Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-29

ccvcd all the rains OF heaven. for no
ono knows how long, and in The garden
"uNh.s we touhd the empty case Of
our tommunion service:
posci Hr ,. lruii ow Srees Ire AL either pnr.
shells. As TO our bedding. all traces
OF it have disappeared. and We have
been obliged to borrow mattresses
from iuckicr parishioners.
ROOF OF CIURCu Is
FALii;A AND PEWS RUINED
our church has kept its four walls
ana cvcn its little turrct, but the root
nas come down. and has buried and
and part OF the pulpit. \ shcl en-
IRh iodcd right in the middle Of the
TO atoms. lust outside. il appears that
a German battery exploded. badly in
JurinG the foundations of the cdihcc.
mound marks the place where the
shattered remains OF men and horses
arc buried.
'Evcrywhere arc German inscrip-
tons: uuartcrmaStcr's Office frs;
aid reserved cellars etc. We hasten
10 erase these witnesses Of Hun rule.
but how We treasure the friendly mes
Sases, hastily written with chalk on
the door of my husbands study:
Several OF these arc signed by French
rrotesinnt ehapiams mars!hing with
tnclr regiments through rroisSy. on
tina; wonderful July advance. one
reads: ! Will build again the ruins.
Amos a:ll-GcorGcS Lauga.
The wrcckace of many of their
churches was no; the only loss which
French Protestant congregations sus-
tanned. OF nearly 1.o0o ministers who
served them. fully onc-haif were
mohilizcd at the outbreak OF tho war.
when every man who could handle Il
rifle was needed to roll back the tide ut
the Marine. Only the old and inhrm
pastors were Lett. and OF these seventy
live cont inu:d TO serve their people in
tho invaded region or within the zone
OF fire.
NEARLY 100 PROTESTANT
MINISTER'S ARE KILLED
Nearly 100 Protestant ministers and
theological students lost their lives in
action or from sickness while serving
in the French army. and many others
returned so severely wounded that
pletelN at an end. Reorganization OF
tho congregations is thus greatly i'm
pcdcd by, tho lack OF cicrgymen, and
some of the work is being taken up by
laymcn until tho need can be supplied.
The sitting OF tho churches in the
war ordcal of France was thus de
Wagner. author OF The Simple Life"
u >hor, time before his death
In all the devastated regions Of
,ant communities. The invasion has
literally martyrcd them. The majority
arc deprived Of their pastors. who have
been mobilzcd as soldiers or officers.
as hospital attendants. as chaDlains. or
who. with. the prominent citizens OF
exile. The poor little remnant re-
manning in the country suffers every
privation.
Where aged or iniirm pastors have
remained at their posts il has been
only by exception that they have re-
ccivcd their salaries. With their
families and parish toner's they ARC liv-
ing in privattons. many OF them have
undergone humba rdmcnt and pillagr:
they have lived in cellars. have known
extreme poverty and all tho horrors OF
Invasion More hcarircnding Still is
the case O! those who live in tho firing
line. pcrpctnal!y in danger. without
A. a.
AS TO those in tho regions re-
covered from the enemy. they have
undergone every calamity which
human beings can endure. 'ihc enemy,
Withdraw ing. took WIN them every
thing; burned their houses, ravaEcd
their gardens. cut down their trees.
Nticr The tempest OF iron and fire. the
land presents the aspect of rccion
uphcANCI by NOlCAniC forces"