Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-10
Calls Rev. Gambrell to Task
for Statements of Border
Revival Episode.
STICKS TO HIS FIRST STAND
Ayers a Man Is Not lost"
Simply Because He Dons
Nations Uniform.
GENERAL DEFINES REVIVAL"
''Day and Night Meetings,
Loud Exhortation, Much
Emotionalism," Says.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. o.
Major General Frederick Funston.
commanding the department of the
south. tonight replied to the Rev. ].
s. Gambrell, secretary OF the executive
board Of the Baptist general conyen-
tion. explaining the generals reason
for not permitting revivals in the mil
itary camps here and along the ,bor-
der. Numerous Baptist conventions
have adopted resolutions condemning
what they understood to have been
the generals action and suggestions
were made that President Wilson. as
COMMUNICATIVE chief of the army, be
asked to take official cognizance OF
the matter. A resolution asking for
information on the controversy also
has been introduced in congress.
General Funston gave out copies OF
the letter to the press today and in
II he says in part:
More Praised Than Conjcmned.
From time to time l have been re-
ceiving copies OF resolutions passed
by various Baptist bodies oolidemning
my supposed stand relative to holding
religious services among the troops on
the border, and also have received a
number Of very unjust and, In some
cases, abusive letters from clergymen
Of the same denomination. Incident
ally might say that have had more
letters approving my stand than 1
.aThis whole disagreeable incident.
with all Of ita a1iuQyanee q me- OF
course arises from the klatements
made by you after your visit to the
headquarters couple OF months ago,
In which you sought-to obtain permits
slcn to conduct series OF revivais In
the border camps. You stated your
business to Colonel Barnum. chief OF
staff. II Colonel Barnum stated at
that time what denomination you be-
longed to, II made no impression on
my mind. and II he had II would have
made no difference whatever. i told
that officer to explain to you fully
that while religious services along
the usual lines were conducted in the
camps by chaplains and other clergy
men and were welcome, / could not
give my consent to the holding OF re-
vivals therein, giving the word, as 1
was justified in doing, its usually ac-
cepted meaning.
soldiers Not "Lost'.
'.I told Colonel Barnum to explain
to you why revival services would be
out OF place in a military camp, citing
the disgraceful performance in San
Antonia last winter as an example or
what revivals are apt to develop into,
and drawing 70 certain extent on q
general knowledge as to how reviVais
or 'protracted' meetings. as they are
some times called. are usually con-
Quoted. further instructed Colonel
Barnum to say to you that / did not
accept---in fact, resented-the impli-
: cation that because a man had put on
his country's uniform he was neces-
sarily lost or worse than other men;
that I thot there were people VINO
stayed at home who needed revivals
worse than the soldiers did.
"Under the circumstances you can
imegine my astonishment when read
your statements to the effect that /
had said that would not allow the
soldiefs to be told that they were
lost. You must know as well as l
do tfat the doctrine that should be
preached to the men was never once
considered or mentioned. and, with all
due courtesy, feel compelled to say
that your making repeatedly the
statements you are quoted as making
was absolutely inexcusable and did
me a great injustice. The only time
the word lost was used by me WAS vas
when I said that did not accept the
view that because man put on his
countrys uniform he was necessarily
lost
"Revivarr Defined.
rs frankly that I would not
went 20 take chances on allowing a
series OF revivals or protracted meet
ines In the camps. i am justified In
glving,the word revival ITS usually ac-
certed meaning series OF meetings
continuing day and night Tor an IN
definite period with loud exhortation
and singing and much emotional
irrn. How about the rights
OF the men who do not want to at
tpnd revivals and who do not wish 20
be disturbed by them7 Are they 70
be compelled TO leave the camp which
In their home and wander about town
or thru fields TO get away from them
Has a man no rights because he Is a
soidier7 There are many religious
people who disapprove strongly OF re-
vlvala. with their attendant emotion
alism. And, anyhow. be q man re-
llgious OF irreligious. be he Christian,
Hebrew or Mohammedan, no other
person has a right oa rub his belief
or hlr worship into his face-that n,
70 bring n into the place where he
has 4 right 10 be and where he can
not escape from Il without abandon
ing that place.
aHeart 10 Heart.S
Now let us be perfectly honest II
n not a fact that you were badly put
out because I could not let you have
your way about conducting reviv9ls
IN the campo ana that you said 70
yourEelf:
"sWhy, the idea OF that obstinate
iitfle cuss not letting me do as pleass
and prcsuming that he knows more
about what soldiers like than DO
1 will warm his fncket and make II
just na Gisagreeable for him ~ can
III ycu will acknowledge that
shall acknowledge that voc succeeded
and everybody ought 70 be happy"