The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-11
WORK AMONG THE SOLDIERS.
Auxiliary of the Army Christian
Commission to BE Formed.

Auxiliary of the Army Christian
Commission to BE Formed.
Mr.. S. Waters McGHl, state secretary of
the Young Mems Christian Association, ar
rived in the city yesterday, and addressed
the congregation at the First Presbyterian
Church last night upon the subject of the
work now being done by the association in
the United States army.
Mr. McGin took up the time usually de-
voted TO the sermon and presented some
interesting facts in connection with the
work now being done among the soldiers.
The work of the Y. NJ. c. A. in the army is
not a new one, he said, as it has been 60
ing on for some twelve years. With the
call for volunteers, however, the associa-
ton decided at once to increase its force
among the soldiers accordingly, and the
results are Interesting.
The work Is being done by the Army
Christian Commission, a special society for
that purpose which has been organized by
the Y. NJ. c. a. and Christian Endeavor
societies. It is divided into three branches,
the evangelistic department of which Mr..
Dwight L. Moody is at the head, the de-
partment of general work with Col John
J. Cook in charge and the executive depart
mont under the management of Mr.. c. w.
McAlpin.
Mr.. McGil has recently been directed to
give his whole time to this work. and his
mission now is to see to the organization
of auxiliary branches Of the Army Chris
tan Commission, with d view to main
tanning the good work that has been going
on now for about two months. The work
has the Endorsement of Gen. Nelson A.
Miles, Secretary Alger of the war depart
ment and Secretary Long Of the navy.
An association is being organized for the
navy now as wen as for the army.
The association provides a large tent for
the soldiers containing tables chairs, the
secretary'S desk and an organ. Each of
these tents is in charge of a Young Mems
Christian Association secretary, many of
whom are paid the same salary as is paid
a private in the army $3.50 per month.
They are furnished food and transporta-
ton by the government while everything
else in provided by the association. AT
these tents writing material are furnished
the men free of charge, and in these tents
a Chickamauga alone some 10000 letters
a day are written. Daily papers, maya
zines and games, such as checkers and
chess, are provided. There is
a social entertainment provided in each
tent every night, as well as services, and
there are regular Bible classes, just as
in the local associations all over the coun-
try. There are twenty-one of these tents
at Chickamauga alone, in charge of fifty
five of the best secretaries in the country
and there are fourteen at Tampa. They
are provided also at Camp Alger at San
Francisco and at Jacksonville. Two sec
retaries have recently been sent to the
Philippine Islands. and two to Santiago de
Cuba One of the latter is a Georgian,
Mr.. c. NJ Britain of GAINESVILLE 1t is
the purpose of the association to secure
a building in Santiago just as soon as the
city is taken and organize a branch of the
y. M. c. A. there at once. Two others
are ready TO go to Porto Rico as soon as
their services in that direction are needed.
Mr.. McGill also spoke of the work of
Mr.. Fl. M Johnson, formerly Y M. C. A.
secretary here, who went with the Georgia
boys, and is now in charge of a tent at
Chickamauga. Mr.. Johnson's Y. Nj. C. A.
jurisdiction, so to speak, takes In a whole
brigade of $500 men, and he says all of the
men love him. He has an attendance of
$50 men at prayers every evening, Mr.. Nc
GIL stated, and has had 11S professed con-
versions from the members of the First
Georgia Regiment alone since he went into
camp with them. Mr., johnson wears the
regular prlvate's uniform and is doing an
extraordinarily good work among the
men.
The association has establish
ed this work and now mas
1t well under way. All of this has been
done without calling on the people of the
state for cent, but the time has come
when some funds will have to be raised
for the work, and that is the object in
organizing these auxilarIes Of the Army
Christian Commission
A meeting of ladies of all churches will
ba held this AFTERNOON at o'clock at the
residence of Mrs. F. NJ. Dougan, No. 9O7
Whitaker street, for the purpose of or
ganlzing this auxiliary. Mr.. McGiH will
explain the work and plans of the associ-
alton, and show what is being done among
the soldiers. 4 large attendance is de-
sired, and it Is promised that the meet
ing will be made a most interesting one.
The treasurer of the association is Mr.
w. c. Nunemacher of Atlanta to whom
any contributions for this work may be
addressed.