Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-24
SUPER WRITES
OF DAY SPENT
in TEXAS CAMP
Religious Work Well Under
Way in Army Associations;
Men Enthusiastic
By PAUL SUPER,

.
Religious work is certainly under
way in the army associations In
Texas. We went into one of the build.
irgs at Camp. Travis, near San Anto,
Mo. one night and found practically
ali the benches occupied, with men
standing up in the bach or the room
and down the aisles and crowded To-
gether in the front near the platform.
The speaker was giving a very plain
and sane talk on prayer, illustrating
to the men how in prayer man is in
personal conversation with God, just
as much as if he had gone into a tele-
phone booth and rung up friend.
Inquiring later into the composition
of the men making up this camp, we
were told that in addition to the usual
group of men from the Texas cities a
large number were cowboys and men
OF mixed Indian and Mexican blood.
Perhaps these men a+to@d Bible
classes and religious meetings be-
cause the Bible is more or less new
TO them. However that may be, they
certainly do attend.
At another building that same night,
upon asking Secretary Gibson about
his Bible study we were told that he
had nearly score of classes in oper-
alton, on the basis of class for each
company, and was planning further
conquests along this line. 1t appeared
never to have occurred to him that the
task was difficult He just went ahead
and did it and got it done. When
asked where he had secured his lead
ers, he said that he allowed each class
10 select its own leader, and said that
they seldom made a mistake in choos-
ing the man for the job. The soldiers
know each other. These men are not
fresh from the Sunday schools. They
are not old hands at Bible classes.
Many Of them have never paid any at
tention to religion before. Modern
civilization itself is surprisingly new
TO many Of them. Not a few came
into camp carrying guns. We were
told of one man who came into camp
with part of his ear shot away, due to
3 little pleasantly on the train. 9TH
ers had never seen street cars, and for
not few this ride to San Antonio at
Uncle Sans expense was their first
experience with the railway train. To
many of these men obedience was a
new idea, and the young officers have
no easy time. Yet these men are at
tending Bible classes. attending re-
ligious meetings, attending prayer
meetings and responding to personal
conversation about religion.
OF course, along with these men
from the more remote regions there
are many cultured and capable men
from the best families in Texas, col
lege and professional men of parts,
but want to say that if it can be done
in Texas it can be done anywhere.
We also visited the aviators at
Kelly. field. AS we came down the
splendid new government road, on the
right, we saw some hundreds of sol
diers going through calisthenic drills
under the direction of our physical di
rectors, though under the immediate
orders of a non-commissioned officer.
On the left hand side of the road
stood the association building. As we
came in we found it being used by the
officers for paying off," and a large
number of soldiers we're standing in
line receiving two months pay.
Some more information about unus.
Cally successful religious work was
no wforthcoming. Secretary Wharton
told US that 1000 men were in Bible
classes, Here, toe. as at Camp Ira.
Wis, the task had been undertaken on
the basis of a class for each company
The announcement is made at retreat
that a company Bible class will be
organized Just after the ceremony.
The men meet and start off for a ten.
weeks course, The Manhood OF the
Master, choose their own leader and
begin business. In the few minutes we
were in conversation with Mr.. Whar-
ton at least three men came to the
door of his office and asked for a copy
of the picture of the Bible class that
had been taken few nights previous.
Off on the other side of the main
camp were number of soldiers under
canvas, and here the association has
q tent. As we walked into it the desk
secretary called one Of the older sec
retaries to meet US. He gathered up
letter he was writing, explaining
that he was just sending a note to the
mother of boy who a few minutes
before. in private conversation. had
Needed to begin the Christian life. De.
cisions of this kind he said, were quite
common, as a result OF the work in
the tent and his visits with the sol.
diers. These men at Kelly field are
a high type Of men. As the require.
ments for aviators are very severe, it
takes first-class man to get it.
This, then, is what we saw in this
one days visit IN these camps. We
saw plenty of evidence OF successful
religious meetings, very successful Bi
Bile study and successful personal
work done with groups. ranging all
the way from those who. cannot even
read street signs up to thoroughly ed.
ncated men. We came away feeling
that If 1t could be done under these
conditions it could be done anywhere
and that it will be done everywhere.
/. . p. "