New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-03
CHRISTIAN WORK N ARMY CAMPS.
Mr. MOODY ON WHAT IS BEING ACCOM-
PLISHED BY THE CHRISTIAN
COMMISSION
To The Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: People are nquiring about the effect OF the
close OF the war upon the work Of the Army and
Navy Christian Commission. and what we expect
10 do now. I shall be glad Of the opportunity TO
answer these questions through the columns OF
your paper.
In the first place 7 want 20 say that all the con-
ditions that went TO make this gathering OF thou
sands OF our Nations choicest young men one OF
the greatest opportunities the Church has had In
this generation still exist So far as their NUMBERS
are concerned not a has yet been mustered
out and while the prospect is that some OF them
will Re soon It seems certain that over lcOOn men
will he accessible 10 our work for many months TO
come The fact that many will be stationed IN
Cuba Porto Rico and the Philippines VIII make
no difference. we expect TO send men over there
70 carry on the work-in fact. we have already sent
men 10 each OF these places with Testamens'
hymn books good books etc. and the ministers
and evangelists will follow soon as the armies
get settled into permanent camps God has given
us a wonderful hold upon the men. 50 that the
Commission work Is gladly welcomed at all OF the
camps The Inspector-General OF the seventh
Army Corps, Lieutenant-Colonel Curtis Guiio' IT,
now at Jacksonville has recently written our sec
retary there as follows: Il am only too glad at al
times TO bear witness 10 the excellence and velue OF
your noble work. The monotony and WEAKNESS OF
long siege Of camp life are In many ways more
irving 20 a soldier than the perlls OF an actual
ployed have done great work In turning young
men of this command away from baser pleasures
and keeping their minds and bodies ut for the ser
vice Of their country well as their God. Every
one In this camp approve It,. our workers
have met with the hearty reception every
where And so only have the great oppor-
tunity but the perfect confidence OF the troops
All the Introductory work has been done and the
Army and Navy Christian Commission has an as
sured standing with the officers and men OF the
whole Army. This vantage ground ought not to De
easily given UP.
The need Of the work is certainly no less pressing
now than at any time in the past, ano VI some
ways II seems 10 be even greater Leuten-
ant-Colonel Guild says IN ms eer one sess
of camp life In some ways more trying 70 d
His next words indicate in what direction we are TO
look for the perils OF camp NE ana p1n' oar ',o
help turn the men from the 9aser p ieasuHes -
Now tnnt the excitement OF looking FORWARD 20
active campaigning is Oyer yer sne s table drink
and the other forms of open sin with "nch tnes arc
and OF ~Hf be mem are disapponted
homesck. uneasy and tired Q, their camp mp, s,ch
belp as the Christian Commission is able 10 give
them ,. nall Lrovr that tbou-
sands az our soldiers are sick Not the Least mpor-
TAM part of our work is among these SICK men " {
ht is heinz Attended 10 by other organzations-
but we are just giving them the Gospel. one .o Oh
nHfr
.bou their appreciation OF our work. and always
say Come again and as often as yoe ~ 8, me-
vesterday: You don't know how much good you
a. these poor fellows. and us. too AS passed
siong the ward man who was very SIGN WI.
fever said: Can have Testament ,d maven M
much money but DO want Wb read ' tCd 'R Rm %s
didnit sell Testaments. but just gave tnern awa.,
he smiled and said; mere 90 yVo d te Ibis work
tao' Another worker writes; on last thurs,
a., y,hfe visiting my hospital Brothers b anu
tied no n. II
>, ,,.ar yard 7 smoke TO man and asked MIN
II he was Christian. lie sald ne va Io'. ' mn
,rod 70 show him the importance OF pelhs onT anu
"-a IN NV retur~ ! heard tire brethren SINE;
close 10 the man Saved by Orace anu = d'h ht,o
that his head covered Apr od bi 9ac miil
go drawing the blanket down from ms Iaov'
AM o, VI -. Vas CRYING TO break mis- heart and as
C eoT me ne cried out: oh. never knew uIitl
~ a. IA, I was such a vile sinner! his crles
7 Lneit nv his side and gave him some OF me pre-,
cous promises ard then PRAYED WIN nm 49,,
while on my knees Dy ms sue hc a., "e' PTestement
Eefore leaving him ne asked me TOT ILL -
! gsve him one ana turned 10 John v ~, marx
~, verse | gave IL 10 him. lie read II aEnlh al'u
again. and passed out OF Inc hoSpi'ai "e ""'
II spsce permitted. could give many similar
incidents. 90 -. 49,. r.o,derf,,l success
cad a. g,inc to the preaching Of tho Word. ana
OK the hundreds Of men that arc every wees mlIn
ing public confession OF thlth IN cS o,,- GOOD
iike 10 tel e. the enthusiasm with wHhcn our s
boots have been received by the NaVy-apou' TT
of The ships have already been suppieu. THoirr
Ike 20 tell. also. about the gooa ~o.A NJ IN oniS
NM AT these Things but think enough mas Deen
said 10 show that the work Of the Army ana >HN5
10 justify our continued appeal 70 nc Ch''S'1"
public for their prayers and contrlouuon, sooDy
East Mortified. Mass. Aug. 81. 1898