The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-11-02


men, the character of the service
they are rendering and the supreme
sacrifice every man of them stands
ready 10 make. The burning ques-
ton. which each of us by our atti- ,
tude toward this fund must help an
swer, is, shall the flower of our J.
American manhood, who go out to
represent US, come back to us $50
far as their lives are to be spared !:
with bodies shot through, with I'm
namable disease, with character
weakened or blasted. or shall they re-
turn stronger and better men? What
more important asset have we to con
serve?
To fulfill our obligation to our AL
lies we should raise this fund OF
$50, 100000. AS the past three years
have unfolded it has become increas-
ingly clear to the American people
and their leaders that in very true
sense the Allies have been fighting
not only for themselves, but also for
us. In entering the war we have
made their cause our cause. Their
defeat would mean our defeat. Any
thing which strengthens their hands
will hasten the victorious ending OF
the struggle. The military and civil
leaders OF certain of our Allies have
made it clear that there is no one
way in which America can help their
cause more than by placing at the
disposal of their entire armies the
practical and constructive agencies
of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation This call has come with
convincing force from Russia, France
and Italy. Trusted military repre-
sentatives of our own country, such
as Major General Hugh Scott, late
Chief of Staff, and General Pershing,
have strongly endorsed these ap-
peals. There are no two answers to
such appeals. The response must be
favorable, prompt and generous.
The 100000 should be given
because of the direct and vital bear
ing which the work of the Associa-
ton has in accomplishing the pur-
pose of the War. Napoleon has said
that in war morale is to other fac
tors as three to one. Each day the
warning countries are spending over
$3.50, 100000 to supply what might
be called the material factors and
forces. This budget calls for devot-
ing less than one-third that sum
among over one-half of the soldiers
of the war, and this not in one day.
but in nine months. America wisely
and generously subscribed over
$120, 100000 to the Red Cross in re-
Spouse to the first appeal. This work
of the Association, calling for less
than one-third of that amount, min
listers not only like the Red Cross to
the physical comfort of the enlisted
men and of the military prisoners,
but also to their intellectual and
spiritual nature-in other words, to
their morale.
Senator Root the other day en-
phasized the fact that there is some
thing about modern trench warfare
which affects profoundly and adver-
sely the morale and spirit of the men.
A work like that of the Association,
therefore, with its recreational sports,
its entertainments, its lectures and
libraries, its social intercourse and
service, and it's spiritual appeal,
meets most real and pressing need.
Take Russia as an illustration. If
through this practical work we can
help to hold the Russian Army in
being during the coming winter and
to promote its contentment and to
lIGn It's ulSCIp1IuG du IuOIdt6,
it will have a vital bearing on win
ming and shortening the war. 1t
means the occupying on the Eastern
front (and therefore not on the West
ern and Southern fronts) of over $50
division of Germans and Austro-
Hungarian troops. Anyone can see
that this has a vital bearing On
American and the other Allies. Vital
is the right word to use.
The sum of S35, 100000 spent in
carrying out the Association pro-
gram in the military and prisoner-of-
war camps will accomplish untold
spiritual results. 1t would be diff
cult to overstate the extensive and |
the intensive need of such work or
its boundless possibilities for good. |
In the American Army the Church |
functions laically, as it were, thru
the Association just as thru the chap
lains and thru the pastors in neigh
boring parishes it functions clerical !
ly. In armies like the Russian, |
French, Italian and Indian, owing to
the understanding with the authori- |
ties, the Association does not con-
duct any religious Or political propa- |
ganda, but it has a meryelous oppor- |
" ISlSdSS lis split anu W
illustrate applied Christianity. In
all history there has not been a !
greater opportunity to serve men as
Christ served men than the one pre- !
scented by these tens of millions OF |
men under arms and in prison camps. |
Now they are concentrated in tren- |
ches, in reserves, in camps; in time
of peace they will be scattered and !
will be comparatively inaccessible IN |
hundreds of thousands of cities, |
towns and villages.
The experience of Canada and Aus |
tralasia should convince anyone who
may be at all sceptical that the $685.
100000 not only should be raised, |
but that it can be raised. If friends
of this work in America give On the
scale that the Canadians have given
during the last eighteen months for
the support of the Association in the
Canadian Army, they will give during
the next line months for such service
in the American Army and Navy and
in the armies of our Allies at least
$50, 100000, or if we G..e On the
scale that the PEOPLE OF Australasia
gave during the last eighteen mon
tbs. we viii give for the next nine
-uoHlAS % ',OUU,UUV. II SnOulQ De
remembered that in those two coun-
tries the money was used for such
work In their own armies only, |
whereas in case of our $4,000 fund
the armies of several of our Allies
are to be served and also the 6,0OO,-
000 prisoners-of-war as we'll as our
own Army and Navy. What has been
done in lands which have been pay
ing The staggering prices of war for
over three years can be done in
America with its far larger unspent