Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-10-15
WHAT is BEING DONE
FOR SOLDIERS BOYS
Along Religious Lines At Camp
Meade? Asks Many.
YESTERDAYS WORK THE ANSWER
Many Denominations Held Services
Throughout The Cantonment
Soldiers Show Keen Interest

/ Inc question is OFTEN asked, what
is being done along religious lines for
the soldier boys at Camp Meade?'
These men have left their homes and
their churches and are now surround
ed with peculiar temptations in the
camp life What are the churches do
ing to help them? This question can
be answered in part by giving a
resume of the religious program car
ried ont yesterday in the cantonment
at Admiral
AT A. NJ, in building B-S9. a
Protestant Episcopal service was
held. at which time the Holy Com
munion was celebrated At A. NJ,
in the same building, Mass was cele-
brated by the Roman Catholic
Church. AT 10 o'clock three services
were held at various points in the
cantonments under the direction of
the Army Y. M. c. A. These services
were open to men of all denomina-
tions. In building E-39, Rev. II. Will
son Burgan, pastor of First Methodist
Episcopal Church, this city, preached
to possibly five or six hundred sol
diers. In building B-39. Rev. S. j.
Mcdowell. pastor of the Third Eng
lish Lutheran Church, Baltimore,
preached to about an equal number
of the boys, while in the Y. NJ. c. A.
tent Block r, Rev F. L. Watson,
pastor of Roland Park Methodist Epis-
copal Church. Baltimore. proclaimed
the Gospel to even a still larger
number of the men.
No religious services were held in
the afternoon, but at z p. NJ, three
song services, open to men of all de-
nominations, were conducted by three
Army " M c. a. Secretaries, Oscar
E. Maurer, J. j. Bingham and A. E.
Lindley. Large choirs made up of
the soldiers, enlivened the singing at
these services. Choir rehearsals are
held two nights a week
In addition to the Sunday services,
religious services are being held dur
ing the week Several Bible classes
have already been organized, and
others are now being organized
among the men. These Bible classes
are organized in various regimental
companies. In all the services of
yesterday the soldiers took keen in
terest Their attention throughout
the various services was most rever-
ent. and at the close the visiting
clergymen. without any such request
Icing made, were greeted at once at
the foot of the speaking platform, and
thanked heartily for their words of
Gospel cheer The words of appre-
citation were not perfunctory but
were from the heart. Such state
ments as these were made by the sol
diers to the visiting ministers:
Come again soon;" Your sermon
helped me-" Il am so glad ] attend
ed the service this morning. This
is what we need;n There is nothing
like religion for a man in camp" Il
was a little homesick, but / feel bet
ter now my mother will be glad
when / tell her | was at church this
morning
The reality of the religious expert
ence and the power of the Gospel
shine out vividly in these services
held for Uncle Sans boys in khaki.
The religious forces of the country
can't do too much for them. Many
prayers should ascend to Heaven for
Gods blessing upon the churches, the
u NJ. c. A. and the Knights of Col
umbus in their worthy endeavors to
preach Christ to men who have given
their all upon the nations altar in
ha, hour ,f oraot raad