] — adv , — adj , — interj , — sentence connector a Scot word for well.]
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