The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-17
Y. M. C. A. ARMY WORK.
Eenort of the Operations of the secre-
tary at Camp AIger. Va.

tary al Camp Alger. Va.
co,o~ai Secretary Mckee, OF the Rich
.,a,d Aseociation. furnishes The Times
the following letter from MI Mu''ei'
CANA Secretary of the Army Work. az
Camp Alger: g, ,eoe
There are in Camp Alser ABOUT 49, 49,
soldiers in eighteen regiments LoOa iso
among them are thirteen AssocialiO"
tents and working for them are thirty
six secretaries. two evangelists' ana one
leader OF music touching about loooV OF
the whole number on the field. Nine oil
our secretaries came from the springheia
school of Christian Workers, and are
Maid bv fund raised within the ofhcers
of that institution, ten are sent from ana
paid by State or local Young Mems Chris'
tan Association committees.
The opportunities for hand to mana
Christian work among the soldiers IN TINS
camp is truly wonderful our WORKERS hhU
on every hand men who listen with posi-
tive eagerness to the messages borne by
our speakers, teachers and personal work
ers.
II the secretaries from our country
were only aware what harvests were
waiting TO be gathered they could certain
~ not miss so great privilege.
Most OF the soldiers seem TO appreciate
that this is a crisis in their lives, and
not only do not evade but put themselves
in close contact with our men.
A visit to one Of our meetings would
satisfy that longing which we have heard
so often for one OF the "old time revi-
vals." for it is not infrequent for fifty
men 10 decide for Christ at one meeting
only last Sunday evening at Evangelist
Frank Smiths meeting held In the Asso-
citation tent OF the Second Tennessee reg
iment, fifty-nine men confessed Christ as
their Saviour. The same morning there
were eighteen confessions in the same
tent besides many requests for prayer.
In some Instances every man In SOL
dler's sleeping tent has accepted Christ
and the character Of the men down a
whole company street has been changed
The highest respect has been shown
our work and workers and the Associa-
ton tent has become almost necessity
10 the men In camp.
Mr.. HYDE and Mr.. Rogers left with a
brigade bound for Cuba last week, taking
with them a tent and complete outfit.
ARRANGEMENTS are made for sending
several outfits with regiments that are
expected 10 go TO the front at early dates
The soldiers express themselves as be-
ing much pleased with the idea Of send
ing a tent with them when they leave
this camp. Every privilege extended to
the soldiers Is used almost its fullest ex-
tent and the secretaries find their hands
fully occupied from A. NJ until 9 p. NJ
A number Of entertainments have been
provided by the Association, and quite
number have been arranged by the men
Of the various regiments. and in nearly
every instance the tents have been more
than filed.
The quality OF men enlisted IS above
what we expected 20 find. In the Sixth
Illinois Regiment. Colonel Foster says
there are about go members of the Young
Mems Christian Association.
In one OF our meetings recently, at
which 800 soldiers were present. over
three-fourths were Christian men.
In the Twenty-second Kansas Regi-
ment there is one company OF lOs and all
college men. In this regiment. containing
81 school teachers and $50 college men.
Y. NJ. G. A. was organized before they
left that State.
The 10th Indiana Regiment has eigh-
teen LAWYERS and three ministers.
The chaplains have in regiments where
tents are erected shown the heartiest in
terest In the work. One chaplain In writ
ing for a tent said: You see. I cannot DO
ANYTHING in the way OF active Christian
work without an Association tent
The following figures will give some
idea Of the work done in Camp Alger:
The total attendance for twenty
eight days In June................... Bi'iee
retsers written. 5000
Letter sheets supplied soldiers.
free over. ..................s....'.' -"VivVv
r,.-,.ai,res ~. O60
,..on5s,ce an Gospel Meetings.. .. 462
So. - innuirers 672
personally dealt with........."...... ss
.ss-.-a conversions. about.... 1850
sessions OF Bible Glasses. 40
Attendance at Bible Classes......... $50
Number Of entertainments..... ID
Number in endance......"........ o''0o
For the first eight days in July there
were -
A,,endance ........................... 1853
Letters ......'''''''''''''''''''' oo's.o
Gospel meetings. ...........'''.''''''..' Clio
Reouests for ayer........'.'.'''''''. lSi
Personally dealt with.......''.''.'..'' ID
professed ersions...-.-.....'.''... 100
Rihle class sessions. attendance. zV5
Entertainments .....'..'...''''''''-'.''
Attendance at entertainments''.'.'.. l'ov
A number OF wagon loads OF magazines
have been distributed, and about 100
newspapers daily have been given 10 men
IN the hospitals.
One OF our young men spends the most
Of his time in. visiting men IN the nos
pita,s. having opportunity for CONVERSE
ton with nearly one hundred men daiiy'
Three thousand testaments have been