The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-07-22
FORMER Y. NJ. C. A.
SECRETARY WRITES
II. A. Wilkinson Tells of His Work in
New York-Appeals for Volunteer
Y. M. c. A. Workers.

New York-Appeals for Volunteer
Y. M. c. A. Workers.
H. A. Wilkinson writing from the
New York Y. NJ. c. a. Headquarters
to the officers of the Y, NJ. C. A. and
the Woman's Auxiliary says: 1t is
interesting and inspiring work. Last
week | passed a man from Springfield
for France, who has four sons in the
service, and whose wife is in the Hos
tess House at Camp Upton <(where
Miss Ann Shields was last winterD /
asked him to submit to a second ply
steal examination, because he was
considerably past fifty. which he
cheerfully did, passing splendidly.
4 About the only thing he cannot do is
to bite barbed wire entanglements. as
his teeth are bit soft. But what a
fine family record Yesterday /
passed fine gentleman from New
Haven, whose position paid him $20.-
600 year We are getting the finest
men in the country. Monday and to-
day combined interviewed about iif-
ty candidates who are here prepared
to sail
From the standpoint of the work In
/ bennington, one of the most import
ant things is for me to have camp
experience. So far my services seem
to be needed most where am. So
am working in the camps week-ends,
and may be able to get sufficient
camp experience in that manner
have divided my time Saturdays and
Sundays between Camp Upton and
Camp Merritt The latter is the
more interesting of the two because it
is next to France. II is the last stop
/ before sailing. In camp ! have tend
ed counter, selling fortunes in post
/ age stamps and postals, giving out
games, balls mits, books, puzzles,
etc. and taking them back, weighing
parcel post, helping wrap up a watch
or a pen, answering questions. and
doing host of little, home things.
I played the portable organ one Sun.
day morning for services from bar
racks TO barracks. Have eaten in the
( regular mess. in the cafeteria, in the
{ officers mess, and at the Hostess
/ Houses Finally, | have inst dropped
down and visited With this and that
boy. from everywhere. do this
work on my own time and at my own
: expense
| am very glad that ! took this
step, for many reasons. OF course,
the war is making over almost every
thing in the world radically, and es.
peeially the Young Mems Christian
Association ] am right at the heart
/ of the organization at this critical
/ time. II Is great day for the Associ-
alton, and ii is going 10 be as great
day after the war, even greater No
one organization has a paracea for
the worlds Ills, but know not of any
other which has the possibilities of
breath and depth Of social service
which characterize the Association
in its work with young men. -
We have a terrible responsibility.
Men are dying for us, for our govern.
ment and institutions and ideals. To
( Justify this sacrifice, we must sacri.
fee 10 make our little corner of the
Z WI ~ up III ituuluAiDn tNtTNlniNs
( possible. The Association must have
moro time and heart-work from the
men OF Bennington The opportunity
will be so big that there must be
time. II the opportunity was big
enough to die for. we must produce
/ time and energy and funds to do
everything which can be done in the
future
And there is plenty to do which Is
clearly demonstrabe. It IS all sum.
med IN in education spiritual, mental
and physical, experimenting the eff
forts Of church. home and school.
! have lust been thinking parlicul
arly OF our high school boys Some.
how, we must during the coming year
take 10 each boy regardless of mere
membership. the message Of the
/ Christ character and service, up-to.
date. and we must establish health
habits all woven into and In co-opera.
ton with the other agencies working
! IN his behalf. To do this Bennington