The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-29
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
FREDERIC J. HASKIN, Director,
Washington, D. c.
RETIGIoN IN THE CAMPS.

Washington, d. c., March 26.-The
variety of religious faiths in America !
! is ctrikingly Illustrated by religious
census recently taken of the men in
Camp Bowie. Texas. by the editors of
"a camp publication.
This investigation showed that no
! less than thirty different religions
! had adherents among the recruits
| The Baptists Toned the largest single
group, with 5,319 members of that
! chul oh. This preponderance was due
to the fact that Texas is an especially
strong Baptist state. The Methodists
| were second in numbers with 4,92S.
The bird largest group consisted of
| those who professed no religious
faith at all OF these there were
| 1857.
| The Roman Catholics in this camp
numbered 2.190 and the Greek Cath
olics 10. There were 145 protesting
Hebrews. The Congregational, Epis
| copal and other large Protestant de-
nominations We're we'll represented.
! Tner- were nine Mormons and four
Holy Rollers. Sixty-eight were Chris
| tan Scientists. One man gave the
Church of God as his choice. and an
other the Salvation Army. Other re-
ligioEs represented were: United
Brethren, u; Theosophists, l; Sew
enth Day Adventists, s; Reform Tenn
plA, p; Nazarenes, 10; Holy Ghost
| churcE. D; FRIENDS church, 10, ana
| Holiness church, "a.
1t is stated that similar studies will
| be carried out in all of the other
| camps. If this is done, a most in
teresting body of material will be col
| lected as to the religious beliefs of
the younger generation of American
| men. The number who profess no
| faith at all is partial confirma ton of
the statement which has often been
made, that religion is losing its hold
|
younger generation. 1t may be pretty
| certainly prophesied, however. that
| the war will see considerable revival
of religion. In Europe religious faith
has been greatly stimulated by the
war. In this country the churches
have seen a great opportunity in the
gathering of men at the training
camps, and are sending their most
eloquent prea cheers to talk to the re-
| cruits. They are also doing much
| and very commendable work of a
practical sort, in the way of providing
men with books and amusements and
places to spend their leisure.
One marked effect that has already
| been produced, is the mitigation of
prejudices and rivalries which have
denominations and sects. The three
main bodies of religious belief in this
country are Protestant, Catholic and
Hebrew. Each of these bodies has
| SSilL IT'S representatives TO the training
camps and naval stations: each of
! them has erected buildings and in
augurated various activities for the
comfort and amusement of the men.
These organizations are all welcomed
by the commission on training camp
activities on the condition that none
of their activities be limited to one
religious constituency, and that all
buildings erected at the environments
be open at all times to all men. The
result is that the Young Mems Chris
tian Association, the knights of Column
bus and the Jewish Welfare Board
have all erected buildings at various
points, which are open to and used
by whoever among the recruits desires.
COmradeShip and amusement are Of
|, fered to all without any question as to
faith, and it is stated that there has
not been the slightest effort a pros
elyting.
This tendency to eliminate the sec
tartan character of religion is greatly
stimulated by the attitude of the men
themselves. They are not .inclined to
listen to discussions of creeds. The
preachers. to reach them all. have got
to make religion very practical show
its application to life. The young
American is unsentimental if not
| Skeptical; he is not interested in myS-
ticism and inspired preachments. He
will not listen to any man who does
not appeal to him as a man.
= | % imperative Is lulS Ieeu LOT TALK
ing about life rather than religion
| that it is often difficult to tell from a
) sermon what faith the preacher rep
resents. The story is told of a fond
; Baptist mother who went to church
| with her son in a training camp, and
t when she went forward to thank the
preacher found to her amazement
that he was an Episcopalian.
Often Catholic and Jewish services
are held in the buildings of the Young
Mons Christian Woo
versa. Altho he is exposed to a great
deal of religion, the young recruit
t must be an expert in dogma to avoid
: getting the brands mixed.
The Rev. Joseph H. Odell, who has
written an interesting book on the
r spiritual life of the army men, states
t that religion is getting a new hold
upon them because it has made itself
useful and interesting to themA Re
ligion in the camps has been human
, lied. The soldier of the national army
a no longer connects religion with dim
silences, Sunday clothes and hard
pews. His pastor is no longer a man
apart. but a member of the sa me mill
e tary organization himself He
smokes writes letters to his girl, plays
games, sees movies, and watches box
= ing matches in the same building. and
n from the very same bench where he
sits to hear the word of God.
All of these things are said to be
bringing the soldier back to the
I church. or closer to it. The idea seems
| to be that the man cannot fail to alb
sorb little religion, even tho he fire.
quents its establishment mainly for
o other purposes.
n But there are certainly stronger in
, fluences than the physical comforts
and conveniences, which the churches
o OFFER to soldiers, that are tending to a
o revival of faith. In the first place
men in the mass have a distinctive
. psychology, and one which is GER
: tainly favorable to the development OF
= religious faith In the great gather
= ings of the soldiers there is neces-
sarily something of the quality which
e enters into cann meanings and other