The Wilmington Morning Star

Winston-Salem Gathering Assails Casting of "Public Suspicion"

WINSTON-SALEM, Nov 7-(AP)
The House of Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church of America, at its closing session today, condemned the House investigation of Un-American activities for the manner in which the probe is being conducted.

"The casting of public suspicion" the Bishops said in a resolution, "on the fellow citizens under the protection of Congressional immunity can readily become an offense against God's commandment, Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor."

The resolution was adopted unanimously on motion of the Right Rev. Angus Dun, Bishop of Washington.

It said:

Resolved: That as bishops in the Church of God we call upon the people of our churches

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EPISCOPAL
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to be on their guard lest an hysterical fear of Communism shall lead us to fight with weapons destructive of the treasures we seek to guard. The surest way to fight Communism is to work unceasingly at home and abroad for a society in which justice and the dignity of free men are in truth guaranteed to men of every race and condition. An inquisitorial investigation of men's personal beliefs is a threat to freedom of conscience. The casting of public suspicion on fellow citizens under the protection of Congressional immunity can readily become an offense against God's commandment, Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor.

No Defense

"We have no defense for those who while sharing the privileges of our imperfectly democratic society seek to undermine its fabric. But we hold it to be the duty of every Christian citizen to guard for others the freedom of conscience we treasure for ourselves."

The bishops also went on record as favoring the Marshall plan. The Right Rev. William Scarlett, of St. Louis, Mo., bishop of Missouri introduced the resolution which expressed the hope that Congress will act swiftly and affirmatively on the Marshall plan.

Presiding Bishop Henry Knox Sherrill of New York City appointed a committee to further investigate the feasibility of requiring psychological and psychiatric examinations of postulants and candidates for the ministry. He named the Right Rev. Benjamin M. Washburn, bishop of Newark, the Right Rev. Henry W. Hobson of Cincinnati, bishop of Southern Ohio, and the Right Rev. William Essex, bishop of Springfield, Ill. to this committee.

Also serving on the committee will be psychiatrists, neurologists and physicians who will be selected by the bishop members.

Name New Bishops

Earlier, at an executive session, which followed celebration of holy communion, they elected three rectors to be bishops in missionary districts. The three men named were: the Rev. William J. Gordon, Jr., rector of St. Thomas-Mission, Point Hope, Alaska; The Rev. Louis C. Melcher, rector of Trinity church, Columbia S. C.; and the Rev. James Wilson Hunter rector of St. Mark's church San Antonio, Texas.

The Rev. Mr. Gordon will succeed the Right Rev. John B. Bentley, present Bishop of Alaska, who resigned recently to become head of the overseas department of the National Council of the Episcopal church and to serve as the council's vice-president.