The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-06
Was the Inspiration of
Washington, Lee and
Patrick Henry.
NAVAL SECRETARY
SPEAKS TO 1900
Extols Book of Books at Big City
Auditorium Celebration of Ono
Hundredth Anniversary of
Bible Society of Virginia.
introduced by Gov
ernor Stuart.

There Is only ono book that every
body knows" said Josephus Daniels.
Secretary or til. Navy. In his address
at tho City Auditorium Yesterday after
noon on the celebration OF the one
hundrcdth anniversary OF the Bible
Society Of Virginia. 1T Is the only lit
crature common IN baronial hall and
lowly hut. There Is only one book
the Bible" Secretary Daniels had
p-cfaced his concluding remarks by
telling the death bed story OF Sir Wal
ter Scott. who. III his last hours, asked
that Il passage from the book" be
read 10 him
What book" he was asked.
''rhe only book" tho dying man ex
clal,ncd-"the Bible"
TWO thousand men and women who
try TO follow the teachings OF the
Bible In their daily lives gave heed 10
Secretary Daniels as he spoke to them
simply o? his own belief He told them
that nothing In Gods world happened
by accident that II was not an accr-
dent that Patrich Henry, Washington
and Lee had achieved greatness or
that Virginia had become recognized
a., the mother OF Presidents The
secret OF success and achievement OF
Virginia and her sons. ne said. lay
in the fact that her civilization was
based on faith In the Bible.
1T is such scenes as this" he said.
that voice her superiority"
Hig Crowd Iicnrs Address
The celebration was presided over by
the Rev. Rusself Cecil. y D. actin.,
president. People began TO fiji the au-
ditoriun carly, and 1000 seats were
occupied when Secretary Daniels ar
rived He was escorted TO the stage by
Governor stuart, Mayor Ainslic. John
J.. Branch and Dr. Cecil a faint ripple
OF applause greeted him. The invoca-
lion was delivered By the Rev LLOYD
r. Wilson. d. d. and then. led by the
quartet OF the Union Theological Sem
mary. the audience stood and sang
that martial hymn OF many creeds.
onward Christian Soldiers" Scrip
ture was read, and, by special request.
the audience Joined In repeating, For
God so loved the world that he gave
Ills only begotten Son. that whosoevcr
bclieveth In Him shall not perish. but
have everlasting life"
Prayer was offered by Bishop Col
Inns Denny, and James Caskie read a
brief historical sketch OF tho Bible
was introduced by DR.. Cecil. and he in
turn presented the CHIEF speaker OF
the afternoon.
Introduced by Governor.
1T Ia difficult" said Governor stuart,
"adequatcly to express my apprecia-
tion OF the opportunity of participating
In occasion so significant and so
sacred. What possible estimate could
be put on the good that has been done
10y the Bible Society OF Virginia? As
] look on this book and between Its
covers, and AS ] think that II contains
knowledge OF all that we are. all that
we can do and all that wc hope to be.
II is difficult to estimate its influence
AS think that the light ot its teach
'ngs shine on every man, from the
cradle TO the grave. and that II IL
lumincs even the darkness of the grave,
10 estimate the good that has come
from IL is impossible. Ii is refreshing
10 see and TO contemplate the unpre-
cedented brotherhood that has resulted
from the teaching OF the Bible. And
how grateful must we be to know that
men In high places are being guided
by lis teaching and precepts. not only
In their official acts. but in their pri-
rate lives. We have with us an cx-
ample or such public ,nan. man
who has been able TO set aside his Of
hc!al duties to be with US to-day
present to you, without further DELAY.
Secretary OF the Navy Joscphus Dam
iels"
Forgctful. perhaps, OF the occasion
and the day. few people clapped their
hands In tribute. But Mr.. Daniels
went Mt once to his theme.
Some Virginia RccOrds.
AS sailor who harbors his feet
nt the mouth of a great river looks 10
find whence comes the mighty torrent
on which his ships ride at rest" he
said, so do we look TO see whence
comes the secret. from where the
strength which has made this old Com
monwcalth an example sought by men
IN public life. There IS no accident in
Gods world II was no accident that
Patrick Henrys voice WAS heard cry
ing in tho wilderness. 1t did not
merely happen that Thomas ~Jefferson's
pen wrote the most immortal docu-
ment or all time IL is NO nccidapt
that this Commonwealth IS known as
the mother Of Presidents. 1t IL no ac-
cident that, after a period Of section
aiIsm, when her convictions could not
OBTAIN. that she Is now returned as
the mother of American Presidents.
When the men in gray needed tho
Bible 1t did not merely happen that
pr. iioGc IL: tie blockade to England
10 get them. Ii was not an accident
That this country came recently to
pass piece of constructive legislation
10 restore our financial liberty. II
was no accident that the chairman OF
the Senate committee and the chair
man Oh the House committee were both
sons OF Virginia. 1t was no accident
that Maury charted the seas.
Source of Their Strength.
J ask you what was the source OF
theso mems strength? at what spring.
nave tho men OF this Commonwealth
drunk? 1t cannot be said that their
strength was due to superior educa-
tional advantages. For 1t was not un-
I'll Jefferson called them that they
t,nl u,neo 60 from the schools and universal
Ties or Europe. IT was not due to tho
fertility Of the soil. Scores of other
States arc equally fertile What was
tho cause of the union of church and
state to put tho Bible in tho hands of
(Continued on Second Pa0o1