CONFERENCE FOR WORLD UNITY
A CONFERENCE FOR WORLD UNITY AT SAN FRANCISCO, MARCH 20-22, 1925
By Prof. J. V. Breitwieser
CIVILIZATION emerged from its cradle somewhere in Asia and started on its march following the sun around the world. It gathered its arts, religions, wars and languages as it journeyed into Northern Africa and Southern Europe. It built cities, organized states and went on in its cycles of failure and success. Northern Europe and the British Isles soon became the abode of a culture. The final episode of this encircling movement was the colonization of the American continents. Now the great western outpost of this moving civilization is at the Golden Gate of California. Across the Pacific we again meet some of the oldest organized social groups. The elder brothers, Mongol, Malay and Aryan Sr., along with their numerous friends and relatives, are somewhat disturbed at the remarkable activity, egotism and blustering of the young runaway Aryan Nordic, Jr., yet they are willing to listen to his story of adventure. They have heard rumors to the effect that he has been very quarrelsome with his cousin Slav. He seems to be somewhat erratic like an adolescent youth. At times he is highly idealistic, sometimes cruel, often selfish, yet at times showing signs of great generosity.
The great meeting place of the civilizations of the world is on the shores of the Pacific. This thought has been in the minds of the social students who have been observing the meeting of the Orient and the Occident. Early in April the idea of making San Francisco the center for a conference that should be organized for the purpose of promoting a better inter-racial, inter-religious and international understanding and co-operation was conceived. Through the untiring efforts and irresistible enthusiasm of Mrs. Charles Miner Cooper these ideas began to crystalize into a very definite plan. A brief survey revealed the fact that many prominent workers in the field of international relations could be found in this region and that there was a wealth of material that should be made available to the public. Mrs. Cooper, in her spirit of service, generously contributed time and money to bring this conference into existence. She invited an interested group to meet with her, and out of this meeting a committee on arrangements was organized, consisting of the following members: Dr. Rudolph I. Coffee, chairman; Professor Kenneth Saunders, Professor J. V. Breitwieser, Mrs. Kathryn Frankland, Mrs. Ella Goodall Cooper and Mr. Leroy C. Ioas, secretary.
As the result of the work of the committee, a “Conference for World Unity” was organized and an interesting program was given before large and enthusiastic audiences.
The first address, by Professor Kenneth Saunders, dealt with India’s contribution to World Peace. Professor Saunders has been an intense student of the influence of Oriental thought and philosophy on the civilization of the world, and in a very scholarly manner presented the ideals of peace, contentment and non-resistance as they are taught by the Hindoo writers and philosophers.
Dr. Ng Poon Chew, the genial editor
of Sai Yat Po, pointed out[Page 96]
that the old China had been a peaceful nation “that was wont to sit in isolation musing:
“Far from the maddening crowd’s ignoble strife,
Her sober wishes never learned to stray.
Along the cool sequestered vale of life,
She kept the even tenor of her way.”
But a new China is coming, a new China is in the making, a new China with new life, new spirit, and new blood. A new China with new ambition, with new inspiration and with new aspiration; a new China with new ideas, new ideals, and new conception of world relations; a new China awakened to the consciousness of her potential power of her four hundred fifty million living souls; a new China jealous of her rights, smarting under the consciousness of wrong inflicted upon her by the powers in the past.”
He pointed out that if China is to be made the pawn of European greed and agression, she may become the fertile ground in which to sow the seeds of war.
“On the other hand, if the nations of the world will change their policy in their treatment of China, and adopt justice and equity in place of might and greed, the result will be peace and amity and good-will among the nations for ages to come.”
Some of the gifts western civilization has brought to China are standing armies and national debts, unknown to Chinese people before 1842.
