Arizona republican., 1916-10-20
M|[|TAR|STS AND PAC|F|STS IF TIE
 CHURCH IN CLASH
Republican A. p. Leased wirel


 ST. LOUIS. Oct. Militarists clashed with pacificists in a debate on prayer in the house of deputies of the Protestant Episcopal general convention here today. The issue which arose over the proposal of the commission on the enrichment of the book of common prayer to add prayers for the army and navy divided the body into two factions.
 The prayer which was adopted and Ipon which most of the discussion vas based was recommended by the commission It asked Lord, God of hosts to strengthen and protect the soldiers of our country; support them in the day of battle and in time of peace keep them safe from evil" It llso pleaded that fin all things they nay serve without reproach." A similar prayer suggested by the com nittee for the navy was also adopted.
 One faction led by Rev. John How 'rd Melish. of Brooklyn, held that any var is un-Christan and that on sol Her can serve without reproach The ,ther of which Rev Leighton Parks, of New York, was spokesman. while lot championing war argued that it is the duty of the church to pray for hose men who forsake civil pursuits n which the remuneration might be sreater for the service of their coun- try
 Previously several delegates had lrged the inclusion in the ritual of prayer for world peace The Rev. w. H. Milton, of Wilmington. N. C., introduced a resolution to this end which was referred to the commits sion. If approved by the house of bishops the prayers for the army and "a in faf in, ba next three years and will be acted ipon finally at the next general con 1 -ention.
 | Dr. Melish said that if these prayers were adopted an irreparable injury | would be done the youth of the na - l ton.
 l q 1o not desire to participate in a | lebate on the question of national | preparedness" he said. But if we l idopt these prayers We shall be do- l ng an injury to the youth of this 'ation that is irreparable. It is true | If a nation as it is of an individual
 hat whatsoever man thinketh in l his heart so is he. If we put a UT nation and make the petition | prayer like this before the youth oi
 which this prayer makes, you are
 ringing upon this nation in the years ahead a catastrophe similar to that
 which now is overwhelming the na-
 ions beyond the Atlantic"
 1 Dr. Melish said ne believed in pray 1 ng for soldiers and sailors and urged
 he adoption of the following substi- ute:
 l "Oh God. who has taught us tC
 owe our enemies and to do good unto | hem that hate Us, bless our soldiers
 md sailors for the swift obedience
 nd their willingness to answer tn,
 call of duty. but inspire them non, i he less with a hatred of war, anC
 nay they never for love of priva1, l glory or advancement. provide it
 oming. May our young men still re | oice to die for their country with thu
 'alor of their fathers. but teach oul
 lge nobler methods of matching ou
 strength and more effective ways O. | giving our life for the flag"
 Dr. Melish was supported by tn,
 Rev. F.. L. Parsons, of Berkeley, Cal hartman of the commission whicl
 made the recommendation: The Rev | J. E. Dunn. of Lynchburg. Va. ant
 francis L. Stetson. of New York | The commission reported tn
 7rayer uttered by George Washington | when he laid down the supreme com
 nand of the federal army could no n their judgment be substituted fo he prayer of our country, recon 1 mended by the commission. Tn l proposal was re-committed
 The joint commission on text book | of English and American history re : ported to the house of deputies toda
 that it had conferred with authors c Paris in the falfof 1914. has been place on the retired list at his own reques He had never returned to the iron since he was wounded by shrapnel fir ! in March, 1915. while inspecting ad
 vanced positions. The field marsha