Route 4, Box 456

Dothan, Alabama

17 December 1959

LIFE

Letter To The Editors

9 Rockefeller Plaza

New York 20, N.Y.

Sirs:

People of conscience will not deny a man the right to be president of The United States of America because of his religion-perhaps not even for his lack of it.  What has happened-and is still happening-is that people have grown skeptical of both church and politicians because church and politicians have ceased to CARE.  Perhaps they lack the capacity to CARE.

There is a great need for schools and teachers so that our children can be properly educated to meet life's challenges.  (The Baptists build a fine church.)  There is a need for decent homes for our aged-most of them live in unimaginable filth and squalor.  (The Methodists build church larger, finer than the Baptists.)  Our underprivileged, parentless, homeless children need all the material things plus love and understanding.  (The Presbyterians build a church larger, finer even than the Methodists.)  This could go on to the end.

Do our churches believe that God is so credible that he can be impressed with these monuments of sticks and stones?  While our children go half-educated because they lack schools?  While our aged lack decent homes and care because both church and society won't provide for them?

If we are wont to erect monuments to impress God, can't these monuments be good schools for our children?  So that future generations of Americans can know beyond a shadow of doubt that we CARED.  Can't these monuments be all manner of good things to alleviate the fears, hunger, misery and poverty of mankind?

Christ preached and practiced a simple sermon of loving-kindness and service to man.  It had been preached and practiced long before him.  But it suddenly dawned in the minds of mankind that here was a preacher who CARED.  CARED for saint and sinner alike.  CARED FOR ALL HUMANITY.  This found response in the hearts of mankind.  Christ's words were simple.  Many men before him said them.  But not one man before Christ-and not one since-CARED AS HE DID.

Lincoln's words at Gettysburg were few and simple.  But when there had been time for people to realize that Lincoln CARED-NOT JUST FOR THE UNION, THIS COUNTRY, BUT FOR MANKIND-those few simple words he spoke found response in the hearts of people everywhere and were rendered forever immortal.

Our churches must learn to CARE.  The great Christian works of are in Life's 21 December issue did not impress me.  I found no beauty in the excessive waste of men's time and talent and wealth to produce pictures and scrolls to embellish temples of sticks and stones while hunger and disease still plague mankind.    

Our churches must CARE if the people are to CARE.  Our churches must do more that JUST SAY THEY CARE.  They must prove this.  And gaudy temples and beautiful pictures and scrolls to embellish them IS NOT PROOF.  But if they will feed a hungry child, give him love and understanding, physical and mental well-being, the child and the world will know that our churches CARED.

While we are awed at the things man makes-rockets to the moon and headache powders-what man makes of himself will be cause for the greater awe.  The next great step forward for man will be the emergence-and acceptance-of his heretofore dormant unselfish instincts.  Then all men will CARE-for all men.

With best wishes, I am,  Eddie H. Livingston

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