Evening star., 1927-01-26
CHAPLA|NS MEET
IN Joint PARLEY
Army, National Guard and
Reserve Conference Today
Plans Spiritual Uplift.

Many prominent churchmen attend
ed "A conference OF chaplains Of the
Army. National Guard and Orga ani2ed
Reserves, at the War Department TO
day, designed to enhance the religious
spirit in the military services. They
were welcomed and encouraged in a
short address by Maj. Gen, G. =. sum
neral, chief of staff Devotional eX
erCises were conducted by Bishop
James y. Freeman, who is chap
lain IN the Organized Reserves.
Col ]. T. Axton. chief of Army
chaplains presided over the morning
session at which Il paper on LeGlS'
lation needed TO strengthen religious
work in the Army" was read by Rev.
Dr. w. +. Darby, secretary OF the
central committee on Army and Navy
chaplains and discussed by Rev. Dr.
Jason Noble Pierce. chaplain Organlz'
ed Reserves and others.
Members AT Luncheon.
Early this afternoon the members
of the conference were entertained AT
a luncheon at the Army ana Navy
Club at which Gen. Summerali eu,o-
gi2ed the work accomplished by the
religious branch of the military serN,
ice, especially in the development Oh
the spirit of patriotism. =,
"Paradoxical as 1t may appeal
said the chief of staff, while rellsio'l
has always preached the doctrine ol
peace, 1t has obtained success p9
militant methods. IL Is wen hiloWl'
that the church which loses It's aG'
gressiveness and vitality disappears.
Indeed. many of the most stirring
HYMNS of the church of every denoml'
nation breathe the fire and the ardor
of the soldier. 1t is therefore not
inconsistent with the love of peace
that men should love and uphold their
country.
"The desire for peace is too often
misunderstood and miSdirected. NO
one desires peace so much as the
soldier. because he must pay the
greatest penalty in war. Our Army
is maintained solely for the preserVa-
ton of peace, or for the recovery or
peace when it has been lost. Our
country has never engaged in war
except when forced to by warlike
acts of others.
Penalty of Unpreparedness.
'fOur wars have always resulted in
needless loss of life and suffering and
vast waste of treasure, because the
young manhood of America, on whom
the Nation has relied, was unprepared
to meet the highest obligation of cit
i2enship in defense of home and
country.
"A great opportunity exists for the
chaplains of the Regular Army, the
National Guard and the Reserves to
teach the relationship between patriot
ism and religion. Perhaps the great
est privilege of our country is religious
freedom, which indeed was the genius
of its foundation. However, re-
!igious freedom can survive only so
long as our free Government endures.
Our churches, our schools and our
homes would guarantee the stability
of our institutions and the safety of
our people by teaching boys and
girls the beneflcent privileges of our
Government; the superior advantages
offered by our country; the price of
their inheritance in sacrifice and
treasure; the blessings that citizenship
bestows upon them; the duty of pre-.
serving and bequeathing to others, un-
impaired. their liberties and their op-
portunities, and their obligation to
perform their full services as citizens
to their country as we'll as to their
Cod"