THE Y.M.C.A. AND MILITARY CAMPS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2335, 17 December 1914, Page 3

THE Y.M.C.A. AND MILITARY CAMPS

'Perhaps-no "work undertaken by the I Y.M.C.A. has': raised, the association more in public esteem than ite efforts to serve the soldiers who are sacrificing so much for King and Empire. The "Daily Mail" overseas edition of October 31 has a very interesting account of a visit ito the Y.M.C.A. tent in connection with the Canadian troops. Sis Y.M.C.A. secretaries are accompanying the Canadians, each secretary haying an excellent equipment of tents, etc., for social and recreative purposes. The writer states ■ that- the English Y.M.C.A." National Council has put up about 200 large marquees in the different camps throughput the country, and has made them the centre of an exceedingly useful and practical and muchappreciated work. He states that the tents themeelves are large, and roomy, well-planned, and well-lit, and large enough to hold several hundred men.> At one end was a'counter, where odd supplies were sold, varying from toothbrushes to notepaper, and from. daily papers to soup. In many of the camps light refreshments were also provided. The centre of. the Ytent was taken up with reading and writing tables. At the further end was a low platform with a piano, and round it all tho afternoon and evening groups of soldiers gathered. There was always ; a musician among them, and there were always soldier songs to sing. The Y.M.C.A. leaders were the right type of men, without cant, sensible and practicable. They never attempted to conceal that _ their work was carried out on a religious basis, but it was" carried out without any "religiosity." There were- games all the time for those who wanted them. The special correspondent summed up as follows: —"The tents do a sound healthy work, all the sounder because the men at the head of them are too wise to attempt to force the pace." ■ The good things paid of the Y.M.C.A. work "At Home" is quite as applicable to the local work. At Awapuni the following figure show how well the marquee was used:—Religious meetings held 26, average attendance 201, total 3230; 20 concerts, average attendance 367, total attendance 7350; boxing evenings 5, average attendance 530, total, 2650. Letters written, 8930; magazines distributed, 2500. Total attendances at marquee, 40,100. During the presence of the Main Expeditionary Force in tho city the rooms were thrown open to the men, who thoroughly appreciated the privileges provided. The association has in like manner at Trenthahi and the Upper Hutt, at the latter place after the marquees,had been put out of action at Trontham, endeavoured to ierve the men, and, everything possible has been done for their comfort. The visitors' book contains such remarks from the men as the following-.—"Most generous," "A great boon," "A treasure,", "Very thoughtful," "Many thanks to Y.M.C.A.," "Truly a blessing," "Never regret my association with Y.M.C.A. movement."