The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-08-29
SOLDIER BOYS
LISTEN TO
FATHER YORKE
Are Addressed on the
Subject Of Duty.
WHAT THAT WORD IMPLIES
SOLDIERS AT CAMP MERRITT
WERE NOT DEPRAvED.
The Alleged Conspiracies Against
the Government Of the United
States Explained and
Ridiculed.
WHAT THAT WORD IMPLIES
SOLDIERS AT CAMP MERRITT
WERE NOT DEPRAVED.

"a Soldiers Duty to God, as Well as to
His Country was the subject Of an inter
esting and instructive lecture by Fatner
Yorke last evening before a large audi
ence of soldiers at the Catholic Truth
Socety's tent at the Presidfo.
The main object Of the lecture was to
show that in addition to obeying the COM
mands of the officers of the army the SOL
der should remember his religion and
obey the duties required by it. In speak
ing of the repulsion which a common SOL
der is forced to experience and undergo
in saluting his superior officer and treat
ing him with more respect than is af-
forded himself, he said:
ut is not the man you look to so much
as the people and the country which he
represents. 1t is the flag and what 1T
stands for that you should take pleasure
in saludng while recognizing your supe-
rior and paying him every respect.
by the same manner in which you ten
der your duty to your officers you should
endeavor to conform to and practice the
duty you owe God. No man who does his
duty to his God can be a bad soldier.
lit is not for me to explain in de-
tall" he continued, what your duty Is.
we must naturally expect to have a SUI
perior, a head, as 1t were, to govern over
all. People daily will tell of your nisdo-
ings told through the medium OF the ne. press sss
goes for naught when you know that
what is said is not true and that you are
loyal to your nation and loyal to your
God.
when there is the slightest trouble at
the camp there is tremendous outcry
that soldiers are becoming insubordinate
ings. 1t is a pleasure, notwithstanding
public comment, to review the conduct,
in its truth. of the volunteers and regulars
the Preside. There was some cutlery
about the moral condition of Camp Mer-
rift and the outrages practiced there by
the soldiers. Stories of insults being tend
cred children and women became topics
of general conversation. The public,
through various sources, began to view
the place with horror and repulsion.
Such stories and lies as these were IN
suits to the soldiers. No better evidence
of the falsity of the rumors can be mad
Truth Society, who aver that during their
long-coutinued work in the camp they had
not received even as much as an indlca-
tered there They have always been as
gentlemanly as they would have been In
their own homes in the presence OF their
man may do or how much his character
may be belied by others he has nothing
to fear but his conscience and his Re
whether YOU cross the seas to join
your comrades on the field of battle or
whether you remain at nome, remember
wherever you are and receive the honor
as though you had gone through the bat
ties fought. You should not only remem-
Der that you have taken vow to protect
the flag, but a vow to support It,.
.Those outside the Catholic faith say
that we are conspiring against the Gov
eminent and hold all sorts Of meetings to
cause its overthrow in dark cellars and
other mysterious places. If we plot and
conspire for this country we do it for its
good. When peace is declared and you
go back to your homes and the people
there talk about us in the old way, re-
member that we have done everything in
our power-and we have tried to do our
best. This you can understand. boys:
women who have done so much to aid
you and watch over your welfare by max
ing your life in camp as pleasant as pos
sible In conclusion, l would ask that
God take you in His safe keeping wher-
ever you are. I hope the day will soon
come when peace shall be declared, that
you may return to your homes and form
er aVocationS."