Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-30
CHAPLAIN TELLS OF HIS.
FORT MYER EXPERIENCES
Rev. l.. Valentine Lee Makes Address
mt ST. Paul's on Work at
Training Camp.
MEN DOING HARD STUDYING
Impressed With High Moral Tone of
Camp, Absence Of Profanity and
Clean Living of the Men Now Pre-
pairing to Be Army Officers.

pairing to Be Army Officers.
Despite the oppressive atmosphere,
there were many interested listeners at
st. Pauls Episcopal Church last night.
to hear Rev. l.. Valentine Lees address
on Impressions of Training Camp
and Spiritual Opportunities" Mr.. Les
has just returned from a moEth'S Scrv-
| ice as chaplain at Fort Niger, and he
| introduced his instructive and enter
| tanning talk with n uctation from the
| first verse of Psalm 144: Blessed be the
Lord. my strength. which leade,h my
hands to war, and my fingers to fight"
| In retrospect, the speaker imagined
King. David walking as did the chap
lain that first evening down the long
line of barracks crowded with men at
suppcr-a line of barracks thrce-quar-
,ers Of mile long-and the streets
afterwards alive with men during the
| few minutes before the buglc sounded.
Out of the seeming chaos the bugle
| notes wrought orderlincss and quiet,
| and in a little while all those men were
studying in their hunks. studying the
science of warfare. how to fight and
TO make war SO that the world might
know peace and happiness, truth and
| justice at last.
MIR. Lee outlined briefly the plan OF
the camp. First. there Is the Officers
Reserve Training Camp; second. the
regular artillery, and third. the Dis
trict of Columbia Guardsmen. These
| three sections are separate and dis
| tinct, yet serving the scme general
purpose of intensive preparation for
| warfare.
DAILY ROUTINE LEAVES
NO WASTE TIME
The routine at Fort Myer was a rev.
citation TO the chaplain. Every man
rises at $40. and breakfasts shortly
after o'clock. The buglc at Z o'clock
sends them on long hikes to study at
| first hand the knowledge needed of
country. the making of maps, trench
| work. and fighting in the open. Where
the trenches are already dug. they
practice bayonet charges on punches
OF faEots. horizontal and perpendicular,
! representing the enemy.
II was surprising to find that this
practice OF running a bayonet through
the make believe body of a human
being, particularly if PROSTATE, often
made the recruits as nauseated as If
real blood had been shed This work
continues until IL 80. and afterwards
there is dinner. and the afternoon is
taken up with lectures and addresses
The men have little leisure except from
Saturday at noon until late Sunday
night.
Mr. Lee was greatly impressed with
the fine caliber of the men in the re-
serve officers training camp. These
are mostly college graduates who have
gone into training with "A full realiza-
ton Of their patriotic duty and of the
seriousness of the situation facing the
country. Some have left splendid posi-
tons. many have given up all their
professional prospects through n keen
sense Of honor and duty. and have
brought to their training an unaIter-
able determination to make the most
Of their opportunities for service.
STRUCK WITH HIGH
MORAL TONE OF CAMP
The chaplain was struck with the
nigh moral tone of the camp the abb
sence Of profanity, the clean living Of
the men. Even cards were taboo in
most companies. this matter resting
with the captains of the companies
The average age Of the men is be-
tween twenty-five and twenty-six
Among the regulars and guardsmen
the chaplain noticed first the youthful
ness of the recruits. the average age
being about twenty. Nine out of ten
of the. artillerymen had just enlisted
They had more time and liberty hav-
ing no studying to do. and were free
after o'clock in the evening until
rovil!s the next morning. This gives
them chance to go over to Washing
ton spend the evening. and often the
entire night.
OF the spiritual side of Fart Mver
the chaplain spoke first OF the wonder
ful work Of the army Y NJ C A.
This organization fills the frs; great
need Of the army along spiritual lines
There is splendid big building as
large as ST. Puuls. in Richmond, and
everything possible is provided for the
comfort and entertainment AID the helm
in every way of the men in training
Next to the Y. NJ. c. A., the sneaker
mentioned the Episcopal Church as
heing strictly "on the job Two chap
lains arc on the ground all the time.
the men, especially those of the Epis-
copal church. Services are held reku-
larly, morning and evening. though the
great majority Of the mer In training
go home over Sunday. Get Together
movements are encouraged for the dig
terent college groups which are in
training. Epiphany Church In Wash
inEton has done n notable work in Civ
ing entertainments every Saturday
evening in tho parish house. followed
by dancing. where the men meet nice
girls and enjoy a pleasant evening un-
der wholesome Influence.
In closing. Mr.. Lee said that he re-
Garfed II as great experience to have
had the opportunity for service in Fort
Mycr. and that the church owed il to
the government to give the euuipment
OF chaplains and the army 7. NJ c. A.
the most earnest support. since this
cali 10 the service of the flag was the
cal OF the Almighty and should he re-
Sardcd as such
Wanted in Hopeweii.
nc rVN,l