Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-03
THE WEEK OF PRAYER.
A Growth of Twenty-Five Years of the
ssgSxoung Mems Christian Association
in America.

From next Sunday, November to the
16, is known all over the world in the
Young Mems Christian Association as
the week of prayer" All the Fort Worth
pastors that have been seen on the subject
will preach either morning or evening, q
special sermon to young men. This will
also be done by most of the Protestant min
listers III America, Europe, Australia, in
fact in all the cities of the civilized world
Fa1his week will mark the twenty-fifth year
since the international committee of Y. M
G. i. IS for the United States and British
provinces was organized upon its present
form, with headquarters in New York city.
A quarter of a century has passed, and
the committee and the association have
grown both in numbers and influence. The
committee now has thirty-nine members,
eleven advisory members and fifteen trus-
teeS-representing all sections OF the United
States and Canada. In 1866 no international
secretaries We're employed. The income of
the committee was but few hundred dol
lars year; it now employs the entire time
of twenty regular secretaries, and part of
the time of a number of others. Their work
is to visit associations and aid in various
ways i'll directing the work. The income of
the committee for 1866 was $500; for its
twenty-fifth year it was s57 orr.
In 1866 it was found that the work of the
associations generally was for young men
~ lO. IdlltCL lldl lOL young
Very little attention was paid to the men
tai and social, and none to the physical devel-
opment of young men. There were few read
ing rooms, libraries, classes and social gath
erinCs, and no gympasiums. Now almost
all the associations are devoting themselves
exclusively TO work for young men, di-
rected toward their intellectual, social,
ply sical and spiritual development.
Secretaries.--In 1866 less than dozen
men employed, and not more than two of
these would now be classed as association
secretaries. AT present there 1883 actually
employed as secretaries and assistants and
103 places are temporarily vacant. These
secretaries are young men. Many Of them
have been trained in or for the work, and
show special fitness for it.
= Associations -Twenty-five years ago but
kixty-nine associations reported to the COM
Tmittee, and there were certainly less than
n hundred in existence; and of these not
few existed only in name. The present
year 1891 associations reported and 1885 are
believed to be in existence Then there
were $1,000 members; now there are 225,-
sol. Then there was but little organized
work, and but few committees; now there
are 49, 156 young men on working commit
tees. who direct the work Of large number
of others associated with them in the men,
bership
Secular department.-In 1866 there were
few reading rooms, libraries, classes,
courses of lectures and social gatherings;
now there are T79 reading rooms, $40 libra
ries, with 1913 volumes, 80 associa-
lions have classes with an attendance OF
p, 1855 young men, and 500 associations had
5000 lectures and social gatherings during
the year. Then there were no gymnasi-
ums or athletic departments; now there
are 294 gymuasiums, and 407 associations
give attention to the physical development
nf N-Nr m CgGtp ha
meut Of 13S directors of this department
Many associations have grounds for out
door athletics during the summer months
where lawn tennis, baseball bicycling, run
ming, etc, are practicable. The visitors to
the rooms OF less than half the associa-
tons number an average OF 81, COS each
day.
Spiritual epartment-While all the de-
velopment just mentioned is on what may
be called secular lines, the growth in the
spiritual work also Is remarkable. Few
Bible classes or religious meetings for
young men only were held by the aSsocia-
lions twenty-five years ago; now there are,
exclusively for young men, 9S1 Bible classes,
with an average weekly attendance of 95Sl.
and 1912 other religious meetings. with an
average attendance each week of 52,45S.
Now there is point and definiteness in,
this work, and very many young men are
1oRto an acceptance of Jesus Christ as their
Savior.
Buildings. development of this
four-sided work exclusively for young men,
under the direction OF competent secreta-
ries, has necessitated the erection of build
ings especially adapted to it. In 1866 there
was but one building owned by an associa-
ton; now there are buildings specially
erected for the association in most of q
larger and many of the smaller cities.
There are 23l buildings. valued at So, 946,-
0S5; 100 associations own other real estate
valued at 81. $50, o25, and have building
funds paid in to the amount of 1855, 100,
building funds pledged 81, no, 400, making
total OF sl4,25l, 700.
Income.-The total yearly income of the
associations IN 1866 did not exceed s5O, 900.
Last year the International and state COM
mit'ses and local associations received for