Interfaith Observance – 1975 National Day of Prayer, United Nations + NY Community – media report

Filed under media coverage Text & Photos | Prayer or silence day - event | Significant events & meetings

 

24 Jul 1975, “The USA, Host country for UN Headquarters in New York, Declared a National Day of Prayer, inviting all to participate in their preferred way. At an event organized for the UN Community, Sri Chinmoy presided over an Interfaith gathering of representatives from major religions. NY Times quoted Rev. Dr. Potter, Executive Director Council of Churches, City of NY calling it:: “most representative gathering of religious leaders ever held in the city”


To commemorate the National Day of Prayer, on 24 Jul 1975, Sri Chinmoy presided over an Interfaith gathering of representatives from the six major religions.

The New York Times reported: ‘most representative gathering of religious leaders ever held in the city’.

– quote to NYT from Rev. Dr. Dan M. Potter, executive director of the Council of Churches of the city of New York

img156-24-jul-1975-nat-day-prayer-sri-chinmoy-leads-silence

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  • Below is link to the text and photos from the booklet  produced for event;
  • Also covered by UN Secretariat News

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  • More Excerpts from NY Times coverage:

.“Sri Chinmoy...presided at the hour long ceremony. He opened the meeting with as silent prayer, standing behind a plain white marble altar.

“Then in brief comments, the leaders representing Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Baha’i and Muslim groups — called upon Americans to renew their dedication to the eternal” in prayer and asked God to led all the nations in ‘Paths of righteousness

The speakers in addition to Dr. Potter, included the following…(from)

  • NY Board of Rabbis,
  •  Buddhist Monastery of America,
  • Brooklyn Diocese of Roman Catholic Church,
  • Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America,
  • Baha”i International Community,
  • Muslim Prayer Group at the UN,
  • The Sufi Order,
  • Queens Federation of Churches,
  • President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York.

Following the commentaries, excerpts were read from:

  • President Ford’s statement proclaiming yesterday as a National Day of Prayer,
  • the late President John F. Kennedy‘s inaugural address and
  • the writings of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Sacred Fire, a 30·member choral group, sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “America the Beautiful”

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6 FAITHS PRESENT AT CHURCH CENTER; Leaders Mark National Day of Prayer at the U.N.  By GEORGE DUGAN; July 25, 1975, , Section , Page 35,

Leaders of six of the world’s major religious bodies marked this country’s National Day of Prayer yesterday at a ceremony attended by 100 people in the chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations, at First Avenue and 44th Street.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F70E1EFA3B5E157B93C7AB178CD85F418785F9

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1975 Secretariat News UN National Day of Prayer_LI-para-marked

1975 Secretariat News UN National Day of Prayer-1 jul photo with caption

ny-times-image-1975-07-24-nat-day-prayer-un-community-partial-image-of-page-printed-25-ju

ny-times-image-1975-07-24-nat-day-prayer-un-community-full-image-of-text-printed-25-jul

See also text and photos from the booklet  produced for event:

PDF of booklet of day in 4 parts:

A  –  day-pray-at-un-1975-jul-p-01-18-intro

B  –  day-pray-at-un-1975-jul-p-19-54-pray-clergy

C  –  day-pray-at-un-1975-jul-p-55-70-prayer-sent

D  –  day-pray-at-un-1975-jul-p-71-98-readings