The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-30
Y. M. C. A. TENTS IN THE ARMY.
EIGHT AND AS MANY SECRETARIES
WITH THE SEVENTH CORPS.

The Associations Work Among the
Soldiers Varied One-secretary
Smith In Charge of 1t Here With a
Corps OF Assistnnts-The Churches
and Local Societies Aiding Him.
Some idea of Y NJ C. A. work in the
army has been given in the Morning
News. Immediately upon the gathering
of the Seventh Corps, Mr.. f. L. Smith
of New York was commissioned by the
International committee, and organized
the work for soldiers at Jacksonville, and
since that time every brigade in the
corps and, in many instances, individual
regiments, have been furnished with large
tents in charge of an experienced Y. M.
c. A. secretary, and equipped with tables,
writing material, games magazines and
daily papers from the home cities Of the
troops.
A very large proportion of the rank and
file of the army have avai,ed themselves
of these privileges, and during the last
two weeks in August 5000 letters were
written by soldiers in the tents upon the
stationery furnished free. In addition to
this an unlimited amount of iced water
has been supplied to the regiments with
out cost to them. The games which are
in constant use during the hours of leis-
ure when the troops are not drilling, or
upon guard duty, are in constant demand
crokinole and carom boards, checkers
dominoes and chess, in fact, everything
but cards, which is the only game ta-
booed.
The social element in the soldiers ma
ture is encouraged by entertainments
usually held every week in each tent, con-
sistiug of a musical programme, recita-
tons, sleight-Of- hand performances, and
everything which the home talent of the
camp, church and social circles of the city
in which +the troops are encamped can
furnish.
The bands of the regiments frequently
offer their services In these social enter
ta!nments, Ii is surprising how much ma
tive talent is discovered among the troops
many of whom have been prominent in
professional circles. Lieut. Col. Curtis
Guild, inspector general of the Seventh
Corps, In q recent letter TO Mr. Smith,
said: THE tents of the Y NJ. c. A. have
been a verbtable Godsend 10 the troops
in this corps" Gen. Lee, in letter to the
international committee, remarks that the
work has done very much to raise
tire AilQl die VI AiiG men III his COulIDduQ.
In fact, President Mckinley has lately re-
quested the international committee to
continue its work in the army and navy
indefinitely.
The sociological department Of the work,
however, Is only a means to an end. The
ultimate object of the Young Mems Chris
tan Associa ton Is TO reach the hearts Of
men by the gospel of Christ. Dwight l..
Moody is chairman of the evangelistic de-
partment. Since the organization of the
army a large number of evangelists and
preachers have been sent to different en-
campments to hold services among the
men, and hundreds of them have adopted
the Christian life. Tons of religious lit
erature, including Moody's Colportage Lii
brary, have been distributed freely, and
some of the men who We're found dead in
the trenches at Santiago and Ell Caney
had in their hands copies of the New Tes-
lament, upon which their eyes had looked
for comfort IN their dying moments
Evangelist Ferdinand Schiverea Is at
present holding services in the First Tex
as Regiment. ana viii remain in Savan-