The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-19
RELIGIOUS LIFE IN CAMP.
Secretary Johnson Gives His Expe-
rience With the First Georgia.

Secretary Johnson Gives His Expe-
rience With the First Georgia.
Secretary H. M. Johnson talked at the
afternoon meeting at the Young Mems
Christian Association rooms yesterday on
the subject of his experiences with the
First Georgia Regiment as secretary Of the
Army and Navy Commission. He gave up
his work as secretary of the Savannah as
sociation to take up a work to which he
felt he had been called.
There was quite a number present, all
of whom were anxious to know something
of the religious side of camp life. Mr.. john
son said parenthetically that one in his
position in the army should know some
thing about pitching tents, as this ne found
to be one OF the important features of the
work. The association tent was the largest
in the regiment, aud Mr.. Johnson found it
was laborious task pitching it from Crit
fin to Chickamauga, and finally up into the
mountains of Knoxville.
The talk was mainly on the lines of re-
ligious work in the camps, what had been
accomplished, and which of the vices were
found most prevalent Profanity, drunk
enness and gambling seem to have been the
temptations to which the First Georgia
boys were subjected There were scores of
the men not profane on going into the SER
vice, but when thrown in with men using
profanity at every breath, the others
thought it the proper thing for them to do
so also 1t was not long until the vice
grew and many who went in without this
habit, would come out with lips polluted
from oaths picked up from comrades.
II wish 10 raise my voice against the
army canteen," said Mr.. johnson. IL have
seen it, and can say from personal obser-
walton It creates drunkards. They say the
men who drink will get beer anyway, If it
Is not given them. Then 1 say let them get
it, but do not entice innocent men to in
temperance merely for the sake of salts
flying the appetites Of confirmed drinkers.
The temptation Is too great, and especially
IN cases like that at Chickamauga, where
wagons brought muddy water four miles,
and rather than drink 1t, the men went to
the canteen for cold beer. There is no
question but many young men took their
first glass of beer at the army canteen."
Speaking of gambling, another of the
main vices to which soldiers are given,
Mr.. johnson regretted that this went on
to a great extent in the First Georgia. He
gave an instance where he was called to
a tent. which necessitated his going down
one of the company streets. The moon
shone brightly, and as he went along
thinking all were asleep, his eyes came
UNEXPECTEDLY on a group of fellows
shooting" craps.
These things went on all the while, he
said. but were not such that the officers
could control, further than keeping the
men from playing at certain hours.
Mr.. johnson then told of the bright side
of camp-l life, and the good work the as
ISOLATION was still doing at the camps.
over 5000 sheets of paper and envelopes
had been distributed. Tracts had also
been given the men, Services were held
at frequent intervals, and much was ac-
complished in reforming and keeping the
soldiers in the right paths.