Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-13
AT HIS ALMA MATER
AFTER THREE DECADES
General Leroy S. Lyon IT, S. A. Delivers Forceful
Commencement Address at Richmond College on
the Theme "A Religion of Loyalty

MT President. Ladies and Gentlemen:
tunity OF visiting tho modern Rich
mond College and OF resuminc the
] consider it very great honor and
appreciate the privilege OF addrossinS
so distinsuished an aud.ence' com,
SCHOLARS. bn, Of ''' men snd Women ' VINO
have participate in the great MAJ
just brought 10 : successful conclu-
sion.
IN addressing such q body OF mon
and women, one should have a definite
purpose in View. some proposed mis-
sion to be ACCOMPLISHED. an objective
subject "A Religion OF Loyalty.
In these times Of economic and 20
litical reconstruction Of tho nations o.
the world, such 4 mission viii relate.
Country. This postwar objective, in
which many OF us are i ME, d st ine
and make secure for the future. the
spirit or LOYALTY and fidelity already so
pcoosSfully ini initiate IN. IN Anerisa
mands for national service which
have been Inade upon US as citizens of
the United States.
Lack Pcncr-Ttmc stimulus.
Under our democratic form o. GOV
erumcnt with its changing political
and partisan leaders. selected by the
people every four Years; with is un
controlled freedom OF speech and OF
the press: with is unbridled criticism
OF tho pa-tN in power. the youth Of
our country. in times Of peace. Is neces-
ssrily without that stimulus to loyalty
TO iivins. rsrSSna, nsad visa GM,Sts
and Japan. In Germany there WAS
the state a : represented in tho person
OF the Emperor--a state which could
DO no wronS-a state to the service
or which every German hoy Mas dcdi-
Gated from infancy. From his birth on
some little German Farm unt.l lis
death on tho battle fields OF France,
the German boy came success Iycly ur-
der The influence OF us mother. tho
schoolmastsr tho gymnasium lnstruc-
tor. the university profcssnr the iniu-
all OF Nhom directed his education.
physical, mental and moral towards
one cnd-his usefulness - Inc statc
ten o. education OF the C7ilo ard
youth secured unit! o. purpose "nich
a ad SsranE =, neJe <s ,1;s
-irialiE. politically and ,nili'arily-dur.
inE :he last loo wears 4 was this
system. ef1cen' ard immoral which
,mnde Germany - C-ea; a menace 20
tile peace Of the world during the
Years hefo-e 1914 and it j. tho result
o' ms systeH; Mli.A vi! maEs ?er
fairs IN tie years 20 conc. unless her
purpose : changed ~ the apDrcCi alton
Of higher spiritual and moral stand
ARDS, individual a,d national.
German Spirit Inbrokcn.
Even today. though physicauy con.
broken. Tic men are stir superrncn.
She does no, now. and via NOT for
seneration.- Y ever rcnen,. she con.
tssses no TRANSPORTATION ~ the rriuci-
pies aud standards - honor. cntNslry
AID humanity In peace g IN war she
is todar. IN sn!rii. 9 predatory nation
~ .e
gained 70 IS maximum efficiency for
conyctcnccless purpose. This faot
~nrust be remembered ui an arrange
-nents for inc future defense of France
and ila-lard ran. 10 me German
prisoner. cspcc'any u ;he Fsues.ane.
TheN VIII tell you ;hey held md -
the cast and tho rest Of the world on
the west Tor oNc~ four ion- and BLOODY
years that 'hc% lost more men than
any othcr nation: ihai Inc spirit Of
tho German 3 st'l Uucon.ueroi; that
they Will try j; again.
tbs ar-o.aut att. tiIc o. tho Ger
nun j. q dircci resull OF n immoral
hut ehisient educational system. dc
an immoral purpose Education may
;hus become TIC s,-ongee, influence 20,
n,'l lust IS II is the mishteSt stimulus
Tor good.
Japanese Loyalty Described.
IN Japan Nc hrye the same intense
Loyalty 10 the s;atc-hut il hes hoen
secHted by different nean:s- ~ ncipai!y
through Tie ancinct Shinto Hc.i" OF
and the inherited military TRADITIONS
az the Old SamurS:+ La tc6d!o iearu
explained t.f i.ndt"N Influence o.
To anc ngt ret'g "ns spirit IN these
wo"dS: "Iao old Japoncse eNcellcd n
J HiroSs. In coErtes". ~ Self-rontrOi.
IN She power % sclf-sacrif"e N Glisl
nict! .n simple faith aud ia Inc .pa-
e be oonttnted tn Nt'i.'
Ana again ~ sp.akinc n; fin.
l&paMese Religion o. L.oyal:y.' no
scvs. "'rbc -e4St, r.,r urdnrs,.,d
i'2W hl,oi piety-the domestic religion
O. orto'vtISt---" t"ths a. rahG| N,.i2
&c .No'1i.on ana eIcA. VA III! o..
"t.S W mo tnaf ho!lii,ai
.Vii.c reou.Ied uH me t"'nEHN ".
,'NH t..al ''l.iatE once thce "AacteH ny
"a, W." - ''tl' leH," t.ilpI4.hi nor
'i,lE so .SsipN' iH' aHecHonaie sun
nhSE'oi! no merely ihe tnsc %
%p'!- on. b"l '!c Hcn. IHent o. dHiE
~ ~ Or S'h SGai uultG. Obedience ~
1s'cnIa!tH !@iiG Gus. ana IS .Nprcs ed
~ 10Y 'itE' ~ as lac fehS!cus
thdEetlcr' Incomes ihr constant mani
l.s'a'-oh "l sell sacrl!tce
The ~ri!cion o loyalty. evolved bv
= ,.0ON wears Of war ..ould not n,. as
away; properly utilized IL uortfd pr.,y.
~.