Religion: For Finland

At the urging of Herbert Hoover, national chairman of the Finnish Relief Fund, Inc. (see p. 7), last Sunday was made Finland Day in many a U. S. State and city. The nation's most famed Protestant preacher, Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, composed a prayer for the occasion:

"Eternal God . . . Thou Who art of too pure eyes to behold iniquity, look.upon the desolations that are wrought in the earth, and the evil of men who will not do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God. We, Thy servants, humbly confessing our share in this evil, pray to Thee against war. . . . We ask for mercy, human and divine, upon the people of Finland. Let not our imaginations fail to see their plight. . . or our hands be slow in helping their affliction. The families that ruthless violence puts in jeopardy, may our generosity assist; and the hapless victims of hunger and homelessness, may our plenty supply. . . ."

One bet the Finnish Relief Fund nearly missed. Near week's end it was reminded (by TIME'S Religion editor) that in the newest (1935) Methodist Hymnal, Hymn No. 73 is sung to the tune of Jean Sibelius' Finlandia. It begins:

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. . . .