The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-14
.DR. [. M. W|LEy|S DOING GREAT WORK Famous Colorado Pastor at
 Camp Mcclellan NEEDS OF THE BOYS Tells How Much It Means to Them to Have Civilians Show Ap-
 preciation of Their
 Efforts
NEEDS OF THE BOYS
ny PATRIOTIC PATRICIA

1 <ehlistoH, NoVemDer l3-(Speclal.) )-ln
 recognition of the importance of Camp
 Mcclellan to the country, Uncle Sam is sending the very flower of the land to l serve them.
 1 pr. E. NJ. Wiley, who has been given
 a years leave of absence from his l church, one of the most prominent in
 Colorado, arrived in Anniston last week. lie will spend two months directing the
 Young Mems Christian association work l m southern camps, and then goes to
 somewhere in France to lend helping hand to the boys over there
 ] As I saw him hold his audience spell i bound at Parker Memorial church Sun ] day and listened to his choice, forceful
 How of language, I realized that truly
 the sense of duty brought forth by this all important mission Is being met by
 Americas very best.
 i As l sought Dr. Wiley afterward for an interview and felt his personal mag l netism, and his wonderful tact, thought oh, how fortunate for the mothers of men to have a man like this to wield an l Influence over their sons, their most
 priceless treasures, their pearls without price.
 ! pr. Wiley knows just how to approach the boys. One athletic young soldier told me yesterday MT. Doc is jolly 1 good sport, no long faced religion with | him. He studies the interests of the 1 fellows, and before you know 1t he's got you. Gle somehow knows how to get I next to every guy, from the vilest to the 1 finest. Just let fellow get down and l out, and you'll hear him holler for the
 parson, and by George he's always l Johnny on the spot.' A compliment, 1 perhaps, not given in most elegant terms, but it came from the heart of a soldier I boy, who had been ''touched' and Is 1 the kind of tribute whose sincerity Dr. I Wiley appreciates and highly prizes. l Is this the first time you have visited | paign?'' I queried. Dr. Wiley demon- strated his noted tact at once by throw 1 ing a bouquet at our bonny southland. Yes he replied, "and it has been | such joy to find your southern hospi- 1 tality, Just as 1t had been pictured. Of 1 course, had expected much but some 1 of us are from Missouri, don't you know, and must always see to believe. Greater
 than the anticipation has been, the reali- | zation of your hospitality. Somehow the folk of the south seem to have more grace to be better natured, than people of other sections. Some say it is the effect of the climate. Well, wish I could take some of the climate back with me. T have been made happy" he said, ito | see the way your hospitality Is being ex- l tended to the soldiers When you take 1 the boys home with you to dinner and | let them share your home life, you arc l just opening up a little bit of heaven 1 They get, oh, so tired of the monotony l of camp life, and the drudgery of drill. l Oh, no, they do not complain. They are | too brave to whine, but they long for home ties more than you know, and 1t | means so much to know that there are l folk who do care, folk who love them. When you take them into your homes,
 you get personal contact, our hardest l task In efforts to touch their lives. You will find opportunities for service to the l boys you meet in this way, that will
 count in years to come. Every time you | take boy into your home. you put heart | and hope and helpfuiness into his life. T was also glad to note the touch of i feminine hand at the Young Mems | Christian association buildings" re-
 marked Dr. Wiley.
 | "Oh, yes;" l replied "A committee 1 from each church has been appointed to l mother Young Mems Christian associa- l ton building. They are sending out 1 books, magazines, and pot plants, and 1 have some beautiful plans for each building, which they hope to perfect at an early date Mothers from every section of Alabama who have boys in l service realize what it means to have
 your wonderful influence thrown around their boys, and deem 1t sweet privilege to share with us this service of mother
 ing" the Y. M. c. A. In fact, the women
 of Anniston are meeting with the hearty
 cooperation of patriots in all the towns
 of this section. A party from Tailadega
 drove up yesterday to bring comforts II to the thousand sick soldiers. Jackson
 vile extends her hospitality constantly,
 and takes care of a ward in the hospital.
 Selma has agreed to lend hand. Tha
 little town of Albertville sent us $500 for the war library.
 Big Birmingham has been asked for
 big things, and is responding in a big
 way. The camp is indebted to the Magic Citys Drama league for excellent at
 fractions, the Council of Mothers sends
 delicious homemade candy. This week
 a party chaperoned by Mrs. J. F. Frazier
 Is going to drive over to bring us some
 books for our war library, homemade
 candy for the hospital. and as they term !, It, to get inspired for continuous vel
 fare work. The boys are anticipating
 with keen delight box of canned
 goodies they read about in Sundays pa
 pers. It is being collected for their thanksgiving treat from the Birming-
 ham Housewves league. The hospital
 relief committee has appealed to Bir- ], mlngham women to aid in fitting up a rest room for the convalescents, which they are sure will be met by some club
 or perchance some individual in the | generous spirit, characteristic of Bir-
 mingham women. If you will read the
 Birmingham papers, you will find theii pages filled with the wonderful things l to be done by the Magic City to help your
 |. M c. A.. work.
 Oh, l have read that. you may be . sure" said Dr. Wiley. I'm glad Ala
 pama is to have such a large share in
 this wonderful work, both at home and : abroad You know that 800 nfore secre , taries and Y. M. c. A. helpers are to be sent to France in two months. How
 thanfful l am of the privilege to be one
 The fellows in the trenches are praying to us not to forget them, asking us tc nelp them, to. sustain courage ant strength, and stand beside them to the last. Doesn't that stir your heart fires ana put your soul aflame? Just look al
 the fellows here to go ciear-eyed. clean
 cut, manly boys, pieces of living sculp- ture out of the very best of our Amer ican homes. Do you suppose anybody
 can doubt that this thing is wortt hurts