The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-23
RELIGIOUS FORCES
Commission NAMED
Governor Desdgnates Influential Min
listers to Garry On Patriotic Work
In Churches.
SIMULTANEOUS MEETINGS
THROUGHOUT STATE jun, 3
Council Of Defense Takes Cognizancsc
of Shortage of Medical Men In Ger
tain sections ofa Statc-Byrd Sug-
gests Census OF LsOnfcrs In Cities.

Religious denominations OF the state
will throw their weight and influence
into arousing the citizens of Virginia
to the, vital issues underlying the pres
ent war, and their duty as patriots.
the commission of religious forces OF
Virginia having been appointed yes
terday by Governor Stuart to prose-
cute this work. Prominent Rich
mond ministers compose the commits
sion. and they #Fll meet this morn
ing at II o'clock m the first formal
gathering. when their permanent
chairman will be elected and their
la hors planned in detail
To bring the war message to the
people of the state the work of the
commission will. in holding meetings
all over the state in church, chapel
and mission simultaneously on June 3,
when the question Of war will be dis
cusSed and the demands OF registra-
ton day, June 3 brought to the peo-
pie II is planned to have an immense
nterdenominational meeting in Rich
moni on Sunday. June 3. the gather
ig to he held at the city Auditorium
at which prominent speakers will
MAKE addresses
Yesterday morning the special com
mittee from the Ministerial union met
with the executive committee of the
state council of defense in the senate
cham ber and discussed the manner
in which the church could aid the
council in the defense preparedness
and war measures now being under
taken by the council for the state.
Governor Stuart was requested to APP
point the religious commission to CO.
operate with the counsel and q body
fqftisfai}y Known RS the comm lssio1 Of
the religious forces of Virginia. COM
posed of the following. was named
The Rev. George W. Kemper. pastor
OF Hanover Avenue Christian church;
Rev. ". Asbury Christian, Bishop p.
y. O'Conueli. OF the diocese of Rich
mond: Rev Edward n. Calisch, of
Beth Ahahah temple: Rev. w Rus
sell Bowie, of St. paurs Protestant
Episcopal church: Rev. George w.
Mcdaniel, of the First Baptist church.
and Rev. J. ]. Scherer. Ir., OF the
First English Lutheran church
To Direct Organized Bodies Work
The commission is to undertake to
map out and direct the activity Of
ali organized religious bodies in the
state having to DO specifically with
cooperation in making Virginia pre-
'hit ~ 40 fEtT iGti part III Ife war.
The clergymen will endeavor to have
every minister in Virginia preach
about the vital issues underlying the
present crisis in an endeavor to make
the people of the state grasp the fun
significance OF the state OF affairs.
The religious organization will also
look after the welfare Of the families
OF young men who have been sent to
the front. if occasion arises that they
need assistance
AT the meeting yesterday morning
it was decided that the meetings be
held in every city and community in
the state on June 3. conducted by
ministers. when the war issues would
be discussed. and various patriotic
features be on the program. Here in
Richmond an Immense meeting is
planned to be held at the City Audi
torium which will be under the aus
pieces of all OF the. churches of the
city. The ministers VIII send out to
every clergyman in the state a letter
explaining the plan of the religious
commission, and asking their coop
Ministerial Committee Confers.
The fact that in many sections OF
the state there is a serious lack of
medical men to care for the ordinary
needs of the communities, and this is
likely to be aggravated when many OF
lns PHYSICIANS are calleu INTO naNaI
and military service, yesterday caused
th> council. on motion OF r. Walton
Moore, to take cognizance of the situa-
ton, and requested DR.. Ennion G..
Williams, state health commiss' onar,
to bring the matter % the attent zen
% the state board of medical ex-
ariners, and the authorities of the
r,edicaI schools and the Medical So
city of Virginia. and ask that they
take such steps as necessary to meet
the situation Virginia will be called
upon for many physicians for active
service and In order that the defect
en,y may be flled. and the present
condition cared for il is believed tn; I
there will be many advance gradua-
tiohS.
Grafton In the work.
To Take Ioafers' Census.
Chairman Richard Evelyn Byrd, Of
the executive committee OF the coun-
Gil. yesterday suggested at the meet
ing that a census be taken OF all the
loaters OF the city. especially the well
dressed loafers. and steps be taken to
have them put into military dutics.
Since on registration day the majority
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