El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-12
CAMP
PASTOR ORDER
Baptists Adopt Resolutions;
Claim New Rule Spiritual
Injury to the Men.

III VI y W 6ll6 Hlol.
Adoption OF resolutions on the sub
ject Of army camp pastors by the
representative OF the west Texas
Baptist churches in assembly at the
First Baptist church Wednesday night
was the principal business OF the ses-
sion. Rev. ]. F. Williams. pastor OF
the First Baptist church here. read
the resolutions. which. after setting
out the fact that the war department
has ordered the diseontinuanee Of the
work OF camp pastors, said
We believe that the execution Of
this order eliminating from var
camps all preachers directly response
bic to their denomination, would work
untold spiritual injury TO our SOL
diers." and asserts that I'VE enter our
uncompromising protest against such
an order and request our congressman
to vote against this order law"
BuptIsts in Army Thousands.
"In entering such protest and max
ing such request" the resolution con-
tinues. we maintain that as a relig-
ious body. numbering nearly 1900
900 members in the United states.
we are clearly within our rights as
denomination. There are thousands
upon thousands OF Baptists In our
army and there are many more SOL
diers. who. while not members OF our
church, are nevertheless believers in
the principles Of the Baptist denomin-
alton These should have the right
TO the spiritual ministry OF preachers
Of their choice and not be compelled
to accept the ministry OF men inn
posed upon them by their governme nt
and responsible only to an undenom-
national organization
Baptist Soldiers have an iualiena-
bic right TO listen to the gospel as
proclaimed BY men OF their choice
when the government Is not called
upon for financial support IN the mat
ter" the resolutions continue
The resolutions state that other de-
nominations have the same right as
the Baptists in the camps and con
tinue:
when soldiers OF any other faith
need spiritual ministration BY preach
ers OF their faith, they should be al
lowed TO enjoy such mlnlstratlon-
4svioIafi0n OF Religious Liberty"
1--WE urge that this order be rescind-
ed because its enforcement would be
violation OF the age long doctrine OF
religious liberty doctrine for which
Baptisfs have always stood and a
doctrine which finds its strongest ma
-ublic. To this country our forefath-
ers fled from the persecution OF autoe-
racy. political and religious. across
the waters. We boast that we ere IN
the war to make the world safe for
democracy, and that IS worthy am
bition.
shot ana shell. for the rights Of hu-
manitv. The right we are stresstnS Is
political liberty. and that IS trans
cendinE right, but rising far above
this in importance is the right OF re-
IEious uberty-liberty Of conscience
the right to worship God according
to the dictates OF our conscience, win
no human power to hinder OF 70
The resolutions close by -reassert-
ing confidence in our great preside nt
fin this world crisis and our BELIEF
that this is as righteous war as na-
lions have ever engaged IN
Rev. Mr.. Davis breaches.
Rev. J.. L. Davis. Of the East z Faso
Bautist church, preached the miro
ductory sermon OF the ~ 50 49, -
fist association WEDNESDAY. bis theme
being the Greatness OF the Harvest
and the Gail for Laborers-
AT the afternoon session. J. r quad
read reports on the orphans home az
Dallas. old ministers relief ana the
forums Inc E1u-leLa nave l-l7
nitsls at Dallas. Houston and waco
and are now preparing TO erect an
other in san Antonio Rev H F. err
million spoke on the tuberculosis
sanatoriurn which 100000 Baptists Of
the south intend to build in FL Paso-
At the close OF this afternoons ses-
sion the visitors to the association
Will be taken in automobiles 10 the
site OF the new sanatorium-
sInrfa Wants Next Meeting
The Baptist church OF Maria asked
for the association meeting OF 1913
The doctrinai sermon was preached
Wednesday evening by Rev W p
Ray. the new pastor at Alpine Pre-
vious TO the sermon. resolutions OF
sympathy for DR.. Jen D. Ray and fam
ily in the death Of Mrs. Ray. were
passed and DR.. J. F. Williams IN
structed TO send a telegram 70 that
effect DR.. Ray was formerly pastor
Of the First Baptist at this place
speak On Missions
During the Thursdays session re
port on missions was read BY Rev "
F. HatchelL Rev J. P. Daniels spoke
on city missions: Rev L r. Milican-
district missions: Rev c. D. Daniel on
home missions. and state and foreign
missions were also discussed at this
hour
Tonight the subject OF evangelism
viii be before the body and the dis
cussion viii be led by Rev. Mr. Yer
million