Putnam patriot., 1919-04-11

The following letter was received
from Rev. Albes Z. Stone. chaplain
On board the hospital chip Comfort, -
and read to his former pensioners Ct
the First Baptist church at the annual
roll call meeting Friday evening.
Dear Friends Of the Putnam Baptist
Church
The card Just received from Mr.
Pierce reminds me forcibly Of the
swiftness Of time-of the fact Of
change What incredible things nave
happened in the world since, Just
few breates azo, it seems, 1 wrote you
Roll Gail letter and sent up my
prayer for your annual gathering
Surely this Is rapidly changing
world, for nations and individuals.
You have not been quite so close to
the scenes Of this rapidly changing
old world as | have been privileged TO
be, but | know your minds and i'm
aginations have in large degree grasp
ed something of the fact. We are
not far apart in these days. however
distant our bodies may be from one
another. News travels with the wind
far swifter indeed-and life touch
Is life even from the ends Of the
earth. But you will think | am com
mencing sermon, if / continue phil
osophizing. and that is far from my
intention in writing you this friend
ship letter
have heard frequently of the hap
penings in the church during the year
Much Of the news has gladdened my
soul, the additions in membership
some Of whom ! know and all Of
whom I rejoice to hear are now stand
ing on the Lords side. ! pray for
them steadfastness Of faith and an
experience Of rich blessing, broaden
ing and deepening with all the days.
/ have heard too, Of the various act
ivities in the church, conferences.
special meetings, new organizations
and 50 forth, all Of which tell Of pro
gress and energy. Il has been good
year for you. | am sure, and now you
offer prayers of Thanksgiving and
praise as you press forward into the
new time pray for you all, pastor,
deaeons, teachers leaders and peo-
Pile, that there may be complete har-
mony of spirit. and a consciousness
of the leadership of the Holy Spirit
/ by whose power you shall do greater
things than these.
Mine has been very different sort
Of life and ministry than that at Put
nam In many ways it has broaden
ed me, because | have been able tc
touch so many varied points of life
You know that just year ago ! was
ordered to the T. S S. Comfort, one
of the hospital ships of the North At
! lantic fleet. but detached for the time
| in order to do transport work II
bringing home wounded men from
France. There was considerable dis
cussion in the newspapers about the
proposal to send this ship alone anc
unarmed during the submarine war
fare. This discus \, delayed the 90
ing. so that it was not until the fal
that we finally got uuder way for th'
other side This first voyage wa
made in convoy, under the protection
of cruisers and destroyers, but we hal
an the sensations of travel on the At
4 lautic during that perilous period
We kept constant vigil Of fort,
ls5bouts in various posts about thu
shlp steamed at nigh, hntirely with
ont ights, were cauxrt in hurricane
of the Bay of BiscaX, separated from
our protecting force and for many
hours went at breakneck speed alon'
in the most thickly infested submar
inc area Once suspicious pursulns
object was sighted and fired on b,
one of the convoy, giving us plent,
of opportunity to feel the thrills o
anticipated attack But We arrive,
unframed after this first voyage, ant
brought back our first load of wound
ed heroes last November Since tina
time we have been constantly in tn
transport service. bringing HON,
many hundreds of soldiers from
Brest. st. Nazaire, Plymouth, an,
Bordeaux. | have been fortunate
enough to see both England ans
France under war conditions II
many ways not happy experience
but full of interest. On our last re
turn to France We were given leave
to visit Paris. and many of the places
of supreme interest to Americans
along the battle front In this way
spent day each at Chateau ThierrA