The Sentinel=record., 1916-12-10
BID'NT WANT RELIGION
 FORCED 0NT0 THE MEN
Has the Regular Army Chapains, Many of Whom Are Baptists, and Did Not Think 1t Was Necessary to Force Emotional Services on Those Who Might Object.

San Antonio. Tex, Dec. 9.-Major General Frederick Funston, command ing the department of the south to- ni9nt replied to the Rev. J. $. Gam brill, secretary Of the executive board of the Baptist general convention, ex- plainins the generals reason for not permitting reyiyals in the military camps here and along the border. Numerous Baptist conventions have adopted resolutions condemning what they understood to have been the generals action, and suggestions were made tiiat President Wilscn. as com nander in ohief of the army, be ask l to take some action in the matter.
 General Funston gave out copies of the letter today and in it he says in part
 From time to time have been .'e- cciying copies of resolutions passed by various Baptist bodies condemning nay supposed stand relative to holding religious services among the troops oH the border, and also have received Iumber of very unjust and in some eases abusive letters. from ciergymen ol the same denomination. Incide l. tally might say that | have had more letters approving my stand than have condeming it.
 This disagreeabIe incident, with all of it's annoyance to me of course arises from the statements made by you after your visit to the headquart- CTS a couple of months ago in which you sought to obtain permission 70 conduct series of revivals in the border camps You stated your bus mess to Colonel Barnum, chief of staff If Colonel Bamum stated at that time what denomination you be longed to, 1t made no impression ol my mind and if he had it would have made no difference whatever l tod officers 10 explain to you fully that while religious services along the usual lines were conducted in the camp but the Chapiails and other clerygymen and were welcome | could not give my consent to the holding of reviyals, giving the word as was jus tified in doing, it's usually accepted meaning
 "I told Colonel Barnum to explain to you why revival services would be out of place in military camp, citing the disgraceful performance in san Antonio last winter as an example of what reyivals are apt to develop into and drawing to a. certain extent on a general knowledge as to now reyiyals O. protracted meetings as they are some times called, usually are ended. l further instructed Colonel Barnum to say to you that | did not make the implication implication that because it was a Baptist revival or that I thought there were people who stayed at home who needed the revival work more tbaa the soldiers did
 Under the circumstances you i'm hgine my astcnishment when l read your statements to the effect that l had said that would not allow the soldie.s to be tod that they were lost
 You must know as well as l do that the sermons should he preached to the men and with all due co trtesy l feel compelled to say. your making repeatedly resolutions you are quoted as making is inexcussable and did me a great injustice The only time the word lost was by me was when said that did not accept the view that be- cause man put on his country's uni form he was lost. l say frankly that I would not want to take chances on allowing a series of reyiyals or pro tracted meetings in the camps. am justified in giving the word revival it's usually accepted meanings series Of meetings conducted day and night fer an indefinite period with loud exportation and singing and much emotionalism How about the riehts of the men who do not want ta attend revivals, and who do not wish