New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-27
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.


r,,r GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE ARMY AID
ASSOCIATION URGES ATTENTION TO THEIR
MORAL. AND RELIGIOUS CARE.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Civ. Late events in history have shown the SUI
norlority OF an educated, intelligent sodier!'
s,vi,p Of NAPOLEON that moral to physical force IL
az two 10 one IS truer to-day than when nrs'
spoken 1t was Illustrated IN Cromwers oid ron
sides" in ''IIavelocks Saints" in the Franco-frus-
sian War and. more recently. by the japanese.
The recent call OF President Mckinley for 100"
volunteers and the passage Of the Regular army
Reorganization bill increases the strength OF the
perInanent forces 10 sixty thousand men ana MUS
tiers into the active service OF the Ih''eu "'"'oS VA
Army aggregating $4,000 troops.
The query becomes pertinent at this time whether
the Christian Church and public bear any reia'lo"
10 the foregoing fact. Have they any auueS VI I"
moral and spiritual character toward thiS DooE Vi
men shortly TO be separated from every sprlluai
oversight and homo tie. and TO be exposed to the
possible temptations and vices peculiar 10 mill
tary life? l. no. this subject fraught with much
that is Timely for considera on and serious thought
Can this Nation afford to be Indifferent TO the moral
needs OF those whom it calls into its service is IL
not clear from the Christian standpoint. at least
that they should he met on the threshold OF tent
and barrack life with moral and religious infu-
onccs?
believe It Is known to you that for many years
| have been engaged in the study Of army morals
making two voyages TO Europe for the purpose or
observing the discipline and morale Of European
armies and In the attempt TO put into practical
operatiOn abe methods most calculated TO promote
Christianity and good morals In our own Army, as
well as advance the educational interests OF the
troops. II is true that these efforts have been or
a very reserved luited character; largely, IL not
entirely from Il lack of the means with whch Il"
proceed. Nothing IS harder than the attempt TO
arouse enthusiasm In the public mind IN reSard
TO the military forces in peace times. NO great
cause can be carried forward without what has not
inap:lV been termed the SincWs OF war.
But the foregoing is only preliminary to the an
nounCement that ] stand ready TO Join III any gen
cral movement to revive the United states Chris
tan Commission which did 30 noble work among
orr soldiery in S6l-6J. believing that the men to
compose our armies Will be entitled TO the
same care AT the hands OF their countrymen and
women. and prove equally worthy. | am reminded
that s. cary 1860 my friend. r. r. McBurney
uhon. as now. general secretary OF the Young
Mems Christian Association. and myself. had con-
VcrSed on the subject OF some active Christian ei-
fort on behalf OF the younG men of our Army. The
breaking out Of the the following year brought
us face to face with the problem. and produced the
Christian and Sanitary Commissions. which fol
lowed the Army everywhere. miniStering 10 It's
spiritual and temporal comfort. until the war
drums thrObbed no longer and the battle-fags were
furlcd."
The suggestion herein made will | believe. meet
the approval OF working Christians generally
JOHN r. KETCHUM.
No 50 Nassau-st., New-York. April % 1925.