Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-07
SOLDIER BOYS ARE
HITTING THE TRAIL
Average Fighter Interested In
His Spiritual Welfare.

Inc Soldler Doy Is religious, ne
studies the Bible closely and he i:
interested in his own spiritual wei
fare and that Of his fellows.
These facts are pointed out by
secretaries Of the Y. NJ G. A. in a re
port just issued on the religious work
CT the Red Triangle among the 800,
COO enlisted soldiers and sailors oil
the central military department. In
support of the statements, figures
are given to show that total OF
$1,762 men at Camp Sherman attend
cd 202 religious or evangelistic ser
vices during January and that 6.836
others We're enrolled in 1873 Bible
classes conducted under X NJ. c. A.
auspices.
Assisted by religious workers and
chaplains in the camps and soldiers
from the ranks, the Y. NJ. G. A. sec
retaries have recently completed an
evangelistie drive in which thou
sands of soldiers We're induced to
interest themselves more deeply in
their own spiritual happiness and
welfare and to take what are known
as forward step decisions. This
move is now being followed up by
the promotion of a still wider Com.
iadesein-service" organization, con.
tanning groups OF soldiers who are
banded together ito promote the
Worship and service of God, to Gull
tivate clean speech. clean thoughts
and clean living and to promote
their own religious life"
1t is considered noteworthy fact
that thousands Of soldiers ask to be
given Pocket Testaments. The Y. M.
G. A.. it is announced, has just or
dered another 100000 Pocket Tesla
ments for use in this country so that
every soldier who desires copy OF
the Gospels may have one. The new
order. brings the number of Bibles
printed for free distribution by the
Y. M. c. A. alone to 100000.
Religion has been made attractive
in the camps because of the patriot
ic appeal which it has, says the re-
port. Thousands upon thousands IF
ar1lfqtad ,nx.. in .ha oan+r,1 .3av,o,.t
ment have been drawn to evangelis-
tic and other religious services ard
meetings who never attended church.
An inspection Of any of the big can
comments shows that the soldier now
regards religion as necessary part
of his daily life General Pershing
regards ii ais vital in his
recent request for more army chap
lains with the troops in France.
Sunday evenings are given up to
more informal service in charge OF
some secretary. There is a lot OF
hearty singing. A man in khaki sis
at the piano, another leads the sing
ing, another offers a prayer, and :h-
there comes a short talk. That talk
is often masterpiece; it has punch
in 1t, and it invariably declares that
the one thing a good soldier needs
in that great fight for purity and
truth is Jesus Christ
One may frequently see men stand
ing in line, like patrons of popular
movie before the ticket window, wait
ing their turn for a quiet word with
one Of the secretaries. Out comes a
fountain pen and down goes his
name. Say, have you got a pocket
testament, Well, then, take this one.
Here put your name in it, No. it
doesn't cost anything except i've
minutes day reading in It," Fhe
record of that card goes to the mans
home, and to the nearest represen-
tstive of the church that he prefers,
and if he moves to another camp,
the card follows him.
In many huts every evening at 9
o'clock the whistle blows and the
men, knowing what that means, quiet
down and crowd around the fireplace,
On the mantle are some pictures tina
suggest home, and before the glow.
ing fireplace stands big husky uni
formed secretary. Il is family pray
ers, few verses, short pointed
prayer from one or two soldiers, AMI
then hearty goodnight. every
body"