The audience was thrilled at its good fortune in seeing and hearing the honorary-chairman of the meeting, Dr. David Starr Jordan, who presented in person the Essentials of his Peace Plan. In the words of the resolution adopted by the Senate and Assembly of the State of California, Dr. Jordan’s contributions to world unity can be described as follows:
“Whereas, Through the generosity of Mr. Raphael Herman, a prize of $25,000.00 was offered, under the auspices of the World Federation of Education Associations, for the best plan to accomplish this purpose; and
“Whereas, From over 6,000 plans submitted the prize was awarded to a Californian, Dr. David Starr Jordan, Chancellor Emeritus of Stanford University; and
“Whereas, The citizens of Santa Clara County, the home of Dr. Jordan, have arranged to give him a public reception on Tuesday, April 14, at San Jose, in recognition of his constructive services in the cause of world peace; therefore be it
“Resolved, By the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly concurring, that we extend felicitations to Dr. Jordan on this significant occasion.
“We join in honoring Dr. Jordan—the Man—the California Citizen—the World Citizen.
“As a man he has come to be universally recognized as possessing those qualities of heart and mind that we regard as the ideal of American character.
“As a citizen of California his years of labor in his own chosen profession and in the advancement of the state’s welfare, have placed the young men and women of California, and the entire state, under obligation that can never be fully voiced.
“As a world citizen, his broad vision and his humanitarian impulse have induced him to devote years of study to this greatest of international problems—the riddance of this mighty scourge of war, and the eventual achievement of international amity and good-will.”
On the second evening of the meeting Dr. Aurelia Henry Reinhardt, President of Mills College, pointed out how most of the differences of mankind are due to ignorance and[Page 97]
misunderstanding. She urged a broader, deeper study of humanity for the sake of a broader and more permanent happiness.
Dr. W. J. J. Byers, who represented the negro race in the conference, spoke of the numerous attitudes and situations in society which have caused hardship and misery to his people. He proclaimed a faith in the capacity of the negro race to carry its share of the burdens of humanity, and the willingness of the negro people to render their share of service.
The closing address, by the Honorable Clinton N. Howard, was a plea for the realization of the peaceful elements in Christ’s teaching. He pointed out how warlike elements had been injected into many of our songs, sermons and rituals. He called for the introduction of peaceful elements.
The climax of the meetings was probably reached in the addresses of the Honorable Torao Kawasaki and Jinab-i-Fadil on the third evening, the former speaking on Japan’s Contribution to World Peace and the latter on the Conquest of Prejudice.
The address by the able representative of the Japanese people made such a profound impression on the audience that the speaker has been kept busy repeating the address to many clubs in the San Francisco Bay region. He presented the stand of Japan in all of the conferences for world peace. He assured the audience that his country is ready to co-operate with all of the other great nations in coming to an understanding by peaceful methods in the settling of all disputed questions. He pointed out that Japan had already gone through her text books and reorganized them so as to teach their children the ways of peace. He deplored the work of jingoists and false prophets who would develop hatred and strife.
Then came the scholarly and gentle Jinab-i-Fadil, so well qualified to unify the ideas presented in all the addresses. His deep sympathy with and knowledge of all humanity was soon recognized by all who were present. In simple, clear language he pointed the way to real peace, to final unity. This address was a fitting unification of the thoughts that had been gathered together in the conference for world unity.
The closing address of the conference was given by Dr. Rudolph I. Coffee, who traced the ideas and ideals of peace through the prophecies of Old Testament times, the writings of the philosophers and the social consciousness of the present time. He subsequently expressed the hope that conferences of this kind may be held every year and that an organization will be maintained looking forward to definite objectives and plans for the next meeting.
Musical numbers added to the beauty of the program and the pleasure of the auditors. They were all artistically rendered and enthusiastically received.
When the era of peace on earth shall have become a reality; when the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man shall have become the creed of humanity; when the harsh reverberations of the din of war shall have died in the past,—this Conference for World Unity will be numbered as one of the incidents, as a part of the contributions that made a more universal happiness possible.
