close to my heart. I shall see that and shall smile in my soul over it
when eternity calls, and shall thank God for its sweetening influence
in my life.

And so this comfort may come to the mothers and fathers of America,
that through the various agencies of the American army, through General
Pershing's intense interest in righteous things, through that
Lincoln-like Christian leader of the chaplains, Bishop Brent, through
the Y. M. C. A., and the Salvation Army, and the Knights of Columbus,
your boy has his chance, whatever creed, or race, or church, to worship
his God as he wishes; and not one misses this opportunity, even the
lonely sentinel on the road. And the glorious thing about it is that
boys who never before thought of going to church at home, crowd the
huts on Sundays and for the good-night prayers on week-days.

Just before the battle of Château-Thierry, "Doc," of whom I have spoken
in this chapter before, said: "Boys, do you want a communion service?"

"Yes," they shouted.

Knowing that there were Catholics and Jews and Protestants and
non-believers there, he said: "Now, anybody who doesn't want to take
communion may leave."

Not a single man left. Out of one hundred or more men only two did not
kneel to take of the sacred bread and wine. Two Jews knelt with the
others, several Roman Catholics, and men of all Protestant
denominations. Half of them were dead before another sunrise came
around, but they had had their service.