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Church leaders in Middletown told yesterday of a concerted local effort to provide spiritual support for President Eisenhower at the summit conference. Led by the Rev. Stephen Bachelder of the First Congrega tional Church, almost 1,400 persons in Middletown sent the President printed postcards saying, ‘'It will be with you in prayer at the summit meetings.” The cards were sent the Saturday before the President left for Paris. The summit talks collapsed in a tirade from Russia's Khrushchev. Approximately 10 churches representing all three major faiths participated in the undertaking, Rev. Bachelder said, ‘It was a wise, sensible card,”’ he said, ‘‘I believe it was a national movement, and I'm particularly gratified that the people in this city responded in such great numbers. ” He expressed regret that he could not contact all the churches in the city. ‘I only had a day or two to let as many people know about this as I could, he recalled, ‘I'm sure everyone would have joined if they knew.’’ The post card was originally printed by a group called Pro moting Enduring Peace, Inc. The group, Mr. Bachelder said, was associated with Dr. Frank Laubach, a church leader known for his world-wide literacy movement. Members of the Middletown congregations were given the cards on May 14 and May 15, and were told to send them out immediately. President Eisenhower left for Geneva on May 16. Another church leader who participated in the undertaking was Rev. Robert D. Allred of the First Presbyterian Church. He stressed that the message did not indicate approval of any partisan cause. ‘It was a genuine ground-swell, he said, ‘‘It was an inter-racial ground-swell for the cause of peace, ' * * . This was the message printed on the postcard: I am standing with you in your tremendous responsibility as our President, I am praying that you and other leaders of the nations can carry the world towards disarmament as God desires, and that God may reveal to you what He wills, I will be with you in prayer at the summit meetings, for I realize that survival of the human race may hinge upon the meetings. ’ In conjunction with the joint church effort, church bells were sounded when the President embarked for Geneva.
Newspaper Details
Middletown Daily Record
Middletown, New York, US
Mon, May 23, 1960
Page 19
Full Page
Clipped by
Beverly B.
USA 18 Oct 2025
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