Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-12-22
sc
WORK AM ON q SOLDIERS

ssaaes 1ch has been fairly arQuOuS the
ut two months and more but we
not claim to have be n idle this
It two weeks.
As ! mentioned in a previous ar
he, the Belgians arrive here IN
lmbers about 600 every day on tur,
ugh from the trenches, ana II
'esents a great opportunity Tor SER
Ice among them. We have peen
habled to reach a large NUMBER per
pnally and they in turn have re-
d rned to the front there to spread
n Xe good news that we have lmpart-
" II to them, and wonderful are the
(lies we hear from the labors or
BE boys. ..,. -
1ne soldier, Peter, writes: 1T Is
ta very difficult for me TO alstli.
VA the little Gospels Ito the right
In Of course. and to those who are
want and need Of them). I go
and down the trenches, as far to
right aid left Of our spot as
! are allowed to- go, and as l have
nomrade or "pal' in every COM
INV I 20 to, I easily find the men
Va suit best for the good sake. or
hrse have daily some talk with
i m believers, of whom I've convinc-
I a lot about their wrong not to
low anything about the other life
! Ia about Christianity; then l beg
ssem only once to read the little
n ospel. and as soon as we meet
:hain. T ask them how they think
Ind feel about it, and I can give
4 Vbu several names Of men COT whom
4 tlvoral rave been wounded Of late)
y NO promised me to read daily their
Na or two chapters in the Gospels
Mich you sent me, and II makes
/ feel happy to see those noys
II While I'm writing these few
| les, there just a couple Oh
re- newly-won converted ones, sit
lg in the same dug-Out where ALL
and reading at the light OF a can
y their daily chapter. You ought
SOC this. dearest Reverend, and
lhr heart should rejoice Gust as
5hi). you ought to see their races
2Xst now. so attentively, with the
yEosnel on their knees, and seeking
tier truth. They'll soon know the
iNr1th I promise you, and believe me
don't think my duty finished al
IF distributing the Gospels, not at
IN. then it begins only. l never
nought to reap such splendid re-
tits and everlasting"
Peter wrote us again saying they
ould like a name for their group
readers of the Gospels, so we
mt ther, the name, THE Belgian
nldiers Scripture League, and tney
IS ali delighted and promised 10
aahd us the names of all who JOIN
R.hir little circle. The gratitude OF
11thse boys for what is done ior
hAem is touching, and letters nke
HE above more than recompense i0l
6M the labor and sacrifice In stu
Iihother. letter of Peters, IN thank
N {g us for, a little gift Of warm gloves
v Ii a muffler, he says: "Dearest
NJ and Mrs. l am not worthy OF
ich nice present as you SEND me-
hi 7 cannot find the right words IN
|{o1Ir language to thank you, IN th1s
kht4er for your kindness to a stran-
Ter as l am, but believe me, tnat >
Co+h vour name is continually en- |
|graved in my heart, and really, ]
| Dish / could do something for you
10Th. as YOU are doing so much 1or
be May God bless you, that's the
list wish Of Peter V. K.
Little Corporal Joseph, OF "hom
trote formerly, also came forward
IA very humorous and interest
u letter after receiving his gloves,
VII muffler. He says: Il have we'll
Aceiyed the parcel with the gloves
yJld the wooden necktie. must thank
|lbusand times I will pray our LORD
Dr your safety and much luck IN
lour noble work. If my dearest |
hrents should know that I have
bund such good friends who are so
lind for me, they should be SO hap
X. But I'm so sorry they know notf"
(hg about me; they think perhaps
IN killed. I'm very sad when |
link about it.; but I hope to see
hem soon again. l have very warm
IS more cold now. Well, l have
bspels now for long time. when
/ I'M in rest, out of trenches, l take
Elways twenty in my pocket and go
n walk as mr.. Ralph -.
I We have had for our guest Tor
couple Of days this week, very
Interesting Belgian boy, Alphonse
iorle, a soldier of twenty years.
1fhoul we met while here on leave
II absence from the front. He was
let as were the others by the gift
n a Gospel, and after we met hlm'
lie found that he too was from Ant.
3srp and when later, in our hotei
Rom, he was shown a picture or
}brporal Joseph, he recognized nm
s an old friend, and member OF
he same dramatic society. Alphonse
roved to be such an exceptionally
|ine boy, and one who so responded
/ spiritual instruction that because
|f that we extende" to him the IN
Sitation to spend the last two days
bf his congo with us. We knew as
well that it would be to him a pleas
ing memory as he returned to the
trenches. When he left us this
corning, we felt almost as though
our own child were leaving for the
front.
Alphonse is representative OF
arge class of soldiers. His tather
was one of the leading professional
men OF Antwerp, and he himself had
l good position as book-keeper in the
argest steel manufacturing concern
II Antwerp He lived the same un-
soncerned existence that thousands
ike him were living in Europe, two !
years ago, and when the storm
broke over the continent he did not
,nlist until the enemy were almost s
n Sigh. Of his native city. He told .
ne 1 1t when he enlisted, his par
.nts and younger brothers were al |
Nf l.,