The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-10-17
TIE Y. NJ. G. A. IN CAMP,
Laurens Boy Tells OF What This Great
Organization Provides for Uncle
Sam's Soldiers.

at camp JACKSON by the Christian tiIn-
deavor society of this city, the follow
ing review Of Y. NJ G. A. activities in
camps was written by Chas. III. Gar
rison, of Gray Court, member OF the
32nd Ambulance Company:
Perhaps ii would be Of interest to
many persons to know something of
the everyday" life of the boys in
camp.
What is my boy and your boy doing
to pass away the long hours when not
on drill and what arc tic moral condi-
tions that surround him?" may be the
first question that arises in the heart
Of some one particularly of some
mother that has reluctantly parted
with Il son. 10 The best Of NY ability
and considering my limited experience
in the army | shall attempt 10 picture
conditions just as | have seen them
telling some things, perhaps that your
boy might have omitted, but OF naccs-
sity repeating much that is already
monotonous in these war times.
DO the boys attend church?" may
be the first question 10 answer Many
OF them do but ortontimcs it is inn
practicable for them to get off and
avail themselves Of this privilege
Very ortcn churches arc inacccssbic
AGain il IS actEally impossible to got
away from tho camp because Of duties
such as guard mount, Kitchen duties
g,..l I. -, =
passes may present Itself for in some
camps it is necessary TO have pass
to get out Of the camp and this matter
is often beyond The control OF Inc SOL
diers. But do not jump to The con
cluSion that all boys as soon as they
don tho uniform of soldier forsakc
the religion of their youth and go to
the extreme. | will not for an instant
agree with such view, be the author
OF it who lie may
Omitting the church as an organiZa-
ton, | shall deal with two other topics
tho army Y. NJ. G. A. and the per-
sonal religion which can and often
does thrive in spite Of adverse condi-
tions.
Too much can not be said in praise
OF the work done by the army Y. NJ. c.
A. 1t means all that home and the
church mean, for ii must take the SOL
der-loncly and homcsick as he often
iS--and make him realize that the
same God wha has always heard pray
crs yet reigns--that the same condi-
tons to certain extent will yet sur
round and that the responsibilities OF
life cannot be lodged but must be met
as far as possiblc-it must take the
place Of Mother who has always been
the comforter and counsellor Of the
young son; it must take the place OF
Father who has ever been ready TO
offer advice; ii must do even more
than this for ii must offer something
that is fascinating enough to attract
and draw the boys away from the dcns
of sin gambling devices and the like.
\ gigantic task that is for the Y. NJ
not yet done. The men in charge OF
the work must realize that the boys
in camp are away from home and that
even greater temptations arc to be
dealt with; they must set to work to
find as far as possible the personal
pcculiaritics Of the soldier and to as
sist in kind, tactlul way. They must
also assist the soldier to feel that be-
cause he is away from home and per-
hans unknown that he is still TO re-
Il. his sclf-rcspcct, and that some
one back home" is still expecting him
to be a good boy as we'll as splcn-
did soldier.
SO when your boys speak of the
work done by the army Y NJ. C. A.
offer a silent prayer for the men who
are at the head OF the great institu-
ton. And the thought must not be
overlooked that when the men are in
the actual fighting zone and arc de-
prived Of the advantages OF the cit
les, the Y. NJ. c. a. will mean even
more to The boys who follow the flag.
I failed to say also, | believe. that in
the Y. NJ. G. a. an abundance Of ink
and paper is at the disposal Of the sol
dicrs while suggestive notices on the
wall urge upon the boys the duty Of
writing to loved ones. Such notices
as write Mother tonight" are ia
miliar in any army Y NJ. G. A.
Moving pictures are provided sever
al times eacll week while the piano