Norwich bulletin., 1916-09-14
G. SHERWOOD EDDY WRITES
 FROM WAR CAMPS

G. SHERWOOp EODY WIKI ES
 FROM WAR CAMPS James L. Case Receives Intensely In-
 tenseIy interesting Letter From In-
 ternationaI Y. M. c. A. Worker.
 President James L. Case of the To- cal Y. MIG. A. has received a letter from G Sherwood Eddy of the Y. M. c. A. International committee, who is doing effective work in the camps of soldiers in Europe. MT. Eddy is quite well known to many local resi- dents and many will recollect the thrilling address he gace in the Davis Theatre at the annual anniversary service of the Y. M. c. A. before a large audience.
 The letter follows:
 Care of Brown, Shipley & Co.,, 123 Pall Mall, London, s. W. Aug. II, 16
 My Dear MT. Case: We are in the mdist of long tour through camps of the British soldiers in Great Britain and France. We have been working seven days a week, holdlng meeting for the soldiers every evening, with small group meetings and interviews with the men during the day. Let me try and give you an idea of the work by a. glimpse at the meeting last night The great wooden hut is filled with
 
 ed soldiers after their hard days drill ing, with parades, the storm1ng of trenches, bayonet work and physical exercise. Two hundred machine gun ners have just poured into the hut after a days hard march. They have gathered at the piano and are singing songs of home. 'gripperry" is dead, it has sung itself out, but new songs are taking it's place. such as Keep the Home Fires Burning; Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Own Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile,' etc, songs Of hind me-; these are the war songs Of the British soldier today. Indeed these men are not soldiers. They are a nation in arms. These quiet boys from the farm and city do not like war, but every man is ready to take his place, to live or die; while the woman hood of Britain has risen in self-for- getful service for the country. At one end of the hut a hundred men are buy ing tea, coffee and refreshments at the lunch counter. A couple of hundred are at the writing tables, buried in their letters, their thoughts far away in the old homes and oblivious to the roar of the music and the talking go- ing on about them.
 It is time for our meeting to begin, but how are we ever going to grip the attention of a thousand restless men
 
 have been driven toward God and who are face to face with the great reali ties of life, death and the future for the first time in their lives, eager for a message which shall help them to God and help them in time of trouble. But here are several hundred othres who have been hardened by the war, wo have fallen victims to evil habits, determined you shall not force relig- ion down their threats. How are we to capture the attention of this whole mass of men and hold them? Will they bolt or stand fire. Come on boys, let's have sing song; gather round the piano and let's sing some of the old camp songs" Out come the little camp song books, published by the Young Mems Christian Association, and we start in on few favorite chor- uses: a dozen voices call for the songs Of Scotland, others ask for John Browns Body" Marching Through Georgia and negro melodies. Others call for the "Marseillaise' and the wal songs of Britain. Soon we have five hundred men seated around the piano and the chorus gathers in volume. New we call for local talent. A boy with blue eyes and clear tenor sings o1 home. A red-headed humorist nam ed Ginger climbs on the table, an6 at his impersonations his acting and comic songs the crowd shouts with glee.
 My heart begins to sink within me as I look over this sea of faces and won- der how I am ever going to hold this crowd that Ginger has in the hol- low of his hand. Somehow these men must be gripped and held to the last "Roys, what was the greatest battle of the war" we ask? Was it the brave stand of little Belgium at Liege Was it the battle of the Marne, when the French and British struck their first blow? Was it the great retreat of the little British army from Mons Was it the great stand at Ypres, the defense of Verdun, or the drive on the Somme? What was your hardest bat tle It is not inside, the fight with passion. Now is the time to challenge every sin that weakens a man or the nation. Boys, how about drink? Is il ling? I was watching you at your game this afternoon. How about i'm purity?" Here we mass our guns or the greatest danger of the war. In five minutes the room is quiet, in ten min- utes we have the ear of every man 1T the hut, the last man has stopped talking and now the battle is on. They , are gripped on the moral issue, how can we get them to the religious These men have the roots of religion in their souls but do not know it. They believe in strength, in purity, in gen. 1 ing before temptation, but the very things that they admire are all found in their fullness in Jesus Christ. The wages of their sin is death, but the i free gift of God is eternal life.
 The thought of an illustration strikes me. I hold up a gold half sovereign in my hand. ''Who will take me at my word and ask for a gift?" At last z man rises up, there is a little scene and then a burst af applause as tht man gets the coin and goes to his seat Now why didn't you come? Some of you didn't believe me, some were ashamed to come up before every body and ask for it, some were just waiting 1 but you lost your chance. Once agair offer a gift.
 | Here is something more valuable thar all the gold on earth, heaven to be haG for the asking; the free gift of God iE eternal life. Why don't you come The same three reasons. Some of vol don't believe, some are afraid to show their colors some are just waiting You will start for the front tomorrow 1 to take your place in the trenches Are you ready for life or death? Wha1 | then will you do with Jesus Christi" l We have had them forty minutes l now and every man is listening for his | life. We hold up the pledge card o1 the war roll "How many of you arc willing to take the stand against l 7,