Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-12
A MEMORABLE SUNDAY IN FRANCE
(By Rev ]. L. Vance. Secretary y. =
NJ c. A Ice Plant Hutsl.

(By Rev. ]. L. Vance. Secretary y.
NJ c. A. Ice Plant Huts).
In some respects there is no SAP
bath day in the army, yet, but dint
OF wise and earnest effort. the sa-
cred fires OF religion may be kept
burning, and that is the real y -
job. Many things conspire TO ham
per us and to obscure our vision Of
the proper task, and yet our Iabors
are much blessed OF God, though
rounGly "cussed" by a small god
less crew. and damned with faint
praise by an occasional censorious,
or envious sniping magazine writer
Four issues of my home church
paper arrived today and even the
ads are greeted as old friends.
So far as l know not more than
two or three United Presbyterians
have passed through our hut in my
four or five months, among all
the thousands of soldiers that We
have served. Two OF them were
members OF my own congregation
Frank Smith and Earl Williams
Our army in France is large.
was Weakened this morning by
4 tap at my door, and a voice an
swered my RESI- Onse by saying, MIR
Secretary, is there any way a fel-
low can join the church here IL
FTance?' l replied at once, Where
there is a will, there IS way
had announced that it would be
communion day, and added these
words to my bulletin, If any SOL
died has not already made the
Christian beginning, there is no
better place 10 start than France
That notice brought this boy to a
decision. He was evidently in
earnest. After a heart to heart
talk and prayer, he signed a brief
simple confession, which he agreed
willingly to make publicly when he
would come for baptism. Richard
Lee Chinn of Hannibal. Mo, is one
Of the youngest fellows over here,
and shows this high type of moral
courage. 1t will bring joy to the
heart of the home church and pas
tor and home folks when my letter
arrives asking that he be enrolled
as a member.
Z
have had bible class at 9 a. N.
following series of studies in the
decalogue under the general topic,
Gods Laws in Times of Wars"
We have just finished the course
today, and are beginning a new
service on Realities of Religion"
truths for men of all creeds. We
had serious and lively discussions
on practical applications of every
one OF the 10 commandments. All
shades of opinion are discovered.
and II is clear that unless we hold
to the perfect fixed standard or rev
eIation, every man will be a law to
himself and hopeless confusion
must result, An elastic measure IS
uncertain and unsafe in any realm.
A kind OF straw vote has been
taken on the above question. The
result shows a very superficial pop
ular conception of sin. The faults
and fOibles of the soldier are listed
instead of the things that are pr
and most highly displeas-
ing to God. These four things have
been seriously selected as the sins
OF the army: COnceit. COwardice,
selhshness and laziness. No apOI-
Cgy or excuse can be made for those
evils. But every one knows
that the most fragrant sin of the
army is blasphemous profanity and
every sort of vile language Why
be ashamed or afraid TO make the
or confession! And
" hat folly it is to insult the God
MI r1. 4
agree that victory would - impos- /
slblel Our army is wfckedIy and !
profane Joan Of Arc /
refused to begin her mission Of de-
Iivering France till the army was
and spiritually renovated. (
For several months il was nv lot I
to mess with one large group of
men who were fine fellows most Of .
hem in every way except thai /
wearing had become epidemic
among them. Sometimes it was al
most impossible TO sit out a meal at
he table. But by quiet influence.
protest and appeal it came about
hat cursing stopped, and on their
OWN motion | was requested to ask
blessing instead. and for the last
wO weeks of my stay with them
We never missed having grace be
ore the meal One week ago now
had to change my mess to a new
-Toup of men who had fallen into
he same pernicious habit These
men also knew my aversion TO the
Practice. and received in the kind
lest way my counsel against such
nbecOming language In a half
layful and half serious mood the,
themselves proposed to begin u
Intimate all cuss words. The
leans used makes jolly good sport
q itself They fixed a fine Of %
ents, one-haIf franc. for every oath /