Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1917-04-30
Y. M. {. A. Active,
In War Times


close to hundred battle fronts, tht
Y. NJ. c. A. has been doing work
so notable in the world war thai
Lord James Bryce, former British
ambassador to America, recently SAID
OF it:
1T has been and is today one u
the most active and pervasive agen'
cies to help young men form high
ideals as well as for directing them
into the paths in which they can best
serve their fellows in a true Chris
tian spirit"
The opening of Y. NJ. c. A. Hut
in a German prison camp made such
an impression on Ambassador Gerard,
who participated in the ceremonies,
that he cablcd to the secretary Of
state: "Woik of inestimable value.
/ hope the American association will
extend the work to the prison camps
throughout the world. "
The records of the war disclose
that no front has been too remote
but that some means of conveying
equipment for association work would
be found. No route has been too
rough and no danger too great
Where the Red Cross ministers to the
men who are wounded, the Y. M. G..
A. provides them facilities for recre-
alton, creates about them the whole
some atmosphere so badly needed 20
offset the sordid things of camp life
and keeps near them ever the re-
minder of home and love dones.
Even the rearer may have received
a letter from some boy in uniform
writing from somewhere" along the
'front.' 1t is an even chance that the
letter was written on stationery pro-
vided by some portable Y. M. G. A.
A Scottish minister visited the
front and came back so enthusiastic
about il that he told his congregation
there were literally tons of writing
paper and many writing tables.
There were tables spread with re-
freshments and 6. platform with
piano on It. Nearby was little
chapel where the men, in all the real
ization Of their responsibilities and
dangers. could, and did, retire for
prayer. pr
Net content with getting associa
tion "huts" to all the prison camps
of more than 10000 and to the men
back of the barb-wire entanglements,
the Y. NJ. c. A undertook in Canada
work which received the highest
approval of military officers.
A physical director in Canadian
city saw number of recruits turned
down for lack of chest expansion and
power of endurance. 1t was his oppor
tunity. He took them in hand. Soon
dozens were reporting again for ex-
animation with the required chest ex-
pansion and power to endure, In all
the Canadian associations, before
their departure for active services
soldiers had right of way at writing
tables, swimming pools, shower baths,
in the gymnasium and aud'toriums.
When Uncle Sans national
guardsmen were sent down to the
Mexican border, association secre-
taries with equipment were on the
ground almost as soon as they, great
ly to the discontinue of the organ-
lied forces of vice that had also
sought the camps eager to exploit
the soldiers for their own pernicious
purposes, regardless of the harm to
them.
With the first discussion of the
entrance of the United States into the
world war, Franklin d. Roosevelt.
assistant secretary of the navy, sent
out call for special service to all
Y. NJ. c. AS, saying that every new
enlistment meant new problem in
character building, and concluding:
THE navy owes much to the Young
Mems Christian Association for what
it is today, for character means eff
cheney"
Now that the United States is defi-
nitely committed to the titanic con-
flict, Y. M. C. AS all over the United
States are mobilizing their forces 90
that their services to Uncle Sam
soldier boys may he as wholesomely
helpful and inspiring as it is needful.