Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-28
COL. SHOEMAKER'S
WARM ENDORSEMENT
Member of Governor Brum-
baugh's Staff Expresses
Opinion of Army z. M. G. A.

Under the caption, "Y. NJ. C. A Ge-
MUS" Colonel Henry w. Shoemaker,
of McElhattan, Pa, and New York City,
who is a member of Governor Brum-
baug'h staff and accompanied the gov
ernor on his recent tour of the train
ing camps, writes editorially of the
Y. M c. A. in the camps as follows:
To the writer the one grand out
standing feature of his recent trip to
the southern military training camps
with Governor Brumbaugh and party
was the sight of the magnificent work
being accomplished by the Army Y. M.
C. A. This splendid organization was
early on the scene at the new canton
ments and won from the start the con-
fidence and affection of the Honor
Men-the only name by which the
young heroes of the selective draft
should be known.
No matter where ones home the
coy Y. NJ. c. A. buildings bring back
that CHEEKY familiar atmosphere, and
take away the seeming formalities of
camp life. No matter what ones
home surroundings were, the Y. M.
c. A. headquarters is up to the best
and brings a wholesome influence in
to the lives of those who were with
out Christian home surroundings be-
fore joining the coIors.
The personnel Of the Y. M. c. A.
directors and workers has much to
do with the success of the undertake
ing. They are kindly faced sincere,
earnest young men, STEPPED in hui
mainly and helpfulness. The selection
of these active workers was most
happy and in appearance they COM
pare fayorably with the army Off
GERS. In their olive green service uni
forms with open collars and four-in
hand ties they have been mistaken
for British or Canadian officers by
newcomers at the camps.
The Y. M. c. A. is the Christian
hub of the great military wheel that
rtvolveG its daily grind brewery camp
and cantonment. Well fabricated with
sincerity and kindness it gives
brightness and cheer to the vast ma
chimes that are blowing their way to-
wards France and victory Just as
foreign embassy is technically home
soil, once inside of the doors of a
Y. M. c. A. buildings one is home,
spiritually in accord, with all that
is cleanest, sweetest and best in life.
Parents of soldier boys can rest
assured that their sons are in good
hands at the great cantonments. The
officers are all working for their well
fare, they are comfortably clothed,
housed and fed, but above all, their
leisure r-oments are thoroughly pro-
vided for by the genius of the Y M.
c. A. This organization has been
doing a grand work for our civilian
youths for many years; it Las the adj
vantage Of these long years of train
in gin helpfulness-but it has found
it's ultimate and fullest goal among
the Honor Men. The happy. smiling
faces that the young soldiers all
wear come from several causes; the
fact that they are doing their duty
for their county, the comfort of their
surroundings, the healthiness of their
work, and the home that is brought
literally to their cantonment doors by
the Y. NJ G. A.
Along the same lines the Knights
of Columbus, the Young Mems He
Brew Association, and other organiza-
tions are carrying out a superb work.
Happy in the soldier for lie is one
with Christ and one with his con-
science. The Christian or the God
dominated soldier is sure to win this
war. righteousness cannot perish
while the Y. M. G. A. reminds each
man daily of his duty to his higher
self. II w. S.