Sir Francis Younghusband, chairman of the British committee, and Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, vice-chairman of the American committee of the World Fellowship of Faiths, jointly sent out an appeal to the public to support a resolution passed at the Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1933, recommending that August 27 (anniversary of the Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact) be observed internationally every year as World Peace Day.
“It is now coming to be recognized more fully,” said Sir Francis, “that peace is no mere absence of war but is an attitude of soul which has to be heroically striven for day by day. Opportunities for strengthening this attitude have therefore to be made.”
“With all governments adding to their armaments,” said Rabbi Wise, “the whole world bristling with deadly weapons of war, and men’s minds everywhere befogged by suspicion, enmity and fear, it is most appropriate to celebrate the anniversary of the day of the signing of the pact of Paris as World Peace Day.”
The World Fellowship of Faiths, of which the Maharaja Gaekwar of Baroda is international president; former President Hoover, honorary national president, and Bishop Francis J. McConnell, national chairman, has arranged for the observance of World Peace Day on August 27 in many cities.
Kedarnath Das Gupta, general executive of the World Fellowship of Faiths, has sent out the following seven suggestions for the observance of World Peace Day:
1. Observe August 27 as a festive day of rejoicing. Invite neighbors to your home or visit them, particularly those who are not of your own nationality, race or religion.
2. Pray or meditate for world peace, practice non-violence in thought, word and deed, and feel within yourself at peace with all.
3. Come to an amicable understanding with those at home or abroad with whom you have aroused discord.
4. Make of Peace Day a gift day, presenting books or cards which emphasize the spirit of peace and good will to men.
5. Arrange public or private meetings or parties, for discussing some aspect of world peace, or read peace literature to your friends.
6. Send out a vibrating peace thought to those who are away.
7. Write to your government to uphold the Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact to the letter and to declare an economic boycott on the violators of the pact.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
