Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-29
Religious work Among Our Soldiers.


To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
AS showing what can be done for the
religious welfare of our soldiers, l beg
that you will publish the following recent
letter from Tampa TO the Atlanta jour
nal. Rev. DR.. A. c. Dixon is wei known
In Richmond, where he once preached for
DIR. j. b. Hawthorne in great revival.
The success which has attended the
labors of the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION at Camp Lee shows what a
work may be done there if the preachers
end Christian workers of Richmond will
throw themselves into this golden har-
vest-held, now ripe for the reaper.
j. WILLIAM JONES.
Richmond, May 18th.
(Staff Correspondence Of the Journal)
TAMPA, FLA, May 2O-When the
United States army invades the Island Of
Cuba the soldiers viii be accompanied
by religious workers. who Will minister
to their spiritual welfare, thanks 10 Z
plan conceived and put in operation by
Il. l.. Moody, the great evangelist.
This religious work will be done under
the auspices of a new organization
known as the Army Christian Commits
sion, which is union OF the Young
Mems Christian Association Of the world
with other evangelistic workers for
the cause of Christ. These two forces
are ItDltStHttu ii ldihpet, nANiC viz
main body OF the United States army now
IS. by Mr. w. Il. Ship. of New York,
general secretary Of the Young Mems
Christian Association, and Rev. A. c.
Dixon, Of Brooklyn. respectively. Df.
Dixon Is the pastor Of the Hansen-Piace
Baptist church. Brooklyn. and is one OF
the most able and eloquent divines In
the country. About two years ago he was
asked TO accept the pastors place in
III. .l.. # asata hut
declined II. From DIR. Dixon, L have
learned something Of the Christian move
ment iB the army. its purposes. methods.
and scope.
Some ten days ago." said DR.. Dixon,
"Mr. ID. l.. Moody sent for me to come
and see him. / went and he told me
something must be done TO preach the
GOSPEL TO the United States soldiers who
were preparing TO invade Cuba. He out
lined his plans to me and asked me to
start the work In Tampa. consented to
do 30. and getting a leave OF absence
from my church, leaving my assistant
pastor in charge, / came at once TO
Tampa 10 begin work.
about the same time the Young Mems
Christian Association decided 20 so 10
work among the soldiers. and workers in
that organization came here 70 establish
reading and writings-rooms at the vari
Gus camps and TO pursue the social as
We'll as the religious branch OF the
Young Mems Christian Association work.
Then General o. o. Howard. that IA
NOUS Christian soldier. who fought more
battles In the civil war than any other
man, came 10 Tampa TO labor in the
cause OF religion. General Howard, by
the way, was converted and became a !
christian In Tampa forty-one years ago /
General Howard looked the field over
anu then undertook a fnrYf "a ttffo % s
The two forces--the Young Mems Chris I
uan association and the eyangelists. In
TINS he was eminently successful, and 1
the result Is the Army Christian Com I
mission, an organization that VIII prose- i
cue the cause of religion with energy
snd vim, both here and IN Cuba. Work. /
sis o. the commission Will accompany