Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-19
IT. WONDERFUL GROWTH.

The Great Work ef the ". M. o. Al Tho Work at Yale and Stagg,s In-
 Auence.
 At big celebration in Norwich, Sunday, by the Y. M. c. A. of that city, one of the chief speakers was MT. Thomas Cochrane, who gave many interesting facts relative to the great growth and importance of the l work done by the associations. He said the last time he visited Norwich was thirty three years ago, and since that time the association boys have practically been born. Dr. Bacon told him that forty years ago he visited the original Williams asso- citation in London. He predicted that in the future the institution would provide alike for young women as we'll as young men. Speaking of the young men of this country he said according to the census of 1890 there were 12,00O, ,OOO between the ages of sixteen and thirty, enough to pop and then there would be young men to spare. He gave an interesting sketch of personal work in Milwaukee and of twenty | fl years of experience in the association, | from 6 time when the annual expenditure -.$1 ,2OO-for the advancement of the or ganization, was made the subject of more | discussion than the appropriation of | $75, ,OO0 for the advancement of the work l for the years 1891, '92.
 He said it is practical institution l which is engaged in winning young men I to Jesus Christ, and building up in them I character for eternity. It devotes itself 1 to the spiritual, intellectual and physical l improvement of young men. It should not be concealed that the principal work of the organization is religious work; but
 the facilities to offer for improvement, he
 positively declared, were not used as lures 1 or bait, but to benefit and bless the young
 men who availed themselves of them. He l gave concise statement of the value of
 the organizations to the great railroad sys-
 tenn, and of the way in which they were
 regarded by railroad magnates, by the
 large contributions they have made fo,
 their support and extension. What uni
 versity extension anticipated doing the
 Y. M. 0. A. has been doing for years.
 In America there are 1 400 associations
 1, f,250 of them have total membership o1
 225, ,OOO; HOO of them have 4, 800 men on
 their committees; 231 associations owr
 their own buildings, valued in the aggre
 gate at SIG, ,0oo, 900. There are ,05o paid
 officials, of which 466 are in the physical
 department.
 There are between 2,000 and 5000 col leges in this country, with two million students. The Christian church is no
 touching these youth. There are $50 colleg , associations and they are accomplishing {
 great work.
 He spoke of the work being done by tn
 association of Yale and the lasting ant beautiful influence of Stagg upon colleg
 life. In it's methods, it's purposes and it
 scope, he said, it is practical institution
 for this practical age.
 , He paid high tribute to MT. w. A. Sla ter for his benefcent works and congratu
 lated the United States on having such citizen, whose example was worthy the em ulation of other wealthy men in all part
 of this country. He hoped some other ric
 man would compete with him in the estat 7 lishment of memorial halls, museums an hospitals, and furnish for the Norwich Y MICA. a building in which it can be we housed and well equipped.