The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-08-12
HUNDRED DOLLARS NEEDED.
Friends and Well Wisllers of Young
Men Enlisted in National Guard
Asked to COntributc 10 Fund for Y.
Nj. &. A. Work on border.

The letter to Secretary Birchard of
the local Y. Nj. G. A., printed below,
is an appeal to the friends and we'll
wishers Of the Sumter boys who have
gone to the border with the South
Carolina National Guard to do some
thing for their spiritual and moral
welfare amidst the evil influences with
which they will be surrounded on the
border. The need for the Y. M. C. A.
work In the border camps is clearly
and forcibly explained in the letter
and nothing need be added to what is
so we'll said by Secretary Wilson. The
matter that is put up before the Sum-
ter people for their consideration is
the appeal for 500 from Sumter. Will
they give One-tenth of the amount
needed to carry on the work for the
balance of this year? 1t is believed
that they will respond to this call and
that the 500 will be raised quickly. It
Is believed there are at least one hun
dred persons in Sumter who will be
glad to give one dollar each for this
cause. and 1t is suggested that the
call be made for contributions to this
fund through the Daily Item, that
this paper receive the contributions
acknowledge the amounts received
daily and when the total amounts to
one hundred dollars turn it over to
the treasurer of the Y. NJ. C. A. The
Daily Item will undertake to do this
work and will receive and acknowl
edge contributions.
One hundred persons-men, women
or children-who will give one dollar
each for the good Of the soldier bows
on the border are wanted, although
larger contributions will be accepted,
Of course. II the spirit moves any one
to give more literally.
The letter Of Interstate Secretary
2. G. Wilson to Mr.. H. L. BiTchard
follows:
Mr.. H. L. Hirchard, General Secretary
Y. M. c. A.. Sumter, s. c.
My Dear Birchard: AS you know,
our South Carolina troops have been
ordered to Ell Paso. and from there
will probably be sent to some border
town. Here these men will face ev-
cry temptation that the devil has ever
hurled against man. Unless the most
aggressive steps are taken, hundreds
OF them are going down in moral de-
feat.
Our Interstate Committee has de-
cided TO accompany the troops. The
equipment used at Camp Moore was
forwarded with the troop trains, and 1
am planning to go personally to super
wise the inauguration Of the work and
will remain until 1t is adequately
cared for.
have spent the entire week in
Camp Moore at Styx and my soul has
literally been stirred within me as
there stood face to face with the
tremendous need and marvellous op-
portlnities for Christian sdrvice
among these men. Never have /
found such appreciation on the part of
any group Of men for association work
as that manifested by these men.
was In Camp when the order to move
anne and the men were unanimous in
their request that our work go with
them. The officers of both regiments
joined most heartily in this and have
agreed to defray part of the expense
Of the work.
We are now calling upon our city
associations to raise a special fund
adequate to make possible an aggres-
sive work among these men on the
Texas border The Columbia Associa
ton has already responded and raised
over 5000 and provided the tent and
equipment and are placing this at our
disposal to use on the border. We es-
innate that it will cost approximately
5000 month to operate this work
and we are now trying to provide this
budget until the first Of January, as
We feel quite sure that our men will
remain I'm Texas for that length OF
time.
l am writing to ask IL you cannot
raise ut least 800 as a special fund
for the maintenance and DEVELOPMENT
of this work. If l could only repeat
to you the interview that l had with
number OF the young men in the
camp during the past week, / am sure
you would so at this work with xest.
Most Of the boys to whom l refer are
active Christian fellows right out of
our South Carolina colleges. Thcv
were pleading for cooperation to nelp