The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-05-16

secretaries as if they were superior
officers.
The Religion of a Hair Cut.
The type of religion displayed was
most practical; the approval of the
Japanese was not accorded for any
sentimental considerations. Simply
because the Y. M. c. A. proved use
full to the soldier it was welcomed
and assisted. Thus, during the entire
campaign, 3,3S5,OOO pieces of station
cry were distributed, but only 416,O0O
pieces of religious literature. In even
more marked proportion 1,752 concerts
re provided for the men, and only
61S religious meetings. OF course the
entire project was avowedly Christian,
but its faith was displayed by it's
works rather than by words. 1t was
the religion of good deeds, and so
even the most ignorant coolie in the
ranks could comprehend it.
Recreation, diversion, accommoda.
ton and inspiration were the aims of
the Y. NJ. c. A. rooms. Here a soldier
could find place to write home and
free stationery. Every one of the
three and quarter million pieces of
stationery, bearing the Christian
name, as it did, became a silent
evangelist for the Christian propa-
ganda. Into the remotest corner of
the empire it carried the news that
Christians were brothering the man
at the front. And, naturally, every
letter written told of the comforts and
pleasures provided by this Young
Mems Christian Association. Could
the most bigoted Buddhist, in the re-
motest rural region, cherish ill-will
toward a religion that was so helpful
to his son and his neighbors?
Bathhouse, teahouse, barber shop,
music hall, library, tailor shop, writ
ing room and lounging room were all
combined in these Y. M. C. A. quar-
ters. The men were supplied with
innumerable games, including base
ball (the American national game has
become ubiquitous), archery, fencing
and fishing tackle. This last enabled
the men to vary their meager diet and
at some places literally hundreds of
men would be found lined up along
the bank of stream fishing for fun
and dinner, 1t takes little imagina-
ton to, read into the following figures,
just issued, novel and far-reaching
ministry that fairly stirred the
nation, and called forth from every
general in the field, and from the
prime minister and minister of war,
the strongest expressions of approval
and gratitude. Three quarters of a
million different individual soldiers
were touched by the work. About
1,566,00O soldiers entered the II diff
ferent branches during the war, some
men more than once, of course, which
explains the enormous total. Eighty
eight thousand obtained buttons, soap,
thread, patches, etc. Books were bor-
rowed by $4,000 men, and $4,000 used
the associations barber supplies. The
laundry facilities of single branch
were employed by $4,000 soldiers. In
addition, hundreds of visits were made
by the workers to hospitals and bar
racks and camp at distance from
the association bases.
After the days work was done, the
secretaries generally had to stay up
late at night putting the overworked
hafr-clippers into condition for the
morrow. The~wpunded mems hair
was cut by the secretaries themselves.
a pathetic incident of the sort Of
ministry required is related by Secre-
tary Hibbard: "One day man &C
costed him with: Will you please wash
my faceg ! looked at him and saw
that he certainly needed it, and that