Brotherhood Day, scheduled for observance throughout the nation on Sunday, February 24, was endorsed by President Roosevelt yesterday as an opportunity to mobilize the forces of good-will in an effort to further “human welfare and good citizenship.”
Dr. Everett R. Clinchy, director of the National Conference of Jews and Christians, under whose auspices the observance will be held, announced he had received the communication from the President backing the endeavor in its second year.
“I am pleased to note that Brotherhood Day, instituted last year by the National Conference of Jews and Christians, was very widely celebrated,” the President wrote.
“Its observance this year on February 24 offers an opportunity to mobilize the forces of good-will across the country and to promote common effort on the part of religious groups in all that makes for human welfare and good citizenship. Its association with the birthday of our first President will remind our people of his broad and tolerant spirit and his consistent support of the principles of religious liberty and freedom of conscience.”
More than 400 communities in forty States are preparing for Brotherhood Day under the national chairmanship of Dr. John H. Finley, the conference announced yesterday, indicating that observance would be more widespread than last year.
“Brotherhood Day aims not only to wipe out all discords that may still derive from religious differences, but also to emphasize the great constructive tasks which all Americans have in common,” the statement of the National Conference declared.
“It aims to mobilize the good-will of the people, and their natural friendliness and cooperativeness against the fomentors of group hatreds” today, when the economic condition of the country breaks down the normal resistance to propaganda.
Marking the day as a “call to arms for members of every faith,” the conference urges all to “stand by” in their belief in human fellowship and the determination of Americans to wipe out racial and religious discords in order to further the country’s interests.
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