The times., 1899-06-11
ground for claiming them on the side of

The navy.
Ii has been urged, with reason that the
life of sailor is not conducive to the de
velopment of Christian character. Con-
tinual change of scene, involving new in
terests and diversions contact with peo-
pie Of many different creeds and national
ities alternate hardship and ease. idieness
and activity. and long periods during which
the seaman has to suffer the deprivation OF
the society of all who are dearest, combine
to make even the mariners life one that
hardly admits of the cultivation of the
spiritual side of his nature. And If this be
true Of the merchant service, how much
more may il be true of the Navy? In times
Of warlike excitement such as those we
have Just passed through, when our sailors
are called to resist the countrys enemies
when scenes of battle, bloodshed' ana
death are familiar; when carnage, snip
wreck and disaster are episodes OF ire
uuent occurrence, how shall man engaged
in such work give heed to the affairs OF
eternity?
But truth is mighty" and the facts
which are now brought out in the corre-
spondence given in subsequent pages el-
fectuaiiy confound the inidel assailants
and establish the character of our naNal
leaders for orthodox Christianity II IS
with genuine pleasure that we give space
10 the letters themselves. OF the aclNe
officers of the Navy. not one who has been
communicated with has failed TO make
satisfactory declaration.
Rear Admiral Montgomery Sicard, one
of the senior ranking officers in the May
thus places himself on record: noss
heartily answer in the affirmative all oil
the questions you ask in your letter 10
me. Furthermore. / can say that 40
not see how anyone can reasonably uouo'
the truths OF Christianity.
Speaking from a lifetime of observation
in The United States Navy, Rear Admiral
n L. Howison, writes: Il have been and
am row impressed with the belief that the
naval men, as a body, are believers III
Christianity and large number members
of Christian churches. / am frlend Oh
Christianity. My belief extends to the rec
ognition of a Supreme Being, TO the Dl-
vinity of Christ. to the SURPRISING potency
Of Christianity as civilizing influence. l
wish you success in your good work
Admiral upshur's Views.
Strong and impressive are the views eX-
pressed by Rear Admiral ]. II. upshur In
his letter he says: Although l am rath-
er averse to seeing my name in public
print. the questions you have put are
fraught with such dignity and importance
to all mankind that l do not hesitate TO
/
| iy impressed with the Importance OF Chris
! tiapity TO the world. Without its potent
influence. | am persuaded we should soon
| er or later relapse into semi -barbarism.
Mental strength, il derived alone from the
highest culture and refinement falls FAR
short. in its benign influence, of that de-
rived from a firm belief in the lessons OF
| God and of his Son, Jesus Christ. true
civilization, / believe, can be derived from
/ ff,n let n
Rear Admiral Thomas S. Phelps, in CIV
ing an affirmative answer to all the ques-
tions. adds that he believes the impression
! the chief agnostics have SO industriously
endeavored to disseminate, that the public
men, foremost in our Government and in
our Army and Navy, largely hold infdel
views, is unwarrantable.
An admirable letter comes from Rear
| Admiral Francis A. Roe, who writes: Il
I am friend and a believer in the Christian
religion. OF all the religions which have
! appeared among men, Christianity is the
only true one, and it alone has brought TO
men solace in their sorrow, and hope
4 in their souls. / recognize the existence of
| Almighty God the Father of men, and Je-
sus Christ as his only begotten Son. In
/ the history of mankind. of states and ma
| tions, no philosophy or doctrine has been
as potent for civilization and amelioration
as the religion of Christ. 1t is the only
source or fountain of righteousness, JUS
| tice, or peace to man ON earth"
Rear Admiral Samuel R. Franklin gives
a hearty assent to ali the questions in the
letter of enquiry.
Rear Admiral James A. Greer writes:
| Having been a professor or religion for
more than forty years. l will. in reply to
| the questions propounded. in your favor oil
I'd instant, say emphatically, Yes.
| Admiral + Stanton fretiredl }.
writes: 4 believe in the existence and rule
of a Supreme Being, in the Divinity OF
Christ, and in the surprising potency OF
Christianity as a civilizipg influence. One
of my hopes and prayers is that all the
peoples of the world may some day be
Joined in a universal brotherhood of Chris
tian love and Christian civilization" /"
Commodore Frederick Rodgers writes
himself down ''emphatically a friend OF
Christianity and a full believer in it.
believe in the existence of Supreme Be-
ing, in the Divinity OF Christ, and. more
over in the imperative necessity of suct
belief for the maintenance of civilized gov
ernment OF the people"
| Many of these letters, from men whose
modore w. X. Mayo writes: Il am tn,
child of Christian parents, and made
public profession OF my trust in the atom
ing grace of our Lord Jesus in the Pres
byterian Church. at Norfolk, Va, ere
was twenty years of age. There was moth
ing remarkable about my conversion, a
this act is popularly called; 1t was simpl!
the outward evidence Of an internal make
up'-a natural endowment-and nearly al
of my seventy years of life have been 81
full of Joy and gratitude that my matil
song is Holy, Holy, Holyi Lord God Al
mighty
Il have lived long enough, have seel
enough of men and manners. have s.
often enjoyed the consciousness of a di
vine helper being near me when in cir
cumstances of trial and danger, as t.
know that ny faith in God, Jesus, and tn
present help, the Holy Ghost. does no
5 come out of that book which men cali tn
: Holy Bible, but that the Holy Bible /
7 the outcome OF that religion OF facts. whlc
requires faith and not understanding [
! perceive. The primal disclosure of Go
2 the native propensity to religious thought
constitute the reason of my faith, whic
: gives me trustful reliance upon God. bless
ing him for the covenant of his grace an
Jesus the mediator of it. and the Hol
l Spirit, to guide and govern in the beaut
OF holiness"
t Capt Robley D. Evans, better known q
Fighting Bob" the commander of tn
Indiana, in answering the enquiries, begin
by saying that he has no quarrel with any
one on religious grounds, as he believe
in absolute freedom in such matters; bU
he adds: You may be sure that 1 am
S friend OF Christianity, and firmly bellev
that 1t is the keystone OF the social fab
ric and the greatest of all civilizing infiu
/, ences."
The Army.
I In times of war, with a large army
= active service, one might suppose ths
i there would be very little opportunit
for the incubation and growth of Chris