Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-27
CHURCHES IN MOVEMENT
TO BETTER CONDITIONS
Commission Of Religious Forces In.
dorses Plan of Ministers for Spe-
cinl Services Sunday.
TO SAFEGUARD COMMUNITY
Pastors Will Preach Sermons, I'm
pressing Upon Congregations Duty
OF Protecting Moral and Spiritual
Welfare in Time of War.

The Commission Of Religious Forces
OF the State OF Virginia has given its
unqualified Endorsement to the plan OF
the ministers OF Richmond. to hold spe-
| cial services In all churches on Sun
day. for the purpose of impressing upon
congregation: the urgent duty which
| Is placed upon men and women to see
that every possible safeguard is thrown
out to protect the moral and spiritual
welfare OF tho community in this period
Of national Crisis
The commission, which was appoint
cd by Governor Stuart to cooperate
with the Virginia Council OF Defense,
has prepared an interesting report on
the paper which was submitted to 1t
several days ago by tho Richmond min
listers.
The report is signed by the follow
ing members OF the commissions: Rev.
George w. Kemper. chairman; Rev. J.
j. Scherer. Jr.. secretary: Rev. Russell
Cecil, D. D.. Rt. Rev. D. J. O'Connell,
d. D.. Bishop OF Richmond; Rev. w.
Asbury Christian, d. D., Rev. Edward
N. Calisch. PHI. D.. Rev. George w. Nc
Daniel, D. D.. and Rev. w. Russell
Bowie. D. D.
SPIRITUAL FORCES MUST
BE Modified AT ONCE
The report follows:
Our country. the United States, is
ngaged In the costilest. deadliest war
in all history. We are raising the
greatest army. qualitatively. ever or
ganized. Universal liability to service
has been voted; the largest war credit
in history has been adopted: the mo-
bilization of the material resources of
the country have been ordered. 1t Is
mete likewise that the thought and
energy of the whole church should be
concentrated upon this war problem,
that the prayers OF all the people
ascend in petition that our leaders may
be given the wisdom that cometh from
above. that our spiritual resources be
mobilizcd to preserve what is best and
holiest in our civilization.
by the end OF October there will be
gathered-for training or to be trans
ported across the sea-in that part Of
Virginia extending from Fortress Mon
roe to Fort Myer, approximately 20O,-
600 soldiers and sailors. They will
have come to prepare to offer their
lives in defense of democracy. They
Will form part of the first United
States army that ever fought on the
other side OF the sea. They will be
objected to temptations such as have
never before been faced by soldiers
of this country. The War Department
Will train them for their work In the
trenches OF France: the church should
see to 1t that they put on the whole
armor Of Cod and quit themselves like
men spiritually. The chaplains, the
Young Mems Christian Association. the
knights OF Columbus and the National
Jewish Welfare Board will have charge
of religious services in the camps. They
VIII do their bit In the camps; 1t Is
clearly the duty Of those who have
leadership in tile churches to do their
bit by seeing TO 1t that the commune
ties contiguous to the camps. in which
the young s"'dlers will spend their time
when on fl ' ugh. shall be kept clean
and full OF the power which tends TO
righteousness.
ASKS UNCEAsIN PRAYERS
FOR DEMOCRACY,S SAFETY
Therefore. this commission indorsas
the whole OF the paper referred to It,
and suggests that in the special ser.
vices to be held next Sunday morning
the pastors stress the following:
II. That the people pray INCREASINGLY
for the safety OF democracy, for the
protection OF our nation, for the peace
OF God upon the homes that sorrow
because their boys have been called to
war. for the spiritual welfare and
(continued on Third PaEel