The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1891-12-29
Y. MIC. Associations.

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doing work in which the Young Mems
Christian Associations were practically
the pioneers, and they are doing it we'll.
In the beginning they undertook to do
too many things, and the result was
unsystematic and uneven and incomplete
work. All this has been changed. Ia
1886 1t was found that the work of the
associations generally was for the young
men to do, rather than for young men.
Mission Sunday schools, tract distribution
and Gospel meetings for all classes were
carried on, and bat few Bible classes and
meetings for young men were held.
Very little attention was paid to the
mental and social. and none to the physi-
cal development of young men. There
were few reading rooms, libraries, classes
and social gatherings, and no gymnasiums.
Now almost all the associations are de-
voting themselves exclusively to work for
young men, directed toward their intel
lectual, social, physical and spiritual de-
velopment
In 1886 less than dozen men were en-
ployed as secretaries, and not more than
two of these would now be classed as as
ISOLATION secretaries. AT present there
are ,0s3 actually employed as secretaries
and assistants, and 1O3 places are tempo
rarily vacant. Many of them have been
trained in or for the work and show
special fitness for it.
Twenty-Five years ago there were less
than 100 associations now there are in
America 1885. Then there was but little
organized work and but few committees :
now the policy is thorough organization,
and thousands Of young men in active
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what may be called the secular agencies,
the growth in the spiritual has been even
more marked. There is point and de-
finiteness in this work, and very many
young men are led to Christian living.
! In 1865 there was but one building
owned by an association now there are
! 231, valued at $9,946,085, besides other
real estate valued at $2,1S0,025, and build
ing funds paid in to the amount of 1855,
100. Twenty-Five years ago there were
no state or provincial committees or con-
| yentioDs Now thirty-eight states and
provinces are organized, holding conven-
| tions annually, and sixty-six men are
regularly employed, at a cost Of Sl33, 0S9
per year. There are ninety-eight railroad
organizations, employing 113 secretaries,
owning fifteen buildings, and having 49,
277 members; 100000 are now appro-
priated each year by railroad companies
for this work on the lines of their roads,
because of its effect in the improvement of
the service rendered by their employees.
There are 345 college associations, with
membership of 22,241, owning seven
buildings and employing eight secretaries.
In connection with the college work, fully
! Is, 600 young men have been converted
two or three thousand during the past
year-and much larger number have
been led into more consecrated Christ
ian life.
twenty-five hundred young men have
been influenced to enter the Christian
ministry Several hundred others have
been led to devote their lives to other
forms of Christian work, such as the as
ISOLATION secretaryship, the city mission
airy, etc. Over 5000 students have volun-
teered for foreign missions. Over three
hundred of them are now at work in the
foreign field under the direction of differ
ent UNCONVENTIONAL mission boards.
Thousands Of students have been induced
to take up systematic Bible study. Forty
Thousand young men have gone from
these college associations into business or
professional life pronounced Christian
men with large influence for good.