Gunnison news-champion., 1917-11-23
-Ej. BAhER TELLS OF
RECREATION FUNDS
,...- .- -s-.r pag.-

.. rr....r ...~. -Er-r Psg.
q. NJ Of available pace. TO allow all
~ .r.m 90 erect hIllIngs within the
..-r-r-. ]. -s--mri. therefor. = san"
ard .-a-0raDi. solution Uf the prob
..... 90 aIul, the ruO organizations
g.alrH mad already been Identified with
..trratIpn work within military camps
"a .It.,h- Young Men Christian A.
.-,5s-.a,.or and the knights Of CoiUm-
bu-. BD,h organizations s"rTed the
soldiers along social lines on the Mex
can border last summer, without re
yard ,y ans question Of member rshIp.
on TIL. condition therefore. that they
would not limit their activities to any
particular constituency, and that their
buildings would AZ all times and for a!
ua.angs be- open TO the entire camp,
they werr allowed admission 70 the
military rc~cr7.atIOns-
The Young Mcn's Christian Asso-
rIatIon represents the protestant de
nomination. which will constitute
roughly sixty per cent OF our new ar
my: the work OF this organization IN
all military camps, both in Canada and
abroad Is too well known to require
comment The knights Of Columbus
represents the Catholic denomination,
which will constitute perhaps thirty
fyc per cent Of the new army. While
the society is q fraternal organiza-
ton it will sustain exactly the same
relation TO the camps As Is sustained
by n. Young Mems Christian Asso-
cation and wIil hold no meetings 10
which all III" troops in the camp are
IN Il
Other preference. The Young Mems
Hebrew Association. in its rccrea-
t.uua work. has Identified itself with
'hr Young Mems Christian AssOcIa-
won. and J., -'-.-m~ to me that this task
Of m.nr-t"riug to the social needs OF
the soldiers within the camps. has been
fully met. and m way which will not
rr,d.r--ly compllcat" the machinery Of
the camp organization.
|, seems 20 me moreover. that the
communities near the camps, where
tn" -o'di"rs will doubtl"ssly spend
much Of their leisure A. allowed them.
present Il genuine opportunity to thcs"
yarIuus societies and organizations,
which hav" sought admission TO tn"
camps Experience has shown that
tn" instructive desire Of fr"" soldier
with an hour Of free tim" is to go TO
town" II IN" town Is only a cross roads
and for this reason the commission on
framing camp activities, with my ap-
proyaI and under my direction, has
given a great deal Of tim" and thought
to the task Of organizing these towns
and cities along rccrrntlonal and so
cal lines. Local committees have
been appointed in each such cOmmu-
mty and the attempt ha- been made to
harness up tho churches, lodges, and
harness up tho churches. lodges. and
other local groups and organizations
with tn" men in camp. This, it seems
70 me-. Us an opportunity for service,
which cannot be wisely overlooked.
Each lodge" church, and fraternity can
look out for tho needs Of its soldier
membership, and when local groups
are unable. financially, to provide ade
guatcly for this task. the larger or
ganizations of the church or fraterni-
t. q the case may be, can come to Hc
rescue with more ample means.
Indeed there is so large a task be-
fore US in surrounding our troops with
q !. .a,thy environment. and the omer-
gcncy is so great that trust that all
groups can cooperate in a cordial
spirit Of loyalty and fellowship, re
gardlcssly of any differences of race
or creed, or affiliation.