Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-11-03
lngs for. the soldiers in the training

ings for the soldiers in the training
camps. X
Picture to yourselves, long, low
tent, perhaps seventy feet il
length, ), rather poorly lighted BY
means Of oil lamps, and this tent
set down in an open field, three
miles from the nearest town, and
approached by lanes slirouded in inky
blackness, through which our Y
M, c. A. motor crept slowly and
fearfully, and then visualize, if you
can, the scene that greeted our eyes
as we pushed back the tent flap and
entered the scene OF our evening s
labors. Perhaps three hundred men
gathered in this place, writing let:
ters on Y. y NJ c. a. stationery, al
the tables provided for that purpose
While at otner tables men are playing
games, some drinking tea or coffee
at the counter, while at the ether
end of the long tent a solitary sol
dier is Furnishing the piano, and the
whole atmosphere of the place blue
ana sitting with the smoke of count
less pipes and cigarettes. But as we
came in all heads are turned our
way, and a cheer. gees up, for has
1t not been advertised that two
American friends from London are
to be present this evening, and to
give tho soldiers that which they
dearly love, q" "sing-song." OF course
it is not advertised as Gospel meet
ing but that is what it always is,
but we first win the men with our
little Gospel chorus, encouraging
them to sing, and after one is learn
ed, perhaps getting a Soldier to come
to the platform and sing it alone,
which always delights his mates,
and Inspires the keenest interest. Al
ter q solo, which is usually the song.
TELL Mother III be There, land do
not smile at this, for there is no
song that the soldiers SO dearly love,
unless it is the, Glory Song, since
these two songs were sung into the
hearts of the British people twelve
years ago by Mr.. Charles NJ. AL
exander), and the men pick up the
chorus and sing It over and over
and then whistle it softly, and do
not believe any music could be more
beautiful. Then when all hearts are
made tender, and many lad leav-
ing his mother for the first time is
covertly wiping his eyes with his
coat sleeve, q, short address is given
them, plentifuuy sprinkled with IL
lustrations and stories gathered
from hospitals and from other SOL
diers, and then an invitation is Civ
en- just as direct and straightout as
it is possible to make it, and the
lads ccme by scores to acknowledge
openly their acceptance of Christ.
wish you could see; those great
brawny soldiers kneeling hundred
strong sometimes, and hear their
spoken confession Of Christ, as they
fairly shout it out. M Where we are
working now in the camps large
drafts are leaving daily for the
front, and sometimes before leaving
them when we know they are off for
the front the next day, we sing the
last thing, before GOD save the
King, T" = ~ iss God Be with You Till we
Meet Again. and a special prayer
Is offered for Il, dr. safe Gsaarding.
Perhaps aaiiuiot her & me niancnes.
ter friends. are interests ed In ear
Ing farther Of our work and and "a Will
tell the editor SO. VIII give you in
cidentb Of our work, some. of them
very touching and beautiful.
Today's official. report. Of the cas-
ualties caused by last nights raid
are just in, and they are appalling
IS deaths and 155 injuries, the worst
raid. by far, we have had. Z feel
as though I were walking In a
dream today. Public opinion is very
much stirred up by this last depre-
dation and some Of the articles in
the papers are scathing- At night ev-
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