New Britain herald., 1918-12-10
'. N. {. A. HAS TAKEN
BIG PART IN WAR
Barnes Terms It Connecting Link
Between Home and Battlefront

Just returned to duty after serving
as an association secretary at an army
camp, presented his report to the d.
rectors of the association at their
meeting last evening and in 1t he out
lined in brief, but comprehensively.
the wonderful work that New Britain
has done in the recent war and laid
especial emphasis not only on the
part taken by the local asso citation
and it's members but also on Y. M. G.
A. work in general. The report fol-
lows:
New Britain's record in the war
is one to be proud of-and those of us
who have been away have watched
with pride the lists of men represent
ing the city ii the army and navy,
and have taken great satisfaction in
the successful way each Liberty loan
and war drive went over the top.
/ am particularly glad that our Y. M.
G.. A. was able. not only to serve
the men and boys left at home, but
was also enabled to project itself
into the war by having its own sec
retaries serving with the men in
camp. A bronze plate in one of the
7. M. G.. A. buildings erected in q,
cantonment Is inscribed as a gift
from the people OF New Britain to
the marine corps, and contains tt
names Of five of our secretaries who
started Y. M c.. A work at Quantico.
Va. Now after ten months at an
other camp, I return with f1rst-hand
knowledge and experiences of how
the z. M. G. A. can serve men In a
bigger and better way than it ever
,%0Fv
to this board for the privilege OF
this experience which will be of
great value in developing the work
here as the men in service return.
Plans For the Future.
'"That is what we must plan for
the return of the men, and we must
bear in mind that the Y. M. G.. A. or
the " as they call it, has been with
them since they first entered camp,
or even before where men went in
large groups in the selective draft
The " has been their home-their
club and their church. No service
they asked for was too small nor too
great to be rendered them by a "
man, and 1t didn't cost them a cent.
AS they return their home and their
church are automatically restored,
but they will look to the ~ more
than ever as their club.
MANY of these men were never
members of the Y. M c. A. before
they went to camp and there their
first experience with the called for
no membership fee. If, upon their
first visit to the home Y a member
ship fee is required before they use
the privilege. a bad impression will be
made upon them, and they will COM
pare the army Y and the city Y M.
Q. A. to the disadvantage of the lat
ter.
Some overseas men will undoubt-
eddy return more Or less disabled by
gas or wounds, and the Red Cross
will function for them. AS there has
been the closest cooperation and
overlapping of Y. M. C. A. and Red
Cross service, both in camps and
overseas, it will be our duty to offer
the association privileges to the Red
Gross for use in these cases.
THE problem Of getting the re
turning men adjusted into employ
ment as quickly as possible is one OF
great importance and we should give
all possible assistance along that line.
What the 'eY', Has Done.
"Overseas and in the home camps,
the has been the soldiers church
The army chaplains held their regi-
mental services there and in the K
of c. buildings. The Y men conduct
ed services there and ministers from
neighboring towns were furnished
! with audiences in these buildings,
Bible study classes to the number of
two or three hundred O week were
conducted, and the greatest emphasis
was laid upon personal interviews by
secretaries with soldiers. Over seven
thousand men entered into Christian
living through meetings and inter
views at Camp Jackson during the
past twelve months. Many of these
were united to the church and others
will join upon their return home
This spirit of cooperation of the Y.
M. c. A. with the church will be con-