Y. M. C. A.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 April 1915, Page 3

Y. M. C. A.

WORK AMONGST I3IUTISH TROOPS

Recent advices indicate the extent to which the Young Men's Christian Association had met the call to render tiocial Service to the British Troops in training at the front. Nearly 100 men are in France, over 900 men are engaged at about 800 training centres in Great Britain, 10 men have been sent from England to Egypt, 10 men are on their way with territorials to India. More than £250,000 has been raised in England since August. Several hundred frame buildings varying in size from 30, x 80 feet to 30.x 160 feet and costing from £300 each have been given for the work. The first building was given by Her Majesty the Queen, another by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Of the membership of 2,700 at the Great London Central Building, nearly 2,000 have enlisted for active eorvice, and the whole building and equipment (costing over £200,000) has been turned over to Military Social Service. The Prime Minister, Mr Asquith wrote to the National "Secretary—"l am requested to inform you that the work of the Young Men'e Christian Association is much appreciated by the Government," and the War department broke all precedent and contributed £15,000 to'the Y. M. CA. funds. That the activities hare been efficient ie demonstrated by the enthusiastic appreciation not only of the men served, but of all classes of the community interested in the welfare of the troops. Mr Michael Adler. the well-known Jewish leader, urges hie co-religionisto to support the Y. M. C. A. work, declaring the efforts to be in the befit interests of the spiritual and material needs of the soldiers, and to Jews as well as Gehistians, no distinction being made. Among Armyi and cNavy Officials fl. R. H. the Prince of Wales took an active interest in the work of the Association. The first Lord of the Admiralty said "This ie good, this is magnificent." General Sir Tan Hamilton declared "Your Association eeems to be Iruly hitting the nail on the head, and working for the good of the eoldiere one and all." Tn Australia also the Y. M. C. A. has taken upon itself the work of seeking to render Social Service in the various centres. The Brisbane Association has had several men employed and supplied oquipment at different training centres from Brisbane to as far North ae Thursday Island. The Sydney Association has had equipment and men at training centres in NW South Wales. The Ballarat Association maintained a man and equipment at Queens cliff for some month. The Adelaide Association has been conspicuous in the extont of ite service to the mon in camp at Morphotville and in having promoted the scheme for sending men wiith the 'troopships going ahrlbad. The Perth Association has also maintained men and equipment at the training camp in West Australia. To the Melbourne Association Has fallen perhaps the heaviest task in carrying on ite work at the main Concentration vamp at Broadmeadows. When the first tent wan erected last August' the work was inspected by the Minister of Defence, the Military Authorities and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, who all urged an extension and increase in the equipment, with the result that two more tente were erected and the whole have been maintained eve.- since. Tn addition to the work earned on at various centres, eight men have been sent away with' tße troopships and aro being maintained in Egypt or en route and several hundreds of pounds have been sent from Australia to carry on the work of Social .Service in Egypt and at the front. To attempt to tabulate ;the measure of service would be impossible, bu.t it is certain that not alone in the material and personal service is the limit of value, but in the opportunity of linking the men up in activities for mutual advantages whereby the highest and noblest qualities of the man and the soldier are developed. At a recent meeting of Official Representatives of the Churches held in Melbourne, a resolution was passed that there is a form of service in the interests of the soldiers which can be most effectively carried on by the Y. M. C. A., and expressing a desire to co-operate. Following this tho Field Service Committee of the Y. M. C. A., has invited a number of prominent representatives to join in its administration so that the work may be more widely, extended. At no time has there been any serious criticism on the! quality of the work done, but the extent has been limited by the local funds available. An appeal is now being made for £3,000 to carry on and extend the work up to December next. It. is desired to improve the equipment and service at BroadmeadowK, to send more men with the troopships going abroad, and to further assist the work among the Australian troops in Egypt. NW Zealand will require another £50 to '■ carry on the magnificent work being done at Trenthani and Egypt until December next. An Officer has recently written from Cairo that tho discipline has improved over 50 per cent since the Y. M. 0. A., tents were erected among the New Zealand troops and that the men spend their time in the tents in the evening instead of going into Cairo as formerly. Contributions may be eont to any local Y. M. O. A., nnd the money will be forwarded through the National Committee.