The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-06
Plan Started Here To Put More
Spirituality in War.
Mrs. w. S. Amos Would Make
Move Nationwide.
DIR. KULP APPEALS TO WILSON
President Asked To Give His
Sanction to Movement.
Whole Nation at Prayer Would
Have Great Influence.

A movement which is soon to be
set on foot in Topeka, and expected to
become nationwide. if not world
wide, is a plan to help in turning the
minds of the people into channels of
greater spirituality, looking toward a
rallying of psychological forces, as an
aid in bringing about a righteous ad-
justment of the world conflict. The
plan has been presented to the gov
ernor of this state. and has been sent
to the president of the United States.
An idea somewhat similar to the one
originating in Topeka has been at
work in the minds of a group of New
England club women, but so far has
taken no definite form a working
plan.
The idea first took root in the mind
of Topeka woman, Mrs. w. S. Amos,
who interviewed DR.. Edmund ]. Kulp
of the First Methodist church, proba-
bly, the most Influential man in To-
peka on matters pertaining to the war
He was highly in favor of the idea
and wrote at once to President Will
son, who is personal friend of his,
suggesting that he present to America
and to the heads of the allied nations
a plan for fixed time to be set aside
in which all the people of all the ma
tions nigh pray, unitedly, for righte-
Gus peace. He suggested that some
part of Good Friday would be an au-
SpiciOus time.
Await Reply From Wilson.
Doctor kulp, as personal acquain-
tance of the president, who has been
rather close to him in times past, was
in a position to reach him by a per
sonal letter, and he expects a reply
within a few days. Doctor Ku1p was
in New Jersey when Woodrow Wilson
was president of Princeton university,
and during the time he was governor
of New Jersey. He knew him quite
Intimately and dealt with him a good
deal in the days of his administrators
as governor.
Mrs. Amos will speak on the subject
at a meeting of the board of directors
of the Woman's club Thursday morn
ing at 1920 o'clock. The president of
the club, Mrs. o. L. Moore, is per-
sonally favorable to the idea. In a
discussion of the plan Mrs. Amos said !:
I'VE are living thru the greatest
ira gedy the world has ever known, and
if the religion of this nation is any
thing but a pretense, now is the time
for us to exercise it. If the God we
pretend to believe in is not myth,
we are justified in thinking He listens
to prayer. We have our days for do
ing without meat, and other days for
foregoing wheat, and we are recog-
nizing to the fullest extent the nations s
duty in sacrificing material things.
Neglecting Spiritual Things.
But there is a feeling in the hearts
of people all over the country that we
are not paying much attention to the
most important feature of the whole
thing, and that is the spirituality of
the individuals who make up the ma
tions The whole history of the con-
flict is rooted in the spirits of men
more than in any outside circum-
stances. The nobleness of the spirit
of men who can give up their lives
for the security of our liberties, calls
to US to exercise every means for the
, cultivation of a deeper spirituality and
a greater realization of the impor-
tance of the inner life. Think of the
tremendous influence, of the psyche
logical power-recognized as a science
and no idle theory-in a whole race
, swept on as by a wave, of awakening
, spiritual consciousness. The hearts of
people are touched now as they never
were before, and men and women ev-
erywhere are eager for the comfort and
hope of the indestructible side of life
outside of frail, material agencies. I
am sure that the majority of the peo-
! pie would be glad to participate in a
! united petition for a righteous and
! ant