The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-05-10
Rev. R. w. Hobbs Talks Inter-
estingly Of Recent Work
QUITE AN EXPERIENCE
Religious Life Among the Sol
diers; Bible Glasses and
Preaching

REV. IT, w. huDDS, pastor OIL IHe
First Baptist church, who has re-
turned from period of service as
camp pastor at Camp Custer, Michi-
gan, spoke both Sunday morning and
/, evening upon phases of his expert
ence.
His morning subject was "The
Camp Pastor and His Work" Some
of the things he said were: "The
camp pastor is a civilian religious
worker representing some denomin-
alton. His appointment by the war
commission of his denomination is
authorized by the war department.
While he works. definitely with the
men of his own denomination, he is
at the same time a pastor at-large
in the camp. He is also connect
| ing link in the scheme of religious
work between the chaplains, associ-
alton workers and local pastors.
That his work is considered of val
ue is indicated by the fact that the
cbaplains of. Camp Custer, unanim-
ously in response to an inquiry of
Major General Kennedy, voted their
approval of the work done. Y. M.
c.. A. men considered the camp pas
tors as among their most helpful as
sistants, and the man at the head
of the Fosdick commission in Camp
Custer wrote that he considered what
| they did as being some of the most
important religious work"
Teaching Bible Glasses.
The camp pastor co-operates with
the chaplans and Y M. C. A. men in
the task of preaching in the huts, and
in the teaching of Bible classes in
both barracks and nuts. In the bar
racks themselves, especially among
the new and homesick men, there is
much help extended in visitation and
the holding of meetings.
Cooperation with the local church
of community near the cantonment
is carried on by means of office hours
upon days when the soldiers have
their ''town leave" and by planning
social and religious services with the
help of the local church members.
Talented members are also used in
camp services.
In addition the camp pastor does
a distinctive work in his visitation
OF the base hospital, encouraging the
SICK, praying with them, bringing
dainties of various sorts to the con-
valescent. Personal visits and in
terviews with men constitute not
only method of religious stimula-
ton, but of effective development of
the morale Of the army.
The Religious Expression.
Sunday evening, Mr.. Hobbs theme.
was The Religious Expression in a
Military Camp" He told of the
many religious agencies at work. in
Guiding the chaplains, Y. M. C. A.
men, Hebrew Brotherhood, camp pas
tors and others. The work and
methods of each was mentioned with
an estimate of it's value.
The atmosphere of camp life was
outlined with its varying influences.
me profanity and obscenity of the
men was condemned unreseryedly.
while at the same time the things
winch conduced to this bad side were
indicated. Reference was also made
to the unwise liberation of these
vices on the part of protesting Chris
tians among both men and women
Attention was directed to the won
derful record of sobriety and clean
ness morally that was being made
Men Accept Religious Talks.
1t is fact that it is easier to talk
with men about religious matters
than it has been for many years in
civilian life. At the same time if
there had been previously no reU-
gious background little could be
done.
In the judgment of the speaker
there was no doubt but that there
would be changes along lines of re-
liglous work, but these changes would
AFFECT most vitality those religious orr
CARNATIONS which had laid great in
slstence upon formal observances in
their activities. Simplicity and d.
rectness were meeting the needs of
men who were face to face with the
most serious problems of their lives
II only the intensive religious work
can be maintained, there was eyery
reason to believe that Americas par-
tlclpation in the word war would en-
rich the moral and spiritual nature of
her men.
Mr.. Hobbs Illustrated both his adj
dresses by many personal experi-
ences.