GLORY SONG WINS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 129, 7 January 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

GLORY SONG WINS.

RELIGION IX BEER CAXTEEX. JUEX CAMP AMAZED. Bringing the Glory Song into a beer canteen, Mr. Clifford H. Browne, Y.M.C.A. secretary at Mex Camp, Egypt, has profoundly stirred the soldiers.

The spectacle of a soldier with a pot of beer in one hand and a hymn. book in the other created surprise, .and finally admiration of the courage behind the experiment. "The Gallipoli touch" of the attack has carried the men with it.

"Last night I attempted something that would not meet the approval of everybody," writes Mr. Browne in his monthly report. "I went into the beer canteen on pay night—packed with about 300 men—and started a meeting.

"I had advertised a meeting in the mess house next door, but at the time to start there were few there, so 1 asked the canteen crowd if they would have it there. They chorused 'Yes.*

"We got the harmonium in, and in spite of many remarks that were rather sarcastic the whole canteen was soon singing "Lead, Kindly Light," and later the "Glory Song." They gave, untler slch circumstances, a very attentive hearing to Mr. Roy, of the American Mission, who had come out to help me.

"To-day the whole camp has been talking about it. some criticising, and others defending. There is very little criticism, however, and the boys are admiring the move. "I had the following conversation retailed to me:—Thirty men out for exercise. One man says: What a place to hold a prayer meeting? I saw one man with a pot of beer In one hand, and a hymn book in the other.' Second Man: 'That won't do him any harm; any place is fit to have a religious meeting. Am glad we went there."

Another incident, which explains the hold which Mr. Browne has gained over many of the soldiers, is simply told. "Two miles from camp one night I met one of our Australians, halfdrunk and alone. I hailed him. " 'Hello, I know you,' he said. "You're the Y.M.C.A. fellow at Mex.'

"He explained that he came from the Convalescent Horse Depot, where ther are 20 men and 900 horses. It is the one place more dismal than Mex, two miles from us, away out. on the plains of the Salt Lake. I asked him what I could do for them. " 'Do anything,' he said. 'Come and have a Gospel meeting if you like, but have something, for we are all going to the dogs, with melancholy. I am. I know, and I can't stop myself.' "

I took him at his word, so said. "Tell the boys I'll be over Wednesday night." On Wednesday they sent a waggon and pair to pick up the harmonium, the violin, the musicians, and myself. Of the 20 men in the depot, all were present. They sang the old hymns well, and as it was really monotony that was worrying them, I spoke on Recreation in Chris*, on the words. "Ye are a new (re)creation in Christ Jesus." We had a really powerful time, and perhaps those fellows for the first time in their lives were really appreciative of a Gospel meeting." "In case Billy Cass didn't tell yea this story, I include it here," continues the report. "On the torpedoed transport Southland, on which Gass sailed, a number of the fellows one day discovered the hymns in the back of our active service despatches. A number started to sing, and baing joined by others there was shortly a big number. When the torpedo struck it was right against the position where these men were. Most were saved, but some passed on. These latter died singing the Glory Song."

Robert R. Way. Y.M.C.A. secretary at Heliopolis Camp. Egypt, writes:

"At present I am the only Australian secretary in Cairo, all of our chaps being at Alexandria. I can imagine what the pressure is like with you at home. As I read through the contribution lists and see the amounts of money given to the various funds, I wonder wIV the association does not come in for more. If the public could realise what the association means to the majority of the soldiers here, and still more at Lemnoe, Imbros, and Gallipoli, I am sure more would be given. "There are some of these funds that are ol very little use; they are cf no benefit to the men. and the money could be used with advantage on something that is necessary."