Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-26
THE Y. NJ. G.. A.
Growth in America of a Great
Organization.
WHAT 1T HAS ACCOMPLISHED.

Regarded ny Distinguished Men Of the
Christian Ga use n the Most Far Reach.
ing Movement or the Century - The
Ladies' Auxiliary-Rcyiew OF the Work
BY MRS. G. B. KINYON.
The Young Mems Christian AssO-
citation has been pronounced by the
distinguished divine and educator.
Bishop +. Il. Hendrix. as 1.-THE re-
ligious movement of the Nine
tcenth century," and President
John a. Broadlls, ID. d., l.. l.. d.,
declares it to be ''the most i'm
portant and far reaching movement
Of the Nineteenth century,"
Growth in America.
Consider for Il moment that this
movement was not inaugurated
until near the close of the first half
of the century, and did not reach
America until seven years later
US5D. Its progress has been
rapid, and today this work by
young men for young men," is
firmly established in all parts of
the United States and Canada, hav-
ing membership of $50, 900 in the
l,i3l associations and branches
that form what is known in the
world conferences as the ''Amcri
can group and hold more than
10000 meetings annually for
young men only. for Bible study
and other religious purposes. Dur
ing the year 1894 there was an in
crease of 81 associations and r.
Al members. In 1866 there was
in this country but one Y. NJ. &.
a. building, worth about S1O,-
0o0). Today there are over 300
valued ut Sl6.OOO.OOO. Fourteen
have been built during the past
year. In 1894, 3O4 associations re-
ported educational classes attended
by over 10000 different young
men. and 52i reported g;mna-
Sums and other means of physical
culture. Many of the associations
ARE doing special work. both re-
ligious and secular, for the boys.
Work In Colleges.
Association work in colleges was
started in 1858. but very little pro-
grcss was made until 1877. Today
there are 5l3 college associations
in North America with a member
ship of $4,000. Ii is next to i'm
possible for us to fully realize the
BRIGHTNESS of this work. Member
ship among the colleges means,
men trained So as to he leaders OF
men, each member having IN in
tiucncc incalculablc in its scope.
But the work that far transccnds
any other i'm its far reaching in
f!ucncc is the large number of these
students won for Christ. In the
wear now closing 3,400 have been
won for the Master. the largest
ever reached in any one year in
American colleges.
The above facts go to show that
this work is not carried on by
does not depend upon, the So
called goodie. goodie young man,
but is carried on by the brainy
men of the land. Indeed this worl
of itself developc> all the faculties
of young men. 1t is no longer
looked upon as beneath the dignit.
Of the greatest minds.
Educational t-IaSScs
In our preparatory schools there
arc $4,000 students for whom moth
inghas Gcen attempted. This work
is quite as important as college
work. Out Of every 100 young
men in this country. five are pre-
pared ar equipped for occupation
and business: " are not. Out OF
every 100 graduates of our gram
mar schools, eight can obtain ;
livelihood in professions and bust
mrs life: ~ cannot. Six out o.
seven of our boys leave school be
fore they are Il. After leaving
school and beginning the work o.
life they are soon brought face t.
face with the fact that education i.
essential to their success. The,
are then in proper state of mine
10 seize with avidity any and every
opportunity to improve their con
dition.
Hence you may readily see tn
necessity, for and the reason VIII,
she educational work in associa
,;ons is so successful.
Railroad Department.
There are over 100 railroad asso
Citations in the country: there ar,
100000 men employed directl,
upon the railroads Of our country
SA,.n nahn ,x,,,, - x..,r ,t,a.., ~ a.