The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-08-15
WORK OF Y. M. c. A.
Lawrence J. Menerey Writes of the Splen-
did Work the Y. M. c. A. Is Doing as
he sees 1t at Great Lakes, Ill.

through the efforts of this organi-
zation that it gives me great pleas
ure to write brief description of
its wonderful accomplishments as
"Jacky" sees it.
Nations at war must, in the
rush of preparation, overlook to
some extent the small things that
go to make for the fighting forces
comforts. And without these COM
forts the men would be at serious
loss. All must admit that one of
the prime requisites Of military
training is high morale. There is
no way in which this can be accom-
plished better than by affording
the men under arms the little COM
forts that they find missing in
their transition from civil to mill
itary life. That the government is
not in place to provide all of
these, with the hundreds of other
things that must be provided is
acknowledged. Therefore the out
side organizations doing war work
find that they can do a great deal
to help in bringing the fighting
forces to stage of perfection by
assisting in keeping up the morale.
With the outbreak Of the war in
Europe, the Y. M. c. A. began its
splendid work among the men in
the trenches, at naval bases, etc.
Americas entrance found the Y.
M. G. A. well organized and ready
to put units to work in the canton
ments in this country. Funds were
raised to defray expenses and the
services of men whose experience
and education fitted them for Y.
M. c. A. war work were enlisted.
Needless to say the Great Lakes
Naval Station was not sighted.
In fact, this station was among
the first to receive attention from
the organization. The Y. M. G. A.
started there in a small way and
its growth has expanded with the
growth of the station. Each regi-
ment has its Y. M. G. A. hut, a
roomy, pleasant, splendidly equip
ed building where the "Jackies"
may enjoy many of the comforts of
home life. There they can go to
read, write, play games etc., when
off duty.
There are four principal divis-
ions in the Y. M. c. A. work, hav-
ing separate duties to perform.
Perhaps the social division, to the
men themselves, attracts the keen
est attention. The Y. M. G. A. pro-
vides splendid entertainments
practically every evening in order
that the leisure time of the jacky
may be spent in a pleasant way.
Important talent from Chicago and
Milwaukee are generally secured
and entertainments of the highest
type are furnished. Each hut is
equipped for motion pictures and
films of an amusing or educational
character are shown frequently,
often entertainments by local tai
ent are given. At all times, men
will be found at the long tables
we'll supplied with writing mater
ial, writing letters.
Another important department
of the "Y" activity is the education
al divisions work. The men are
given an opportunity to study in
classes conducted by the Secretar-
les of this department or compe-
tent instructors. Glasses in French,
Geography, Spelling and
Mathematics are conducted. Dur
ing the week lectures by members
of the faculties of nearby colleges
and universities on subjects close
ly related to navy life are given.
Every evening groups of men may
be found in secluded corners, deep
ly engrossed in study with an ex-
periencedman giving individual at
tention to each.
The religious department works
intensively among the men, and
thus upholds it's side of the tri-
angle. Religious meetings held dur
ing the week are well attended.
Bible classes are held each Sunday
morning in different camps.
These classes are held in the
barracks where the men desire
them. Only competent men are
put in charge Of these classes and
splendid results are coming from
them.
Competent men from Chicago or
nearby places are often enlisted to
give a portion Of their time to ''Y''
work in this camp.
Under the head of the business
department comes the work of
keeping the building we'll sunnlied