The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-03-31
WHAT The Y.M.C.A.
DID IN France
DR.. Woods Hutchinson, Well
Known Scientist, Praises Wei
fare Work Overseas.

Two things especially struck me
during my year along the western
fronts, what the "Y'' had done for the
war, which was beyond all praise.
and second, what the war had done
for the "Y," which was scarcely less.
should feel ashamed of myself IL |
didn't speak out and add my mite to
clearing Up this cloud of superficial
criticism which has been allowed to
overshadow the magnificent achieve
rIent of the Y. M. c. A.
Most of the criticism against the
"Y' as brought back and written
lcme by our boys in France seems
based on comparatively superficial
charges. / have not the slightest hes
itation in saying that if all the com
plants were true, the balance IN
favor Of the soldier would still be
ninety nine percent of the entire war
service performed by the Y. NJ. c. A.
It's work as l saw it from Belgium to
tie Adriatic, and from the home
training camps to the front line
trenches was simply magnificent.
While, of course, mistakes were
made, they were on the whole fewer
than those Of most other organiza-
tons operating under such difficult
circumstances, not excepting the mil
itary authorities.
In my Judgment, 1t was the 'Y
and its splendid army Of volunteer
minister workers that saved the
face" of the earth in this war. 1t was
practical Christianity in action and
did more to humanize the church and
delegate creed and rituals to the back
shelves than anything that has hap
rened III fifty years.
These grave, quiet, bravely cheer
full and happy, simple minded boys OF
ours. who looked like cherubs and
fought like devils, had already made
the supreme sacrifice, had offered
their lives to make the world safe for
their loved ones and for the children
Ct the future. Greater love hath nc
man than this, that man will lay
down his life for his friend" There
vas no crucifix that could be held be-
fore those boys that they had to lool
up to see.
It was the bravest, gayest, mos
loyal, justest and kindliest brother
hood / was ever admitted TO, ant
they're going to tear this gray
greedy, selfish old world OF ours a
home 10 bits and make it over agar
end better And God be with them IL
| their crusade and God help ANYONE
who stands in their way!
Through them a great. humanizini
process began, by which the Y. NJ.
A. has been fairly transformed, wit
splendid augury for greater an
more efficient service in the futur
than it has ever performed in tn
last. It's programme was early rec
, ognized as essential to military Ell
ficiency and i violate no secrets {
the military authorities, not only {
the American army but also of tn
/ French and Italian armies as vel
when ] say that the "Y" programn1
could not have been dispensed wit
I except at the cost of prolonging til
war AMI delaying the victory.
And J may add that they seriousl
considered the possibility of organii
ing some other force to do this wol
n in the camps, and ended by turnir
everything over the Y. M. c. A. ar
r giving the Association carte blancf
5. and hearty support. The Frent
looked at it for months askance {
Q, account of the &C" in the name. b