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YS1AFELL Y BEIRDD I

I Ffetan y Gol. I

Gyda'r Clawdd,! Sef Clawdd…

Sunday at the Y.M.C.A. Tent,…

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Sunday at the Y.M.C.A. Tent, Bedford, IT is Sunday morning again. One is re- minded of the fact by hearing the alarm clock buzzing away quite near. It is my turn to prepare early morning coffee at 6 a.m. As it is Sunday the soldier is allowed an extra hour in bed, consequently we have not to have coffee until an hour later. The men soon come trooping in and business is brisk. Coffee and buns disappear at a surprising rate. This continues until about 8 a.m., when these men have to go for their breakfast and also to get ready for Church Parade, which is at 9.15 a.m. Our other men have got up in the meantime and we then have breakfast, a meal which is certainly enjoyed by one at least. After breakfast we are able to get the large tent tidy and ready for the inevitable Sunday rush. The Parade is held just outside the tent and we all go and enjoy a simple service which is held by the military chaplain. He is a hearty old Scotchman and is greatly liked by the men and speaks to them in a homely way. The brass band leads, the hymns and the men all join in. Service over, they march off and are then dismissed for the whole day. We now begin our Sunday in real earnest. The men are always hungry and thirsty, and we are kept, very busy serving out refreshments. At the other end of the tent some men have gathered round the piano, and one of them begins to play one of the old favourite hymns, namely Lead kindly Light. This hymn is immensely popular, and they are never tired of singing its beautiful verses. Everyone joins in and the tent is filled with melody. We have no official service in the morning, but in the afternoon a short service is held and a Bible Class for a few who desire it. Our leader gives a short adddress and he speaks of the many temptations of camp life. He especially emphasizes the need for total abstinence from strong drink and its effect on soldiering. The National Council of Y.M.C.A. has issued a pledge card, asking men not to touch strong drink during the war. This, besides being beneficial to the men them- selves, is good for the physical fitness of the army with which we hope to defeat our enemies. We try to impress these facts upon the men, and they are coming up in large numbers to sign —some for the period of the war, and others for the rest of their lives. By this time tea is ready for the men, and the bugles blazon forth the fact by playing Come to the Cook-House door, Boys ( We are now able to have our own tea, and very soon afterwards the tent is again crowded. The evening service is fixed for 7.30 p.m., and we have a very busy time until then. The chief occupation of the men during the day is letter-writing to their homes, and we encourage this as much as possible by pro- viding note paper, envelopes and writing materials free, and by having a post office in the tent. Seven-thirty has arrived, and the leader calls for silence. A popular hymn is given out and the men sing out for all they are worth. A prayer is then offered. Some kind local friends have come to sing for us and they render a few appropriate songs, interspersed with a couple of hymns. The speaker for the evening now gets up and delivers an address in which there is something that appeals to every man. He is a Scotch- man, and speaks to them as a countryman, to uphold their honour while away from home. He plays upon their emotions, and every ear is strained to catch his words. Except for the speaker, breathless silence reigns, and after a few words regarding their duty to those at home, he closes. The men release their pent up emotions by singing Stand up, stand up, for Jesns with the utmost fervour. they aij,now in the hwyl (as no other language can oi r^ess that state of enthusiasm like the Welsh.) and more hymns are sung. The speaker then offers the closing prayer, and he now calls for the King. The men all stand up again to attention, and sing the National Anthem. During the service the refreshment counter has been close;?., uid the men now come for their tea or coffee before going to rest. The First Post is heard at 9.30 p.m., and the tent gradually empties until by 9-4(3 it has been c), ared, we have to start and clean up now, and while one man prepares supper the others perform Chicken Drill," which is the name we give for the process of picking up bits from the floor. We all put our backs into it, and by the time supper is ready, we have washed up and are clear for early morning coffee on Monday. Supper is soon finished and we close with prayers. We are now free to go to bed, which we are all too glad to do, and we are soon tucked up." Now that we are in bed, we have time to think of the rush and bustle of the day, of the many little incidents that have occurred and the confidences of the men in difficulties. All these phases make the work intensely interesting and fascinating, and prove the bright moments of perhaps a tiring work. The gratitude of the men for our work is shown in every way. They are always willing to lend a helping hand in anything we ask them, and do their utmost to show their appreciation for the presence of the tent in their midst. We feel that we are here to help the men in every way to try and make them feel at home in spite of the long distance it is away from them, and the feeling spurs us on to do our utmost on their behalf. Manchester. YALE LLOYD. I

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