Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-17
For sabbath observance.

To the Editor OF The Times Dispa'
Sir.-As a lifelong subscriber
your paper. | have noticed with 81
ful interest certain editorial uttera|
touching tn" sabbath breaking 81
ton AZ Camp Lee. These artI
strike a strange note IN Virginia u
naiism They have distinctly 4
tonic sound. G"rmaniZiEG ,end.1
which would reduce our people io|
low moral level. and the stiil ID
spiritual level Of the "Fathcrland.'
is hard to believe that sentiment
which once sat men OF whom III
X. Eilysun was a type. Among all
friends and associates ] nave gel
find on" who agrees with YOU II
IL rather an outSpoken ConGcmn:f
OF your attitude in this matter. bec|
IL is believed 10 miSreprcs.n, the
inss of those Tor whom you assuni
speak.
Your argument of March - Is a
gular one Iou say the prOtes, OIL
Ministerial C.!on OF Richmond Isl
unwarranted interference with Il
authorities within whose provincel
regulation or such activities rel
Are those authorities above tnking|
vice from amy quarter. however
nined and Intelligent the source :?
so. the sooner they arc stripped
their badge the better. And whal
you understand 10 be the province
ministerial union II We mistake
II is to take coSnizaice OF ana OPT
any and all practices which mako
irreiisioH and unriS
this they deserve, and doubtless u
the backing Of their great Chrii
constituency for, however loosely
day observance may be regarded
some. 1t is generally accepted as Il
vine command by all denomination
this part OF the world, and Is
written into The statutes Of our 81
Yet YOU say that in deprecatingl
violation or impairment OF this law
once human and divine. these mini
OF the Gospel are guilty OF impcrtiI
meddling.
Tho article proceeds: "Tt is the
OF the War Department 10 manu-
ture soldiers at the various campsl
What the country wants is an d
OF strong. manly men, and 81
modification Of the old. puritanical
ideals Will do them no harm"
Slight modification" is good,
one who knows the proper usc|
words. From ''puritanical ideals
the Sunday dissertation complaint
is just the distance between CD
Washington, with his noble COZ
triots. on the one hand. and the
Kaiser, with his horde or barbCi
Huns, on the other. DO you prefe I
which ii has produced. or the AIne
sabbath with it's concomitant Chri4
civilization" Your argument W
seem TO be that, 10y doing away
the Sabbath we shall have ''an arm
strong. manly men" DO you cXpe}
this way TO produce better sol
than those who fought at Ma
Moor and Naseby, at Lexington
Yorktown. At charlottesville
gettysburg? Is IL thought that
obedience to the highest law viii
duce to the making of more I'm;
soldiers? We ca2 understand ht
goddess sabbath might give us \
efficient mnrdercrs, but never n c
tian warrior whose name will be 1
Shrincd in the hearts Of coming gci
tons. / cannot imagine Cromwe
Jackson or Lee spending the Il
day, or any part OF il, at vaudt
show. Can you? They had very
ferent conceptions OF what I'm
relaxation" was best for men eng
in such serious business. Your pos
as leading newspaper is one fra
with Sravest responsibility. an
seems TO me that you would s
with more caution, or not speak
on matters of such weighty con
II is significant that the Trades
Labor Council has just adopted re
tons rejecting the sentiments
you have been so diligently prop;
ing. Thus our influence tells, for
to- OR for worse. LAWYE
Richmond. Va. March 1G. 1918.