Evening star., 1941-07-20
Capital SideIights
By Will P. Kennedy.

Even while Congress has been wres-
ting with selective service legislation,
several of the most prominent members,
have absented themselves for intensive
military training or for actual service.
They are members who made name for
themselves in the first World War.
Representative Hamilton Fish, Republi-
can, New York, now holding the rank
Of colonel in the Officers Reserve Corps,
is at Fort Bragg, N. c., for a month S
training with the 41st Engineers. He
served in 1917 and 1918, being a COM
pany commander Of the 18th New York
Volunteers, later known as the 369th
Regiment of Infantry. He was awarded
the American Silver Star and French
Croix de Guerre for gallantry. He
served as major of infantry in the
4th Division of the Army of Occu-
patton and graduated from the Army
General Staff College of the American
Expeditionary Force. Representative
Melvin J. Mas, Republican, Mime
sofa, colonel in the Marine Corps Re-
serve, Aviation, is now with the Pacific
Fleet, on 80 days active duty with air.
plane carriers. based at Pearl Harbor
He is not expected to return TO the
Capital until September He is ranking
Republican on the Naval Affairs Com
mittee. He served overseas in the avia-
ton branch of the Marine Corps during
the World War. Representative Albert
L. Vreeland, Republican, New Jersey,
who holds the rank of captain in the
Military Intelligence Reserve. U. S.
Army, served as an ambulance driver in
the A. R. C. in 1918 and 1919 He will
leave his congressional duties on August
to serve % days wish the 4th Armored
Division at Pine Camp, N. Y.
congressman indulge in much bicker-
ing and vote belligerently-so it is very
refreshing and wholesome to find one
preaching a lay sermon. There are
notable ministers of the gospel in Con-
gress. The only Roman Catholic priest
ever to serve in Congress was Rev.
Father Gabriel Richard, born in France
and ordained a priest in 1890, who was
sent by Bishop Carol as missionary
to the Indians in Illinois and Michigan
and after his service in Congress was
grand vicar of Detroit A much-l loved
member more than decade ago was
Representative Henry w. Temple of
Pennsylvania who graduated from
Covanonfar Tbaolooino1 Cap,ipo,-,
held pastorates at several places. Con-
spicuous in the present Congress are:
Representative Charles A. Eaton, New
Jersey, who graduated from Newton
Theological Institute and was an or
dained Baptist minister with pastorates
in Natick, Mass; Toronto, Canada;
Cleveland, Ohio, and New York City;
Representative Dewey Short, Missouri, an
ordained minister of the M. E. Church,
who held pastorates in Springfield, Mo,
and Senator Ebert Thomas of Utah,
who was for five years a missionary of
the Latter-day Saints Church in Japan
and president of the Japan Mission
But during the past week one rugged
individual from "out on the range" in
Oklahoma, actually preached a sermon
that touched many of his colleagues -
Representative Wilbern Cartwright, who
grew up with the Choctaw Nation. He
told of attending an ld-fashioned Sun
day school rally: I'VE had dinner on
the ground. Everybody had a good time
and we didn't talk so much about war
and rumors of war 1t does any one
good to get out in the country, among
salt of the earth people and list to
natures teachings while from all
around-earth and her waters, and the
depth of air-comes a still voice. Get
to thinking-man is preparing in every
conceivable physical way to die and
kill others, but who is preparing for
death in a spiritual way? I am not
religious fanatic, but believe nations
first line of defense is the character of
her people. I believe in national re-
armament - morally and spiritually -
and that this old warning world will
emerge as people begin to get their di-
rections from the living God. A Baptist
preacher poets. F. Smith-expressed
my feeling when he wrote:
Long may our land be bright
With Freedoms holy light;
Protect us by thy might,