Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-25
TOSAVE THEIR SOULS
MINISTER'S DISCUSS THE HGLIG-
Ious NEEDS OF OUR SOLDIERS.
COMMITTEE TO DEVISE BEST PLANS
Good Work Already Being Done ny
the Y. M. G. A., Bible Society, and
brotherhood of st. Andrew-Theu-
sands Of Testanents Given Away.

Union met In the Young Mems Christian
Association parlors yesterday at noon IN
response to a call OF the president and
inaugurated movement looking to meet
ing the religious needs Of the soldiers al
Camp Lee.
A distinguished member Of the confer
encc dryiy remarked, on his way to the
meeting. that he thought they were about
TO lock the stable door when the horse mad
gone, but the chief interest of the meeting
proved to be the recitation Of the good
that has already been accomplished
through the efforts OF the city and state
Young Mems Christian Association, the
Bible Society, and the Brotherhood OF ST.
Andrew.
The meeting began with religious exer-
cises, and then DR.. Hiden, introduced the
subject, stating that he had called the
meeting at the request of the Baptist
Minister'S Conference. DR.. Cooper sug-
gested that Secretaries Mckee and
Coalter, OF the two associations. should
state what had already been done at the
camp. and offer any suggestions that
might occur TO them.
WHY THE MEETING WAS CALLED.
DR.. Hatcher explained the reasons that
prompted the Baptist Ministers Confer
snce TO ask the president to call the
meeting. They were aware OF the pres
ence OF the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation in the field, and the peculiar diff
iculties which hampered them. They
felt that the ministers ought TO have an
nfA md nit
had heard distressing tales OF the balefui
influences brought to bear in the camp,
and felt that the soldiers were the VIC
Tins of great and terrible temptations.
1t seemed important, he said. that in
some decisive way the citizens should In
iicate their solicitude in the men. The
revelations that had been made to the
conference were very distressing. and the
ministers decided to do something at once,
and not walt for the regular meeting,
which will be held next Monday The
Baptist ministers did not intend to abro-
gate anything. they were only anxious
that the ministers Of all denominations
should understand each other and act in
concert.
Mr.. Van Houten said he had just come
from the camp, and wanted to bring one
or two things to the attention OF those
p4tScHt. nc went 10 the camp Win d
specific purpose. The military discipline
was such, that whatever they desired to
do as civilians would have to be sub
mitted to the authorities, and he thought
they might expect some little difficulty.
The Young Mems Christian Association
had established two places of meeting
and held two services daily. 1--WE might
go there and preach" said Mr. Van Hou-
ten, but we should go under the aus
p:ces of the association" Another meet
ing is being held daily by few pastors
in turn, under the tree near the officers
quarters
DIR. Jones: Who are the ministers?
Mr.. Van Houten: Mr.. P. r. Nugent
Brother Dennis. myself, and Brother Fer
gusson. My opinion is that we might APP
point committee to confer with what is
yonder, and arrange for preaching until
next Monday. You will find, however
the lines between the military regime and
civilians is very strictly drawn. and what
we do should be done under the auspices
OF the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton.
SECRETARY M'KEE'S VIEW.
Secretary Mckee. Of the city Young
Mems Christian Association, said the as
ISOLATION had begun work at Camp Lee
two weeks ago last Thursday. They had
tent which was open at 8 A. NJ. or
earlier. Reading and materials for cor
respondence were supplied to the soldiers
free of cost, and the tent Is crowded
throughout the day. So far. there have
been seventy-five conversions. The Young
Mems Christian Association. he said. was
perfectly willing to cooperate with the
ministers at any time and in any man
A ,srL L.
ton had taken up this work. On Mon
day night branch of the association
had been organized in the Second Regl-
ment, with sixty members. A secretary
would In all probability be sent with this
regiment. and would accompany 1t into
Cuba. More work could be done, and
larger tent was needed. The association
would willingly work under the minis
terial association. II had no desire for
glory, but only wanted to reach mems
souls.
Secretary Coalter. Of the State asso-
,iation, acknowledged the labors perform
ed by the ministers at the camp. He de-
tailed the circumstances under which the
association had commenced work at
Camp Lee. The tent had always been
crowded. he said except during the hours
that the public is admitted: then the SOL
diers mingled with the ladies. They had
had as many as 800 soldiers at a single
service, and deep interest had been mani
Tested by them. They needed a tent
that would hold 400 or more persons, and
were endeavoring to secure one that be-
longed to the Baptist Missionary Society.
More than 10000 sheets OF writing paper
had been used by the men in the tent.
and only two or three men had been cor
rected for profanity, though outside the
tent the language used was something
terrible.
SUPPLYING THEM WITH BIBLES.
Rev. Mr.. Campbell, OF the Bible so.
ciety. said he had preached to the men
on Monday night. The interest had been
most marked. and there had been eight
Virginia and ST. Andrews Brotherhood
had undertaken TO supply the men with
Bibles. Mr.. Henry Lee Valentine had
gone with him from tent to tent to try
and find out how many men had Bibles,
and they had found the proportion about
one in ten. They had carried out 200
testaments and 100 copies OF the Psalms
and Proverbs. They had not all been
distributed yet. The largest number of
Bibles found in any one tent was five.
The men were very anxious for Bibles,
and crowds ran to them when II was
known that they were In the streets to
distribute them. A good Christian man
OF the city had promised money to sup
ply a hundred copies of Gospel hymns TO
every association formed in camp. A