February 3

Today is a feast day, in the Episcopal Church, of the Four Chaplains. After the SS Dorchester was hit by a German torpedo, these new chaplains who represented different religious traditions helped soldiers to board the lifeboats. When the soldiers ran out of life jackets, they donated theirs to the troops, linked arms, and sang hymns until they went down with their ship. Their names were Reverend George Fox (Methodist), Rabbi Alexander Goode (Reformed Jewish), Reverend Clark Poling (Reformed Church in America), and Father John Washington (Roman Catholic). 

Today is also the feast day of former samurai warlord Justo Takayama, who died in 1615. He converted to Roman Catholicism, ruled as a kirishitan (Christian) daimyo (feudal lord), and was eventually exiled from his country. Though he had the opportunity to return to try to depose the anti-Christian shogun, he chose a nonviolent path. 

Today also marks the day that the 15th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified in 1870. It guaranteed the right to vote regardless of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” but did not extend the franchise to women. 

Reflection: 

Justo Takayama wrote to a fellow daimyo to assure him that he would not take up arms to oppose his exile: 

Joan Baez said about violence and nonviolence:: 

Prayer: Author of the world’s story, we are confronted every day with impossible tasks and impossible choices. Help us to do the tasks of kindness and to choose the Way of Love.