The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-04
|RElIGI0US FDleE I ]
COMMISSIONS Call
sEnr-sAoRrFToE Is REQUIRED.
War Situation win Make Necessary
the submerging Of Ones Own In
terests for His Country's Good.

The Commission of Religious Forces
of Virginia held an interesting meet
Ing at the Capitol at noon yesterday
and, as a result of the deliberations
of the body. gave out message to
the ministry of Virginia through Gem
eral f. w. Nichols, chairman Of thu
state council OF defense. Rev DR..
Russell Cecil. as a committee for thA
! commission. prepared the .communicA-
tion, which was unanimously adopted
as the body's expression.
The com mission Is DESTROYS of
arousing the people of Virginia to Z
full realization OF the war situation
and of the necessity that they should
approach this situation with a spfrft
of selfsacrifice and with determine
ton that they will backstand the gov.
eminent to the uttermost IN the sup
l port oe the army and navy to O. sue
cessfuI conclusion OF the conflict.
This message to the ministry of thA
state is as follows:
| Commissions Message to Ministry.
Richmond. Va, Nov. 5, 1917.
"Geheral e. w. Nichols. ~
Chairman Council of Defense.
! Richmond. Va
Dear General Nichols:
! The commission of religious forces
desires through you to address the
ministry OF our state upon the situa-
| ton created by the great war In
which we are now engaged. We feel
| 1t to be a matter of vital Importance
: that the ministry. who have the ear
/ of the people as no other class. should
fully realize the necessity Of arous.,
ing In our people spirit OF patriotic
activity and self-sacrifice in support
of our government. The army and
navy, which are being rapidly pre-
pared for this great struggle. are conn
posed of selected men from all our
churches and homes. The lives Of
these young men. physically, morclly
and spiritually, must be safeguarded
from the hosts of evil which assail
them; and In this matter the govern
ment needs, and calls for the assist-
ance of all good citizens. There should
be no hesitation on the part OF the
ministry In presenting this matter
with all earnestness to their people.
| II this great conflict against evil,
monifesting itself In cruelty. injus-
tice and oppression such as the world
has never known, is to be won tor
God and Righteousness, IT will be 1t
/ the cost of all the consecrated and
unwavering effort In which we can
| possibly put into 1t.
4 Urge Food Conservation.
THE ministers should urge their
people TO fully md heartily Cooperate
| with the government in the conserva-
ton of the food supply. We are In
the midst of that campaign now, and
! this is the time when every one of US
should be awakened to~hfs- dt.ts'.--ff-
/ 1t is our duty as individuals to help
! the needy 1t Ia also the duty OF the
| whole BODY OF citizens to help the
needy nations of the earth. We should
be just as ready to send assistance
to the suffering people In Europe ~
| we are to relieve the needy about our
| own door; and unless our hearts can
| be touched by their cry to such m
extent that we are willing to endure
sacrifices for their sake we cannot
perform our duty toward them. Every
household in the commonwealth OF
Virginia should enter earnestly into
| this campaign to conserve our food
supply that we may send help to our
allies in the war.
This is not altogether a question
| of sympathy with the suffering: but
| II La also q question of seh-defense-
| II we do not want this war to come
l. TO our shores We are Bound to help
the people abroad. and to stand UNI
ninchingly behind our own army
which is being transported to the
scene of conflict with all the earn
estness which we can. command -
urge the ministry Of the state to raise
their voices in this great cause.
Tho ministry must also co-operats
| in the effort to raise the necessary
! funds for the support of the Young
! Mems Christian association. this
knights OF Columbus and tho Jewish
/ Welfare Board work In the army and
| In prison camps, both at home ana
abroad. These are the agencies chos-
en- by the government for providing
something like home life for our sol-
diers, as well as entertainments ana
religious instruction for them. 1t y
the unanimous conviction OF thosos
| who are best acquainted with thu
work Of these agencies that It enterA
! into the Anal result tar more than
many people suppose.
"It affords moral protection to our
| young men, and encouragement "a
them in hours of loneliness. and II h
a means of grace to them In their
! fight against the evil influences which
| surround camp life. It Ia q medium
| through which religion is preached -
them by chaplatns and ministers who
are invited to address the soldiers.
"All of the money asked for in the
support OF this work 10 needed, and
1t should not be withheld. Tho tnins
listers through the state can be Of In.
mense assistance In raising this fund
II they will give themselves whole~
| heartedly to 1t. 1t Ii hoped that dur.
| ing the week from November III -
the 18th. which Is devoted to thia
campaign, that the ministers VIII give
their assistance In every way pos
sible, and that on November 4 they
| win either present the matter to their
people themselves. or have someone
else do II for them.
| Should Pray for Success Of War.
TN response also to the request 81
the government that the people should
| pray for the success of this war
against the gigantic evil which hAa
disturbed the peace of the world. and
threatens our civilization, we venture
| to remind the ministers of the stats
that we should call our people to con-
! fession of sin. humiliation before God,
and to earnest prayer, IL we wish tho
Divine assistance In this struggle.
| After all has been done that -
and our allies can possibly do In our
own strength, we will fail without the
omnipotent hand Of God: unless thu
| Lord Is with us we cannot hope ~
succeed. We therefore urge all pe0-s
pie not only to enter this war againHl
evil with all their might and main.
I q - =.