Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-26
DR.. Robert Bagnell
Writes to Grace M. E.
Congregation From France

A letter from DR.. Robert Bagnell,
now in France, was read to the Grace
Methodist Congregation, of which he
is pastor, at yesterdays service. The
letter with it's interesting facts of the
country and the boys in khaki, says
Somewhere in France"
August l, 1918.
Dear Grace Friends:
II am now closing my third week
In the lecture tour through the
American camps.
II have seen many thousands of
our American boys and have talked
to many great crowds of them. Have
also had the privilege of talking per-
sonally with hundreds of them.
They are splendid, clean-cut, full
of life and what the boys call "ging-
er and pep" and are making great
impression upon the French people.
OF course, We are all proud of what
they are doing at the front, but this
just what we expect. Our boys are
subject to a great deal more tempta-
ton here than in the camps at home,
though not any more than in civil
life. Some of them drink, but I am
sure a smaller per cent. than in civil
life, and out of the many thousands
have seen but four or five have
been under the influence of liquor
1 am sure too that the standard of
morality is above that of the same
men in civil life.
Captain William Calder is in this
camp and I had a fine visit with him
to-day. What a fine. clean, splendid
chap he IS! 1 have had word from
several other boys from Harrisburg
and are from the church l hope to
see before leave France.
fourteen hundred miles in France.
The country is beautiful beyond de-
scription. The harvest is very good
and is now ripe. The old men. boys
and women are all working in the
fields and everywhere are found the
evidence of thrift There are few
fences here and individual ownership
is often confined to strip of land so
or 100 feet wide by so to 200 yards
long. These strips will be sown or
planted with different grains or vege-
tables and the effect is very artistic.
] travel n great deal from point TO
point in automobiles of various kinds
and so have good chance to see the
country.
II am TO leave this place where
am now located next Monday, to go
to another important center for u
week and then back to Paris on Au-
gust u. From there l go over to
Britain for couple of weeks speak
ing tour of the Allied camps then
before my return.
II am located now in one of the
most beautiful spots in France. Am
living altogether with the troops,
and I assure you 1 have much the
best meals 1 have had since left
home.
II am always thinking of you and
praying for you. 1t will be a good
day when ] am able to occupy my
own pulpit again. And TRUST l may
return much better fitted to serve
the great cause of the nation and to
render you better service than be-
fore.' 1t is such a comfort to me to
know that you are thinking of me
and praying for me. l am sure you.
like me, are praying constantly for
our boys. ] am sure much of the
superb quality they possess is the re-
suit of the prayers at home.
This will probably BE read to you
on either tho 18th or 25th of August.
1t will not be long from that time
until-God willing-I shall be with
you. Until then, God bless and keep
you ALL"