The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-05
Editor Nirginian:

Eittor Nirginian:
Sir with thanks 10 The Virginian
and to John s. McGroarty. OF the I.oa
Angeles Times for the introduction.
"" uncover to Gertrude Dodds Trcher
Of III" little sun harbored town Of
Hueneme ~ -nay-me) on the golden
coast If glory. where the purpled Ven
tura hills keep watch above the sun
set seal ushed amid lush mead
ows and the golden apples OF Hes
perides tide haunted with endless
voices. wacm with sun and welcome
morning canop!cd with the unrivaled
dawns OF gold and crimson and the
exquisite tones OF every color
Gertrude's dream here where won
aerinS clouds gather at the close OF
day as Cypsies 10 a rendezvous and
float Ike isles of amethyst upon azure
skies Is that the mission bells on
the kings highway IL California shall
he rung once each day at fixed hour
In remembrance of our soldiers in the
trenches over there" in the allen
lands May GertudeS dream come
true and the suggestion which il in
spired in the mind and heart of Mr..
McSroartN and which is presented
with sucn fervor and exquisite diction
he adopted throughout the patriotic
America
This SUGGESTION that al a given hour
each day the bells Of ali the churches
schoolhouscs and town halls Of
America hc rung and az that moment
all The people keen tryst In a prayer
service. hcseeching the God Of MS
lions 10 bless our cause and our
boys, is not "a mere pretty sentiment,
but very practical idea The very
coin of our realm bears the sta MP ~
our trust in God, America. on her
knees a n given hour every dav as
the bells ring out their call to PRAYER
in city village and hamlet would in
deed be the soul of America storm.
ing the gates of God" and would DO
worth iteiy more than our neces-
sary munitions of war.
Every true American heart Is aglow
with patriotic fire. Call has followed
call for cooperative effort in con
tributinp to the victory for world
wide democracy and the response has
been maRnticent But has America
gone to her knees in that spirit of
humble faith, trust and importation
which Is her privilege and duty?
While the Cooperative and co-or-
dlnating spirit bounds with reference
20 food and fuel saving and pouring
ont of individual treasures to supply
the cotterS Of our government with
ample funds to finance the war
while men and women arc yielding
themselves living sacrifices to their
country and humanity would 1t not
be well that our bells ring out their
call to prayer at high-noon every
day and all America reverently bow
at a common shrine, implorinE the
God of nations to bless and preserve
our dear boys and save the worlds
airars of freedom from destruction2
Well does Mr. Groarty say, And
what would 1t mean TO them over
there In the trenches and in the flame
OF battle? God pity the Hun any
way. but how far more futile would
he be to withstand the soldiers of r.
free land who fought with the armor
of prayer upon them. At the
stroke of the hour their hea de would
he barred too and they would say,
I They are thinking OF us now at home.
Our country is speaking with God, No
sword can conquer u.s."
Let's ring out the bells TO heaven
and panoply our soldiers and the ma
ton with prayer,
W NJ BICKERs.
Richmond, Va. April 3, 1918.