The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-01-02
MEETING OF The
PRESBYTERIAN
BROTHERHOOD

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A regular meeting of the Brother
hood of the First Presbyterian church
was held last evening in the dining
room. OF the church. A bountiful
supper was served by the sixth divi-
sion OF the Ladies' Aid. Following
the supper, the president, G. S. Pet
terson, called the meeting to order
Mr.. Peterson explained that the pro-
gram was the first OF possible
series of Overseas Meetings" and
then introduced AS the first speaker
Of the evening. Guy ID. Smith, who
was in Y. NJ. c. A. work in France
during the last year of the war.
MIR. Smith gave an intensely in
teresting report of the war work of
the Y. Nj. c. A. as he had seen it, After
a short period of intensive training
at Silver Bay, N. y, he went to
France where he was assigned to
athletics at Nantes. Later he was
made physical director of the Nantes
area which covered over one thous-
and square miles. Nantes he describ-
ed as city of great historic in
terest, with buildings whose strong
construction indicated a period when
PEOPLE were afraid of each other. In
common with other large cities,
Nantes was place OF many tempta-
lions, and the problem of the Y. NJ.
c. A. here as elsewhere was a prob
lem Of keeping the boy busy during
every minute when he had nothing
to do How well the organization
met this challenge was probably lit
tie known, for the Y workers went
forth under the direction, Don't try
to advertise the Y. Just do the work" "
Every effort was put forth to pro-
vide suitable amusement iOr The men.
Wherever possible local boxing
matches were staged, and footballs,
baseballs, masks and bats were FRO
vided, thus furnishing the means for
other diversion. These supplies were
distributed in various ways, the
speaker himself often averaging
sixty eight miles day on his
bicycle. laden like modern Santa
Claus with packages.
Many kinds of work were under
taken by the Y. workers. Rolling
canteens were sent out; mess tents
were set up for the different COM
panies; hospital trains were un-
loaded and hospitals were visited,
and when help was scarce. they often
helped with the unloading and load :
ing of trucks in the large warehouses.
Though often far from active service,
in many cases hardships were under
gone that gave the opportunity for
sacrifice as great as that of the front
line trenches.
In answer to the question asked
why did the boys have, to pay for
the canteen supplies when such large
sums were raised at home to carry
on the work of the. Y. M. C. Az" Mr..
Smith gave dgures that showed that
low prices prevailed in these can
tecEs tssat wsa'e run at a loss to the
Y, and at the request of the army. 1T
was necessary to use the money
raised for the Y. NJ c. A in raising
the morale of the army he stated.
Recreation was furnished on a large
scale to large groups of men, and this
required large expenditures.
The second speaker, Dr. c. c..
Pratt. who went to France with Base
Hospital 81, told of his experiences in
brief. humorous way that held the
attention of all. Located at Toul, he
was with group whose work was to
take care of the San Mihiel drive DR..
Pratt paid high tribute to the
stretcher bearers and the nurses who
worked faithfully and uncomplain-
ingly against heavy odds.
The following Janaury, he went to
Montenegro on Red Cross work. To
show how vague were general ideas
concerning that country he quoted
one officer who said that he was 60
ing to Montenegro because it was the
capital of Roumania, while on his de-
parture he was presented with pic
lures of cannibals with ostrich feata-
ers indicating what he might expect
On reaching Montenegro they found
a great need for hospital organiza-
ton. So they built their hospitals
ION bacon and -four" for only by Of
fering those supplies as rewards,
could they get help from the indo-
lent, hungry people. They found it
difficult to get help for the peasant
women, who though willing and hard
working were toe illiterate, and the
women OF the upper classes who were
educated would not'leave their homes
to work. Shiftlessness is character
istic of the people who have little
sympathy for each other. A surpris-
ing number have been in American
mines and should be able to develop
the mines Of their own country. Their
houses are Of stone without chimneys,
and with walls black with. smoke.
In answering questions that were
asked. DIR. Pratt expressed the OPT
MON that Montenegho and Serbia will
be the scene of disturbance for many
years to come, but also said that the
people there would do anything that
the Americans might ask.
After the members had expressed
their appreciation OF the talks OF the
evening. the Brotherhood adjourned
until the January meeting.
Mr.. and Mrs. N. p Paulson return
I'd last evening from their honeymoon
trim to the twin cities.
Geofpp Rarfh returned last evening