The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-18

the task of providing suitable educa-
tiOn. social and religious activities al
all the various training centers here
at home where the men are soon to
be put in shape for the great fight
that they are to help the leaders to
make. and in the training centers
that are being gotten ready for the
troops in France, where they still will
have some months of waiting and
preparation before they actually 20
to the front. Three million dollars
was asked for and four million is
already subscribed. A thousand Sec
retaries are needed and five thou.
sand Of the choicest of Americas
Christian young men have volunteer.
ed. Among them. able young business
and professional men declare them
selves ready to leave all. IL need be.
for the present time, to help in this
great work. Was there ever in the
history Of the world such q response
on tho part of SO many of the best
men of the country.
But. to offer men and money To
this work is just the beginning. The
immediate and most important task
which now confronts the association
ia to train these men who have offered
their services for the work which they
are to do through the Young Mems
Christian Association m the various
military camps. was more than
delighted to learn upon my reaching
New York that already training
schools had been organized for this
purpose in different parts of the coun-
try. 1t was with great pleasure that
! accepted the invitation to visit one
Of the largest of these training schools
here at Blue Ridge. N. c., which un-
derstand to be the center of the train
ing of the Young Mems Christian As
sociation workers for the Southeastern
District. under the command of Gen.
Leonard Wood, and I want to express
my thorough appreciation of the
splendid work that 1 found In pro-
gress here. AS for location and
equipment. 1t seems to me that Blue
Ridge equals, II not surpasses. any
OF the training schools that It has been
my privilege to visit. and what
wonderful outlook ore has from this
point. and the splendid wide veranda.
high pillared Robert e. Lee hall, over
looking twenty-five moutain s peaks.
impresses one above words. How
wisely the association leaders select
ed their location and how attractive
ly the equipment has been assembled,
but better still than grounds and
building is the spirit which I found
pervading this institution. The earn
cstness and thoroughness Of the men
who are giving their time 10 this
training school as leaders, and the
splendid type Of young men who have
volunteered and will 60 from this
training center to the various military
camps In the country, indicates better
than anything else could the response
which good old Southland is making
to this supreme call. What higher
patriotic service could the Southland
render than to support this Institution
In every way? There should be no
lack Of funds to maintain 1t thor
oughly. When this term Of school
Is over there should be a second
group Of young business and profcs-
sional men. who seeing the great op-
portunity which this form OF service
offers. will have offered themselves to
their country In this capacity. Will.
n large number of men have volun-
teered, there Ia as yet lack Of men
of maturity who can be at once put
into these centers as executives, and
who we shall have to send in even
larger numbers than we yet have
into France to properly command our
work In the centers there. The In
ternational Committee Is turning to
this training center for the South to
furnish its quota of these more mn
a.