The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-09-08
No Longer 4 Third Sex.

the country Wnen they come DacR.
That is taken for granted. Every
gift within the power OF the nation
will be given to them. AS they
please, they may make over our
civilization.
Among the soldiers in France,
have been, are, or will be, before
they went abroad, were trained TO be
leaders; they have had in the army
new liberation OF personality. What
are they going to do in, to or through
the churches when they come back !?
In even greater degree than their
soldier comrades, since they are all
drilled in the art of self-expresSion,
they are going to make operative at
France.
Already the pressure OF these
ministers who have seen military
service is being ielt upon religious
activities in certain communities.
This is but ioretaste of what will
happen when, in their new freedom
and self confidence and cosmopoli-
tanism, the army and Red Cross
chaplains and Y. NJ. {. A. and X. of
{. workers return to try to fit into
their former places.
1t is not popularity known that
the number OF clergymen who have
gone into military and naval service,
in one capacity or another, is now
we'll up in the thousands, Some OF
these are army and navy chaplains,
working in the hospitals. Others are
X. of {. chaplains. a very large
number are in the y. NJ. c. A. work.
There is no denomination, and
scarcely any nei&hborhood, that has
not sent ministers into the Service.
incidentally. this has created Il
vast unscttement in ecclesiastical
affairs. 1t has left many pulpits
vacant, and caused widespread
shirtfing OF relationships. There is a
shortage OF preachers, and OF other
workers. This fact is complicated by
the condition that many young men
who might otherwise have entered
the ministry have donned a uniform
instead There is a shortage OF
students in theological seminaries
even more marked than that which
exists in college and universities. The
shifting and changes in pastorates
necessitated by the exit from the
pulpit to army and navy has resulted
in the consolidation OF many neigh
borhood congregations.
This condition OF things is likely
to grow more acute. The call of the
service is continuous increasing. The
number OF chaplains and welfare
workers. grows greater steadily.
Far sighted ministers are asking
themselves, and one another, what
will be my influence after the war
il had no part in it? Won't sense
of comradeship and service loyalty
take the returned soldiers to the men
who have worn the uniform with
them. and who, they think, under
stand them as no stay-at-home
minister can do. For reasons OF
prudence, ii for nothing else, is it
not important that preacher should
have at least six months service with
the colors p Perhaps this is not the
highest form OF reasoning, but it is
current, none the less. And it is one
OF the factors operating to send
abroad a large and even preponderat-
ing proportion of the clergy of
America.
What Every Chaplain Knows.
France works wonders with
preachers. They slough off their
professional manner and tone with
amazing facility. The change from
clergical garb to uniform helps in
this. 1t stresses the wearer's indentity
as man and comrade and soldier
on service. 1t emphasizes his oneness
with his fellows rather than his
apartness from them. This sense of
isolation is the hardest burden that
many a minister in civil life has to
bear. Conditions seem TO conspire
10 set him off as "a third SEX. in the
famous phrase of the cynic. Oace he
dons his country'S uniforr1 he feels
freed from his condition OF peculiar
ity.
Every chaplain knows that it is
4 comfort to get rid Of many of the
conventions incident to the clerical
office. Plunged into mans world,
he realizes how much OF his time
has been claimed by women's work;
and how steadily he had to conduct
himself with an eye to feminine ap-
proval. Many OF his parish tasks,
he now perceives, were OF an office
boy sort, and not worthy OF the time !
and energies OF red blooded man.
Frankly, entering the Service has
meant ior many minister full,
free, fair chance to stand on his
feet as man among men; and TO
vindicate the profession which in his
soul he knew to be handicapped by |
a profusion OF conventionalities and |
customs which were hindrances /
rather than helps.
After he has preached from gun |
carriage or 4 broken wall and admin
istered communion from an altar
improvised of cracker boxe and
given spiritual consolation TO the
sick and the dying in untheological
phraseology; and has seen real
religion shiningly exhibited by men