The Washington times., 1917-10-19
Domino INFORD
DR|VESL|KE JEHU
AT CAMP MEADE

CAMP MEADE, ADMIRAL, Nd, Oct
1e-The Bible tells of chariots of fire
and Of simple donkey carts. The Rev.
S. Tagart Steele, jr., who has charge Of
religious work at Camp Meade for the
Protestant Episcopal Church, has hit
upon a vehicle that combines the merits
Of the two. He decided to get himself
a jitney bus. It Is a Ford without
camouhage and jitney without frills.
The only fancy thing about 1t is lit
tie step in the back such as are to be
seen on patrol wagons. This tail deco
ration will soon be gone. The going
here is rough indeed, and this Is no
place for steps. 1t Is a hot pace the
jitney men set over the deep holes
left behind by the dynamiters who
blew out stumps to blast a way into
the unknown region where this enor-
nous cantonment has been built in
the past few months.
Can't Hold Hin Back.
No path is too rough, no sand too
deep, no mud too sticky to hold back
Mr.. Steele. II the engine balks he
gets out and gives It hard kick over
and catches up with the procession.
Those who are weary and heavily
laden are sure to get lift II he sees
them. Old mothers with heavy bundles
for their embattled sons who fear the
expense IL they get aboard the other
buses cannot resist when they see
Mr.. Steele in his clerical gRrb. His
smile carries with 1t a benediction to
their sad eyes. Also conducts the
bus in the service of the Most High
and charges no fees.
Does Excellent Work.
Mr.. Steele, who knows all about
automobiles and has ridden in almost
all kinds, might have had a nobby
little runRbout, or possibly a Glover
Leaf model roadster, but what he
thinks about, least of an, in connec-
ton with his job Is himself. He is
anxious for the leading men Of his
church to come here and see the
camp from his point Of view, to learn
at first hand2of the religious situation
and its importance in relation to all
the other problems Of training.
For the present his work requires
frequent visits to Baltimore and
Washington, and his car comes in
very handily for that purpose.
Bishop Murray, of Maryland, and
Bishop RhInelander, of Pennsylvania,
got together as soon as they learned
that men from those two States were
coming to this camp, and decided to
have admission a work carried on here.
This work, of course, Is for the Dis
trict men at this camp.
In the early days OF camp life the
big pay led to wild excesses in
gambling and drinking among the
workmen. The life here then was
like that at some outpost OF civiliZa-
tion, a duplication of the looseness OF
frontier life. Mr.. Steele was sent
down on the job in those days. HIS
services and those held by Father
Kelly, the chaplain of the Tenth New
York Regiment, now on other duty
elsewhere, helped to give a decent
tone to the place. A communion serv-
ice held by Mr.. Steele every Sunday
attracts large crowds Of men. He
has become popular with workmen
and soldiers from the first. The jit-
ney idea is only one of many in which
he has conformed to the situation and
Can Drive Like Jehu.
The main thing in this camp is no.
biIity. The man who gets around IL
the one who gets in touch with the
situation. Mr.. Steele can drive like
Jehu, and he knows mis- job well.
Religious work is an important
factor IN this carp. Mr.. Steele CO.
operates with the Y. NJ. c. A. in ev-
cry way possible, making one OF the
buildings his headquarters for SER
vices. There are Catholic masses, as
many as four or five every Sunday
morning, at three different Y. NJ.
C. A. buildings. Later on the knights
of Columbus will have their build
Ings ready for Sunday services and
entertainments on week nights. There
is also a Young Mems Hebrew As
ISOLATION, which will have a center
for religious and social work.