The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-11-15
THE ARMY Y. N. c. A.

Some are asking: What is the Army
Y. NJ. c. A? What is its work? Does
not the Red Cross look after the every
need of the soldier? Is there not a
duplication of work and service by
these two organizations? Let it be
known just here that the work being
done by the Army Y. NJ. c. A. is du-
plicated by no other body. The gov
ernment has taken action regarding
the soldiers welfare by turning over
all social, recreational, athletic &C.
tivities and moral welfare work in the
Army Camps to the Army Y. M. G. A.
1t is represented usually by one
story building, 49xl2o feet, a great
warm room full OF friendly men. There
is cup of coffee in the corner. At
the back of the room many feet OF
! motion pictures are being reeled off.
There is the sound of the piano, of fa-
miliar tunes of massed singing, of the
records of the talking machine There
are piles of hymn books and popular
song books. There are stereopticon
and lantern slides; boxing gloves,
baseballs and bats, paraphernalia of
basket ball, volley ball, quoits, of
wrestling and other athletic bouts;
checkers, chess, dominoes and other
games for indoors. There is soda
water fountain. There are soap and
towels and matches and candles and
blankets. There is library with free
books, newspapers, and magazines.
There is typewriter. There are lee
lures and courses in French and other
subjects. There is q chance to read
and talk and lounge. Above all,
there is plenty of free writing paper,
pens and ink, ard comfortable chairs
+ and tables. A soldier on the MEXICAN
j. border, October, 1916, wrote the fol-
lowing to his pal back home: Dear
Pal: It's raining tonight; good
y night to write letters. l have written
to everybody back home and feel as
J. if you ought to know something about
the work of this life saver, the Young
IS Mems Christian Association. You
will find it wherever there are men.
. Since our shack opened the Mesa Bar
and Bills place are pretty we'll desert
70 ed. Mother gets moro letters and the
United States Government gets more
!" efficiency. 1t hands you out religion
In doses you can take. 1t assures you
f. that some one is interested in you, no
matter who or where you are. Who
or pays? don't know, but whoever it
is God bless them. They are the faith
b. ers of thousands Of boys"
" Lieut.. Col. Gilbert c. Grafton, lst
N. D. Infantry makes this statement:
~ II feel sure the maintenance Of the
le building, the good teaching and the
le elevating line of thought and the high
standard of the Y. M. G. A. endeavor
j. were distinct powers for good among
H. our men and that they highly appreci-
ate what was done for them. The ms
I titution certainly deserves the support
- of all who have the best interest of the
soldier ut heart.' Word has been
le received from O number of our Steele
at Co. boys at Camp Dodge about the
ID work of the Y. NJ. Q. A. there and
'e they speak in glowing terms Of what
Ut it is doing for the boys. 1t how has
ct six buildings In operation and is COM
pleting seven others. These are veri-
'e table homes for the boys. Here is
% what one says: "The Y. M. G. A.
A has made big hit with the boys. The
le "Y" buildings in the camp are the
only ones painted, these are painted
O. green. Everything in them is free ex-
ID cept postage stamps and post cards.
10 There are all kinds of entertainments,
religious meetings, and something do
ar ing sll the time" c. B. Olson, Fort
10 Dodge, Ia. The generals OF the great
ID armies are the most enthusiastic wit
at ness of its success.
=, Work is being carried on in 1S6
~ camps and for lesser groups and de-
o. tachments at PAS other places; PCS
buildings have been or are now under
;" constructions; 90 tents are in use; Ill
% new buildings have been authorized
~ and 81 buildings in addition are now
y under consideration. Nearly 1000
~ secretaries are now engaged In war
W work. BY July l, 1918, the work will
" peed 1900 more. Many of these ere
20 paying their own expenses and others
are on only part pay.
a. The armies morale il three times as
-, important as any other factor. TO
-, keep men clean 80 that they may be
Lo the most efficient in active service, live
~ straight and return so, or, if they
10 must give up their lives, SO that they
may die clean-this is the great work