t 5T Evangelistic Department INTERESTING STORIES from REAL EXPERIENCE A S TOLD B Y B I B L E I N S T I T U T E W O R K E R S
Response of Soldiers to the Gospel During part of June and July we were away from the Oil Fields on a little trip to Camp Lewis to see our son off to France, and a wonderful experience it was, with blessing WORK IN THE and comfort to our OIL FIELDS hearts to visit this Frank J. Shelley beautiful cantonment of Uncle Sam’s. We had the pleasure of shaking hands with Major General Henry A. Greene, who told us he was a Christian man and that he made it his business to pray. He is very highly respected by all the men, and the fact that he made Seattle clean up shows what a strong character he is. It is eighteen miles.around the entire camp, and everything was quite interest ing, particularly the Y. M. C. A. huts, assembly halls, etc., in the various com panies. It took a little while to get acquainted, but after the Y. M. C. A. fellows found out that the writer was saved in a Y. M. C. A. meeting, and was four square for the Lord, they invited us to make an address. The “Y’s” hold mostly open air services, so we mounted a high platform between the barracks and after some rousing songs, gave them a red-hot Gospel message. The service which started at 7 p. m. was over by 8 o’clock, but the men listened so kindly and eagerly that after the meeting we talked with them individually about their souls until after 11 o’clock, and succeeded in getting a few to confess Christ and believe the Gospel. For the sake of cleanliness, they do not permit tracts to be distributed, but we were able to give out to individuals fully five or six hundred clear Gospel messages, and saw to it that each one went into a soldier’s pocket. It was certainly a great
opportunity to work with souls. Every one seemed almost glad to hear the Word, and it rejoiced our heart to see-such a readiness to hear what the Lord had to say. We spoke at a number of other ‘‘Y’s,” and were greatly pleased to find a dear friend, Mr. R. W. Thornberry,: formerly with the Y. M. C. A. in Japan, now a Captain of Infantry. He and his wife led many boys to the Lord at Manila, P. I., and they are still at the same blessed work. Mrs. Thornberry was making a tea to which to invite some of her “boys,” and incidentally give them the Word of Life. We asked some of the soldiers “How do you like Mrs. Thornberry?” and the invariable reply was “Gee, isn’t she lovely?” -God is blessing both of these, dear people. They are going to France soon, and will keep up the good work there. It was delightful to. think of the goodness of our God in sending these two consecrated souls to labor among the boys there, but “It’s just like Him.” Dr. Mark Matthews, of Seattle, came over one evening while we were at the camp, and gave the boys such a splendid .Gospel message from Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his right eousness,” and twenty-one of the boys responded. It was a truly inspiring sight. God was very good to us coming back on the train. It was so warm coming through the Sacramento Valley that one could not sleep, so we went into the smoking car and talked with several of the men. A young United States Marine knelt down and confessed the Lord Jesus and we left him at Vallejo a saved man. We came back to the Oil Fields’ work feeling that the holiday ■had been a blessed one, and received a very kindly
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