Evening journal., 1919-12-06
'CHU.iCH WELCOMES
EX-S,-.RVICE M N.
Greenhill Congregation Glad
Thirteen Boys Defended
Their Church
SPEAKER SEES VALUE
OF EDUCATION


Thirteen members Of Greenhill Pres
byterlan Church. who were in the SER
vice during the war, were formally wei.
coined back by the church last even
ing. The reception, which was attended
! by about $50 persons. was marked by
an address by DR.. Joseph II. Odel.
The returned ex-service men are
John C. McElwain, Harry NJ. Brown,
George II. Stewart, Henry w. Kendall,
Charles H. Graham, VIII am b. Moore,
Thomas Henderson, Robert G Barlow,
John b. Brown, William ] Stevenson,
William j. Smytn. Samuel Chambers
and William Mckinney. Mr. Kendall
has been awarded the Croix de Guerre
for bravery while under fire. He was
wounded In action.
Prior to the dinner gwen in the Sun
day school rooms, brief services were
held In the church by the Rev Thomas
Kerr pastor, at which the service flag,
containing a star for each returned
man that has adorned the church since
they entered the service, was taken
from the wall
Singing and general jolllty weie en-
tered into by all present. The singing
was led by William p. White, who
also entertained with selections on the
harmonica. John B. Moore was toast
master. and the Rev Or. Kerr said the
invocation.
In welcoming the returned soldiers
and sailors, Dr. Kerr expressed las
pride and the pride Of the church IN
the services which they had given TO
tneir country when need d. You heed
ed the call when II came and went TO
do your duty he said. Dr. Kerr de
clared that there llas never zen a day
that upright manhood has been needed
m this country as much as today, com
ment!ng on the existing conditions
here.
The only emblem that is allowed to
fly above Old Glory, he told his audi
ence, Is the white pennant with the
blue cross which is raised when ser
vices are being held on board ship and
there is only one claim demanded be-
fore our country, he said, and that is
the claim of God.
James VI Smyth, superintendent Of the
Sunday School, welcomed the men along
s milar lines, and impressed on the for
mer service men thatwhile they were /
away from thelr church and home they |
we're not forgotten.
John McElwain the last man to re- !
turn, spoke in behalf OF the former (
soldiers and sailors, expressing their
earnest appreciation for the reception
given them. III there's another war
Ne'H be there he concluded.
Or. Odell was the last speale er. He
expressed his feeling that the people /,
Of this country have been going back /
ward the past few months, and Won |
dered III those long lines Of graves
over there were in vain2"
we did splendidly under the stress" !
he said, giving our sons and what |
ever other assistance we possibly could, |
but since the war IL seems that we have
avaded every sacrifice we could make" |
This year, he pointed out, the Presby-
,erian Church reported the greatest
membership decrease n the history OF
he church. "All that is asked Is TO l.
leep up the great IN ngs done during
he war Dr. Odell entreated
Dr. Odell declared that the world
,n0ws America can do anything she +,
Wills; the world knows our capacity.
Ie added. Speaking Of the unsettled
ondltlons in this country today. DR..
dell set forth that America must adj
ress herselff TO the problems Of the !,
resent time.
The public schools, where the char ,
cter Of the children Is nodded, must ,
e conducted without any imperfection.
or, he stated, that while a mistake ,
an be made almost anywhere else and !
e corrected, a mistake In The school, 1,
lg OF the children cannot be rectifed ,
If we give the children in the rural :
actions, schOOlhouses that farmers :
'Ould not use to keep their cattle in
effective books or no books at all. or
nqualined teachers, those children I
vii be sent out with 4 crippled. dwarf ,
d education, and II they are dwarfed =,
here. they are diverted for life.
Or. Odell said that some people feel I
nat Pierre :. dupont can obtain for !
lem the good ends sought under the :.
ew school code, but he declared. no I.
ne man in the world can solve all 4,
roblems in a democracy; it Is only =
lie people themselves who can l.
The reception was planned three !.
lonths ago. but delayed unt1 John
icElwain received his discharge. Last -
eek. his discharge from the Suicide -
lub,' as the members Of the Mine !,
weepers fleet We're called. made !,
reenhil circle OF former service men
lmplete. Al