Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-10-23
DIFFERENCE
THAT DIFFERENTIATEs
Church Commissioner Says Fighters
for Allies Typify Their
Cause

you cannot imagine a more abso-
lutte difference than that which differ
entiates Foch. Pershing, Haig and
King Albert from Kaiser Wilhelm,
Hindenburg, Ludendorff and Mackan-
sen," says Nr. Charles s. Macfarland,
Commissioner from the Federal Coun-
ell Of the Churches of Christ in Amer
lea TO France DR.. Macfarland who
has just returned conferred with Gen
eral Pershing, Marshal Foch, and
King Albert and describes Pershing as
revealing wonderful qualities of STRAIT
egic skill, together with the personal
qualities of modesty, unselfishness
and self-effacement. Also General
Pershing's character and personality,
his simple and spiritual ideals before
our officers and army.
OF Marshal Foch, he says:
Marshal Foch is deeply religious
man with almost childlike simplicity
During his great offensive, he took
time to talk over the moral and spir-
itual needs of our army. especially
when they should face the winter
months"
King Albert, he describes as a re-
firing modest man of sweet DISPOSE
ton, but brave and determined. He
found the King and Queen living right
at headquarters with the army, close
TO the trenches
Dr. Mcfarland says that his great
est hope of the future comes from the
personal impressions of the Allied
Generals. They are not only clean
high-minded religious men, but clear
ly humane, just and tender. This is
the feeling one gets from personal
contact with them.
"Clearly-the unreasonable spirit
ual difference between the two forces
is symbolized by the difference in
these two groups of leaders," con-
cludes DR.. mcfarland.
The French Protestant Federation
sent back a dignified and beautifully
expressed message to the American
churches.
Considerable space in the report is
given to the American Army in
France. OF General Pershing, DR..
Macfarland says: His character and
personality, his simple and genius re-
ligious life, his example and words,
have set great moral and spiritual
ideals before our officers and army.
While it is true that our men are ex-
posed to the unusual and severe temp
tations and the moral perils incident
is such alliance between the military
forces and the associated agencies for
their moral and religious help that the
moral character of the men is higher
than in our ordinary civic life at
home and, believe, may be said to be
constantly improving"
The chief difficulties are reported
as encountered at certain ports of en-
barkation and in camps in the larger
cities and towns, in many of these
cases the situation being deplorable.
The opinion is expressed that 1t
should be taken up jointly by the mill
itary and civil authorities in the
place.
The Y. NJ. C. A. is described as a
marvel of administration; the Y. w.
C. A. as doing its army work within
wisdom and effectiveness; the Red
Cross as ministering to our boys in
the very spirit of Jesus; and the Sal
walton Army workers are highly
praised for their unselfishness, bra
very and modest. quiet efficiency.
The army chaplains are said to do
us credit. to stand infinitely higher
in the army than ever before, with
their influence constantly increasing.
The very greatest care is, however,
urged on the Councils and the do
nominational committees in select
ing the men The chaplains are work
ing under great difficulties through
lack of adequate equipment and OF
transportation facilities and they are
said TO be entirely inadequate in num-
Der.
Senior Chaplain Brent sent a mes
sage TO the Wartime Commission in
which he SAYS: I'VE beg of you 10
think of one thing-the choicest man
hood of eur nation is in France or
headed toward France under the DOM
ination of the spirit of self-sacrifice"
The report suggests that church
commissioners, to be very limited IN
number. be appointed to visit the
chaplains and other religious work
ers. such commissioners TO be ap-
pointed by the Federal Council.
Perhaps the most important part
of the report deals with the future
of religion in France. DR.. Macfar-
land is confident that the national
leaders, publicists and the Govern
ment itself. instead of continuing a
neutral attitude which forbids the ex-
preston of sympathy for any form or
religion, will take the very different
course of expressing sympathy to-
wards all forms of religion. There
are in France three elements:-a large