Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-02-06

at Young Mems Christian Association
Buildings Nos. rs and 10 as we'll as at
the knights of Columbus building.
Jewish services have also been held
at the association huts. The Bible
class movement has shown an Increase
in a number of classes and in attend
ance, but the full effect of the policy
begun in January will only be felt
later. The plan worked in several reg
iments has been to organize Bible
classes in every company or battery
with a soldier of that particular unit
as teacher in order that the class may
be continued without a break on the
ocean or somewhere in France. Re-
ligious services have been held in the
Motor Mechanics regiments under
precautionary quarantine, at the Field
Bakery, Base Hospital, and elsewhere.
Two thousand and ninety seven Bibles
were given out to soldiers upon re-
quest, and especially to those who
wexe leaving the camp permanently.
Twelve thousand men are reported to
have signed the war roll pledging re-
newed allegiance to Jesus Christ, or
for the first time accepting Him.
Even in the cold of winter, out-of-
doors sports have been popular as is
attested by the fact that in the imme-
date neighborhood of our buildings
25 600 soldiers have taken part in the
games, while 10000 more in other parts
Of the camp have engaged in sports
using association equipment furnished
to the various units. Boxing and
wrestling bouts in the buildings under
careful supervision have drawn en-
thusiastic crowds. Out of doors, the
basket ball is most popular among
the soldiers, and volley ball among the
officers. A comprehensive recreation
al program has been presented to di-
vision headquarters and in numerous
instances setting up exercises and re-
irrational games for large bodies Of the
troops have been established in tie
intervals of the intensive military
training.
The entertainments have not been
so well organized but have been thor
oughly enjoyed by the $4,000 men at
tending. Especially in this true of the
motion pictures which in the buildings
have had an attendance OF 10000 and
outside the buildings 10000 or 10000
more The military authorities have
continued to use our building to show
government pictures to the men and to
the officers, and also for sessions Of
the training schools for military in
struction, to battalions or regiments.
New Years celebrations were held
in each of the association buildings.
One had a most striking program in
Guiding boxing and entertainments by
the church societies from Augusta,
movies. ice cream for all of the men,
and ending up with solemn watch
night service. A colored orphans band,
a regimental band, Senior Andonegui
and wife; and Mr.. harrington Branch
have given variety to the musical
programs and all have been very pop
ular. Trench songs have been taught
to the boys by Captain Spencer, while
Mr.. Tebbs, our association musical di-
rector, by divisional order, has been
teaching five hundred picked soldiers
to lead in popular song singing.
A number Of lecturers have been
heard in the association huts. The
Curtis Publishing Company sent for
several days, their pictures on the
Making Of a Magazine" together with
lecturer to explain it. Two current
events clubs and Hunters and
Fishers Club" have continued regu-
larly.
One soldier has drawn comic car
! toOns for use to illustrate by the ster-
eopticon lively current events talks,
The auto protector pictures continu-
ously shown through the day and the
evening have interested many. These
have all related to- temperance.
In addition to the thousands men in
French classes meeting twice week.
voluntary and others compulsory,
classes in English for foreigners has
been continued and class in the
metric system which is of value to the
men Of the artillery and machine gun
battalions especially has been organ
lied Good work has been done by
Captain Stone on his talks on Purity"
and big thrift campaign has been
pushed in all of the Y. NJ. c. A. build
ings. This included addresses on
Thrift of Characer," Thrift Of Time,
"Conservatton of Health"
War Savings Stamps were sold and
in numerous ways the association CO.
operated with the military authorities
in pushing the sale of war risk insur-
ance which at the end of the month
had reached one hundred and fifty
million dollars.
This is making real progress, bpt
the next month must show larger re-.
suits" says Camp Secretary Tomhn-
son.