The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-17
RELIGION IN THE CAMP.
REV. A. ]. SMITH THINKS GEORGIA
BOYS ARE DOING WE'LL

fare of the SOIdiers-The Seconds
Chaplain.
Rev. Arthur J. Smith OF the First Pres
bytorian Church returned yesterday morn
ing from Tampa. where he Rad spent sew
eral DAYS in camp with the Second Georgia
Regiment Mr Smith went TO Tampa at
the invitation Of tho Army Christian Com
mission and In addition TO personal work
with the men. preached on three occasions
and otherwise assisted ina the spiritual
work among the soldiers
MIR. smith left Savannah last Monday
night and on his arrival at Tampa on
Tuesday morning went az once 70 the camp
OF the Second Georgia. where he remained
until Friday night He was received very
cordially by officers and men. Lieut. Col
Garrard very kindly placed a COT in his
tent at the service OF the visiting minister
and otherwise assisted in making his stay
a comfortable and pleasant one. Col.
Brown and the other officers OF the regi-
ment seem very much impressed with the
necessity OF heartily supporting ali work
calculated to keep the regiment up to a
good standard from the standpoint Of re-
ligious morality ana have done all thar
they can to make the lauors of the COM
mission effective. One OF the first men
Mr. Smith met was naturally the regi-
mental chaplain, Capt Tnly OF Rome. Ga
Chaplin THY is an ordained minister OF
the Methodist Church. AZ the breaking
: out OF the war he resigned his charge in
Rome and enlisted as q private in the
company from that city. Going into camp
the soldier-clergyman entered with zest
into the work of the private, doing his fun
share of the grubbing of palmetto roots
and the other severe labors that fell to
the soldiers in the establishment OF their
quarters. Outside OF his company few knew
that he was minister. In entering the
service Private THY had been Impressed
with the idea that by serving as a pri-
waite he would be eNceleuHy situated to
exert an influence for good with the men,
He demonstrated that ne had in him the
making OF q capital soldier before he was
discovered and made the regmental chap
lain, his commission only coming on last
Thursday. The chaplain welcomed Mr. |
Smith with open arms and arranged for
services on Tuesday night AT which the
visiting Savannah clergyman preached
On Wednesday night Mr.. Smith again
spoke to The soldiers and on Friday 'norn-
ing a 10 O'Clock addressed them In an
impromptu meeting. An the services were
held in the open, under the shade of the
trees and were largely attended. On Fri !
day morning Chaplain lilly and MI !
smith visited the First Florida Regiment
and from Lieut. Col Webster secured !
the services Of the regimental band.
Lieut. Col Webster is an or
Gained Methodist preacher, was found very
DESTROYS to do whatever lay in his power
10 increase the value of the services. The |
band played number of martial and pa |
triotic airs and then some hymns This
and the sounding OF the church call 10y
the bugler drew n large audience, ana
the service proved one of the most satis-
factory ever held there. After che re-
lgious features had closed the band played
"Dixie" TO an accompaniment of wild cheers
from the Georgia boys, and al Mr. Smiths
suggestion three hearty cheers were giveh
for the Florida band ana its leader The
Georgia band is expected to receive instru- /
ments soon and complete its organization
under the leadership Of Private Burns of
Savannah. on Thursday night Rev. r. ID.
MoDougail of the Townsville Prosbyte
rian Church preached. He remains at The
camp to conduct services during tile pres
ent week.
The Army Christian Commission, said
Mr. Smith last night. in telling of his visit.
Is looking after the spiritual welfare Of
the soldiers with much success IL Is
holding meetings. with the assistance OF
various ministers and evangolists. for the
several regiments, and in addition TO pro-
viding them with religious food, is con-
tributlng materially to their social life,
il ADDITION 10 distributing AAhleS ana ON
er religious matter. IL il providing news
papers and magazines ana writing nate
rails In the y. NJ. -. \. tent. Ii is UNI
questionably proving a powerful factor for
the good of the soldiers individually and
collectively. The Second Georgias Assoc
citation tent is expected daily. Secretary
Yonce of the Athens association VIA be
in charge and viii so with the regiment
wherever il goes. the officers having con-
scented to ship the tent as part of the reg
mental baggage.
MIR. Smith regards the condition Of the
Georgia boys, physically and morally. as
decidedly good. a large proportion of the
recruits We're either professed Christians
or young men accustomed co attending d.
vine service and OF good personal charaC-
ter. Those men have had estraining in
fluence on those who might be inclined to
recklessness. Taking thirteen hundred
men, from all over the state. cut OF from
home influences, ana MIR. Smith thinks that
the record the Georgia hoys have already
attained for sobriety uud general good
conduct is one that is not only highly COM
piilnentary 10 themselves but extremely
satisfactory 10 their friends at home ana
the state al large. Mr.. Smith is inclined to
think that the Second Georgia has won the
respect and confidence of the best people
of Tampa 10 greater degroe Than any
other regiment without disparaeing The
general character OF the men 10 other
commands, There has been no great
amount OF Intercourse between the Geor-
gtans and the men Of other regiments he
is inclined TO believe from what he heard
and observed. Without being claunish
there IS a feeling Of kinship. or comrade-
ship, among the men as Georsians chat
makes them satisfied with their own rogl-
mental associations.
Mr.. Smith has received an Invitation TO
visit the camp at Chlokamauga and may
make the trip at an early date.
Presbyterian.
Rev. DIR. Fair VIII preach az the indie
pendent Church this morning. on 1.-THE
Transforming Power Of the Cross Mark
ana tonight on THE Danger OF Religious
Indifference"
The weekly meeting OF prayer of the
Independent Church for the soldiers viii