REMARKS, NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF
CHRISTIANS AND JEWS

BALTIMORE

February 1, 1960

This great organization, which has done so much to acclaim the
noblest of human virtues—the love of fellowman, has paid me a high
honor by asking me to serve as honorary chairman of Brotherhood Week
for 1960 and by inviting me to come here today to attend its annual
meeting. I assure you that I am deeply grateful for the privilege.

All of us, I know, share a feeling of sadness coming from the knowl-
edge that it was Bill Hilgenberg who was to have presided at this meet-
ing, his last as chairman of the Maryland Region of the National Con-
ference of Christians and Jews. Perhaps more than anyone else I have
ever known, Bill Hilgenberg personified the high purpose of this organi-
zation—the brotherhood of man. His whole life is the story of a man
who worked hard all of his life not for personal aggrandizement or self-
ish fame, but to bring a happier life to those around him. He was
humble, generous, understanding and self-effacing. He was a friendly
man—so friendly, we all recall, that his countenance shone with kind-
heartedness and amiability.

In the various positions which I have held in this State, I had numer-
ous occasions to call upon Bill Hilgenberg for help. My experience was
the same as many, or perhaps most, of you had. Bill's response was
always: "Yes, I'll do the best I can. " And the best that he could do
always was better than we had any right to expect of him. On becoming
Governor, it was a genuine satisfaction to me to be able to appoint Bill
to a high office in our State government—to the position of Bank Com-
missioner. He served in that post, the same as he had served in all
other positions and in all other assignments, with great distinction and
with a deep devotion to duty. The news of his death last December
came as a severe shock to me. I know that all of you were grieved just as
I was. It was particularly saddening in that it came just before Christ-
mas, when Bill, as usual, was in the midst of many activities to make the
holidays happier for his friends and fellow citizens.

I can think of no higher tribute to this man, whose life was an
exemplification of the brotherly spirit, than that we here today, and
during Brotherhood Week which will come next month, pledge ourselves
to a renewal of efforts to spread brotherhood throughout the world.

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