The Washington herald., 1911-06-04
ONTOBEEVANGELIZED,S ,SAYSSMITH

Hearing Of a Methodist conference. I
went to the place where It was held and
without right or invitation instructed the
surprised brethren how to organize and
conduct revival. I had been a Chris
tian. then. for about two months.
Indeed, became SO busy that T A.
Hildreth, secretary Of the Young Mems
Christian Association for Minnesota and
the two Dakotas. heard of me and start
ed In my direction. While waiting for
train In little town in the Northwest
a strange man came running to the sta
tion. The man was Hildreth. The Y. NJ
c. A. at Sioux Falls, he said. was in
need Of a secretary. My employer. a
Christian person, agreed to give me a
vacation. Sioux Falls. however, would
take no chances, and so put me on trial
for period Of two months. I stayed for
several years. and then was secretary
at Dubuque for five yeaF more.
on to the War win Spain.
However. I was not intended for that
kind Of work. Besides. thought i saw
a growing danger. The Y. NJ. c. A.
was social, educational, and physical.
helping to develop minds and bodies and
to obtain employment. I feared We
should drift along and ultimately neglect
or forget the spirit. Giving up my place
in Iowa. / travelled from city to city
for eighteen months. preaching my ideas
and raising money for local associations.
And all the while. understand, I wanted
to be a religious specialist. But I could
not find a work place. My idea was new
and crude, and the association was con-
servative.
AT the outbreak OF the war with Spain
5000 soldiers were put into camp at
Chickamauga, Ga. The Y. NJ. c. A. sent
fifty tents and required the services OF
that many men-tents for reading rooms
by day and for meeting places at night
l was offered a tent. The outlook was
not bright. l should be In a pocket,
foresaw, but I went, nevertheless. Maj.
Whittle, a civil war veteran, was there
as the representative of Dwight Moody
and had eight tents OF his own. I tod
him / wanted to get at men in the bulk
and not individually. He said he would
try me on Grigsoy's Rough Riders, West
erners like myself, and rather rugged
characters
~ am an old soldier he remarked.
and want you to realize that there are
but three effective points to emphasize
among men in camp-drinking, gambling.
and personal impurity'
MY first meeting. held In a building
used other nights for theater. was a
SUCCESS. maj. w Wnlttle DeCdine Ill anu
I managed his tents. in each Of which
there was an evangelist. I Accompanied
Lees army to Havana. On my return to
this country, I resumed my connection
with the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton. In 1901 there was a big jubilee in
Boston. With Gods help. I addressed
5000 men at Convention Hall and gave
them my message It was q wonderful
occasion. Delegates were present from
all over North America. Immediately
after the meeting was permitted to or
ganixe the religious work department.
James Graham Cannon. president Of the
Fourth National Bank. Of New York, Is
chairman Of the -committee. Serving
with him are some Of the greatest busi-
ness men In the United States.
The men and religion campaign was
FIRST suggested. by Henry w. Arnold. one
Of our talented young secretaries. He Il
now battling for his hfe at tuoer-
culosis camp In the Adirondack Noun
tains. But his idss is marching On to
luuuusAt ssai 10 Jsns = Assss3 w.