The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-08-18

1lSe tne bIeat QuetlOli- w Ill the
people back home learn before 1t
is too late the lessons which the war
has taught the soldiers?" There is
no problem confronting the nation
more important than this. Upon
the answer to this query depends
the fate OF the social order.
Churches, especially, should heed
the monitions of the men back from
the front. This war has been pro-
found spiritual experience for the
soldiers. 1t has not conformed
them to the conventional standards
of church membership back home.
They are less than ever like the
commonly conceived type of re
ligious" man. Anybody who thinks
that the war has been a sort OF
sublmated Billy Sunday campaign,
to Convert" the troops, is due to be
sorely shocked when the boys come
back. OF piosity and churchianity
there is less among the fighting men
than ever before.
Nevertheless, it still holds true
that in simple, direct, elemental
and basic fashion, the soldiers have
entered into new experience OF
religion. They have accepted God
as present reality. They have
come to a sure faith in future life.
They have a achieved and new re-
spect for the spirit of man. The
divine quality OF certain great prin-
eiples, such as justice, righteous
ness, courage and mercy, has been
made plain to them. The essential
Righteousness of the cause for which
they are fighting has grown to be
an article of the unformulated creed
of men at the front; for they have
perceived the character of God.
Faith Without Frills.
Home folks may as well prepare
Tor a surprise when the boys come
home, startlingly matured and sell
confident. These men, who have
faced the great adventure have
a new life of reality and freedom
that they have known. All the acre
tions of custom and usage, which
have grown up around religion and
social relationship at home, have
been missing in France. The chap
lain has been without any churchly
furnishings. The Y. NJ. c. A. has
,,.Iac al,
boards of directors. Such funda-
mental lines as those which have
divided Protestant from Catholic
and both from the Jew have grown
dim or disappeared.
Nobody except the newcomer
remarks the fact that within the
Y. NJ. c. A. hut, at different hours
OF the same day, there are held
Catholic masses, Jewish services,
Protestant meetings and Christian
Science gatherings. Sure? Why
not" comments the soldier.
Be it observed, there are never
any denominationad services among
the soldiers in France. One looks
IN vain for Methodist, or Presby-
terian, or Episcopal, or Baptist, or
Lutheran or Congregational meet
ings. Nobody pays any attention
to these lines. When communion
service is held, whether it be Bap-
tist, Episcopalian or Methodist, all
who desire to participate are made
welcome. Divisive tests that are
common in the home land would not
be suffered here. Even those who
are not members of any church, but
who desire. in reverent faith, to
partake of the symbols of the Great
Sacrifice. are invited to do so. Yet
it is only few years since the Estab-
lished Church of England was rent
by great controversary over the ac-
ton of bishop in admitting clergy
men and other Christians of nom
episcopal body to share in sacra-
mental service in Uganda, Africa.
Faith there is among the troops,
deep. rcverent and vital faith; but
tlCle Is as llttlC IilNANSt ii 'hN
historic creeds and forms of govern
ment and distinctive politics of the
various bodies as there is in the
various brands of food substitutes
that are current in Germany.
of religious expression which they
find over in France as the outreach
OF the home Christians. The church
has come to them in the person of
the chaplain, who may or may not
be a guide, counsellor or friend"
and of the Y. NJ. c. A. worker
and X. OF c. secretary, who tolls
night and day at the dreary round
Whether this is a religious emanci-
patton or a religious detection, 1t is
a fact. and to be reckoned with by
the home churches.
Religion In Tin Hat.
Our soldiers do not fceI at all
alienated from the home churches
by their new views and practices.
They look upon the radical forms
of assorted tasks for the help of the
men: and of the Salvation Army
lassie, with her pies and doughnuts.
Christianity. as it has come TO the
camps and trenches is as broad as
the new views of men themselves.
There is nothing puritanical or re-
-m1a as-~H