Morris tribune., 1890-03-26
Work of the Y. M. G. A.

For Inc TRIBUNE
1t has long been matter of grief to
thoughtful people that the saloons
were the only inviting resort for
young men In smaller towns OF the
west.
Though the extreme predjudices
which radical temperance people en-
terrain toward the saloons are not
commonly shared by liberal minded
persons. yet all are obliged to admit
that the associations of the bar room
are not elevating nor refining-quite
the contrary. Coarse and foul jokes
and indecent anecdotes are the CONF
mon stock of conversational eX-
change, and this depraved standard
of talk, with the unrestrained profan-
ity, deters many gentlemen who are
without temperance scruples, from
saloon patronage. To all these
influences the impressable minds OF
our youth are exposed. The result
can be nothing less than disastrous to
all high purpose and noble aspira-
ton. The peril is doubly grave, since
during all our long cold winters no
other places are inviting to those who
have an idle hour or day in town.
The saloon is always open and
warm welcome assured to all who
come. This alone ought to spur all
who are interested In youth to stren-
uous exertions i'll support of the Y. M.
G.. A. movement. And it is worth
our notice that the boy of to-day will
soon be man in aspiration. The
boys of aud 10 years ought to find
we'll equipped building for their use
when they attain 30 manhood, and
therefore their fathers ought to be IN
terested in the beginning of such
| work.
Good libraries and reading rooms,
supplied with all the attractive and
wholesome periodicals is one of the
surest antidcles to saloon debauching
of mind and morals.
One of the most promising and
hopeful features of modern education
Is the development and cultivation
of the physical man. Doubtless our
| refathers in their stern anu rugged
battle for life in the hills Of New Eng
land or the newer west could afford
to despise such things. We are now
living under entirely different condi-
tions. Once the farm and the work.
shop offerd so great diversity of ex-
ercise that it was possible to develope
a we'll rounded frame without special
effort. Now, even on the farm, ma
chinery has so largely supplanted
hand work that the laborers must fol-
low one task for weeks without
change, and IN the factories a man
must often make single motion OF
the hand or arm year in and year out.
That there is an absolute and gen.
eral need Of better facilities for physi-
cal training is evidenced by the eager
patronage which they receive when
ever established, as we'll as by the
lank and undeveloped bodies of BUSH
ness men and others who do not have
access to them.
One other feature of Y. M. G. A.
work will commend it to all. We
travel more than any other people In
| the world. Secret societies have
multiplied largely because men feel
the need of common ground of ac-
quaintance and friendship. The Y.
M. G.. A. furnishes this ia nearly all
tparts of the civilized world. It is a
non-sectarian, non-secret brotherhood
of the highest character, where frank,
open-hearted manliness finds express
sion and also companionship. Its
fellowship is based upon the Brother
hood of Man, in the Fatherhood OF
God. It has no enemies and antag-
onizes no one except those who are
The emisaries of evil, and it numbers
among it's friends most If not all the
leading men of the worlds whole
some activities
A careful acquaintance may be
made with the various phases of its
work by attendance on the meetings
to be held this week and we feel con-
fident that with the addresses and
music all will be interested who at
tend. E. G.