Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-26
A GREAT WORK BEING DONE.
The Efforts OF the Y. NJ. c. "A. 10
Reach the Men in Camp.

|
A great deal of interest centres in the
work that the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION is doing in the army, because
| the work is of such character as 10
merit the interest OF every intelligent citi-
zen, and also because so many OF Vir-
ginia's sons are at these camps.
There are nine tents at Camp Alger
| and this will be increased to twelve by
| the middle of the week. The tent be-
| longing to the Ministerial Association OF
| Richmond was sent to Camp Alger yes
terday for the use Of the Third Regi-
ment. The international Committee, Un-
| der its efficient secretary, Mr.. w. b. Mil
| Ter, is going ahead as far as possible with
the work: but, OF course, the work will
have to be limited rather than increased,
unless funds are secured to carry 1t on.
The Richmond Association Army Com
mittee, composed OF President r. M
Smith, Vice-Presldent W. J. Whitehurst
and General-Secretary Mckee, urge
prompt response TO the great need. SO
far, the amount received toward the $500
asked for is only s4O.25, and there is great
need in some Of the camps.
Yesterday morning Mr.. Mckee received
a letter from one Of the Richmond boys.
who is now at Jacksonville, telling him
somewhat of the conditions In the camp.
After saying that he was both In good
health and spirits, he goes on to say:
THE camp life suits me very well, but
the associations do not. Oue or the
twenty men, which l am associated Wltn'
few have the slightest idea OF modesty
or decency. 1t is undoubtedly the hard
est crowd I ever struck. They are all
new men, ard not our old boys; / only
ftvaf nf1 xxyQQ
arrest Sunday for disorderly conduct
Saturday night. The association is get
ting in its work, as you see from the
letter-head. Mr. r. c. Austin is secre-
tary, and Mr.. Nugent Is secretary In
the Wisconsin camp near us. Ihis Is q
great work. We have services once or
twice a week, have the band and an en-
thusiastic crowd e, cry time. One OF our
tents is used in common by the Forty
ninth Iowa, the Second Virginia, and the
Fourth Virginia,
Johnny Reb' and Billy Yank' play
crockinhole together Just as If the war
Of '61-s4 were only hideous nightmare,
dispeled by the first working minutes
of a bright sunshiny morning. We wish
you could be here with us.
"A young man in an Iowa regiment
said he Joined the volunteers to get away
from the temptation Of drink, just to
find the army canteen at Chlckamauga,
and to such men as these the associa-
tons headquarters are a great boon.
when the First Arkansas boys heard
that an association tent was TO be put
UP near them. they gave three rousing
cheers"
Not only are funds needed TO supply
these tents with reading matter, amuso-
ments, and correspondence material, but
some of the associations secretaries could
use to a most excellent purpose funds 10
help needy young men. Some are with
out money TO pay postage.
Citizens having recent magazines OF
such papers as Rams Horn, Christian
Herald, Harper's Weekly, Frank Leslle's
Weekly, ETC., can put them to good use
by sending, them to the association build
ing. where they will be forwarded to the
camps. Mr.. w. j. Whtehurst is treasurer
of the committee, and contributions
should be sent payable TO his order at
the association building.
The time is short, and II this great
work is TO be carried on, and these young
men helped in their hour OF need and
reached spiritually, II must be done
quick. Hundreds of them will give their
lives for the country in battle, and
larger number will die Of disease. Now
Is the time to help. Being away from
home and without homo comforts they
are peculiarly susceptible to religious IN
fuences.