Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-27
Y ASSOCIATION
AND RELATION TO
ARMY EFFICIENCY

opportunity for the young men of the
country to acquire knowledge, eXpe-
rience, character and good health
Many Of the young recruits who enter
our service are found lacking in the
moral, mental and physical qualities
so essential to the useful citizen and
valuable soldier The basis Of a
healthy body is clean living, which is
likewise a passport to mental and
physical development. No one, can
grow in mental strength and manly
vigor who violates the laws of moral
ity and health.
The qualified soldier must possess
an alert and active mind in order to
acquire the technical knowledge of his
profession and handle the intricate
machinery used in modern warfare.
He must have a clear eye and steady
hand to become a skilled marksman
and a rugged constitution to undergo
the weary miles of forced marches and
inclemency of the weather. Besides
these he must possess moral strength
Of character to resist evil. temptations
which destroy. health, and withstand
the nervous strain Of battle and the
yigils of night duty on the outpost in
time of war. To acquire and possess
these most valuable qualities, every
soldier, enlisted or commissioned, must
learn to control his vicious appetites
and hold himself well in hand on all
occasions. He must avoid alcohol, i'm
moral women and venereal diseases,
the nnholy trinity, which is respon-
sible for a large portion of the i'll
health, broken-down constitutions and
mental and physical wrecks found in
the world.
The recent studies On alcohol have
shown it to be the most destructive
agent Of health known to the living
world. Not only does 1t produce Sc
rious functional and organic diseases,
but lessons memory, Judgment and in
telligenee., Even the moderate drink.
er deteriorates mentally and physical
BY, and frequently. finds himself at so
years broken down in health and mind
and no longer able to. earn living.
One Of the most valuable assets In the
service for the np-building of char
acter and health is the Young Mems
Christian Association, which carries
with it the very Influences and train
ing. that enable our soldiers to estab-
Hsh good moral and physical basis.
Clean sport and manly recreative
games, backed up by scientific health
talks, have created manly ideals and
physical fitness, which have been OF
untold value In increasing the health
and efficiency Of the men. 1t, is said
that in the year Just closed nearly.
$1,000 men have awaited themselves of
association gymnastic training, which
has made them better men.
The soldier finds in the association
the proper stimuli for the develop
ment Of the best moral and physical
qualities. Where formerly his leisure
hours on pass were spent in saloons
and brothels, thousands are now avail
ing themselves of association educa-
tional work, which is fitting them for
the great responsibilities of life as citi-
zens. when they leave the service.
Mental training creates mental alert.
ness. and the Christian fellowship of
the leisure hours spent with the as
ISOLATION secretaries brings happiness
and contentment. From my expert
ence have. found that the association
has stood as bulwork between the
crowding temptations of the men. in
garrison and naneuver camps and .es-
pecially Inf the Philippines and on the
Mexican border; through it's influ.
ences, helpfulness and brotherly love
hundreds Of the men have been saved
from the temptation OF desertion.
D., 1t Is my opinion that the work as
army secretary of the Young Mems
Christian Association offers a great
field for young men of the highest
ability, for men who have had the
advantages of birth, university and
technical education, young men atnbi-
tious to do something material for the
higher standards and the worlds up-
lift. There is no greater opportunity
for the public-spirited men and women
OF the country to show their patriot
ism and love of humanity than by
contributing to this splendid cause.
The men of every post in the army
are improved in every respect through
the influences of the Young Mems
Christian Association and there should
be such a building with a live secre-
tary in every army garrison.
l. Mervin Maus. Colonel Medical
a