Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-12-19
THE I. IT. C. ATS OBJECT
 AND -PURPOSE,S.

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 ment of young men.
 The physical development is
 through the means of well equipped
 gymnasium, and a physical director
 employed to give the members sci
 entidc bodybuilding, healthful rec
 reation, and gymnastics and ath-
 lethics. Moreover it is the purpose
 of the Association in this depar5-
 ment to place all these and the le-
 gitimate sports under Christian in
 Auences, aud by the close contact of
 director to the young men in the
 examining room to correct the pri-
 vate life of many
 The intellectual department of the
 Association is conducted by means
 of reading room, library, educa-
 tional classes, practical talks, liter
 ary clubs, etc. In the main the edu-
 cational worK is in the night classes.
 Only seven per cent of young men
 go into life's work thoroughly pre-
 pared for the highest efficiency in
 their respective occupations. The
 Y. M. c. A., therefore, throughout
 the land, is coming to the help of
 the other ninety-seven per cent by conducting veritable night colleges, where men at work during the day may supplement their education and likewise their usefulness as well as salary by these night classes.
 The Association meets the needs of men socially, by providing proper amusements and companionship for young men, who are bound to seek pleasure and companionship some where. Many men who visit the Merrill Institute, the home of the Y M. c. A., testify that there are but two places in town where they are sure to be welcomed as strang- CTS, and these two places are the sa- loon or the Y. M. c. A. rooms. This fact is sufficient reason for the ex- istence of the comfortable and often quarters of the Y. M. c. A. in all of the principal cities in the country. The Association owns 0 ger sixteen million dollars worth l of property to devote to its purposes.
 But pre-eminently the Y. M. c. A. stands for the spiritual and moral i good of young men. Through good association and companionship through the means that are pre- ventative-the Y MO. A. endeavors to hold the young men from going into evil. The first endeavor is to hold on to the young men that they may be kept correct in their lives and character. But it is also the desire of the Association to do act i've work of rescue, conducting meet ings which may lead men to become professedly christian men and join the church.
 So far in the history of the Y. M. l c. A. of Pine Bluff the work has been principally along the social and religious lines The physical and departments bava [ not had comparatively so much at tentiou, although a good deal has been done in both these depart ments. At this time some advance along these lines is being made. The educational class work has re- gently been begun and the way has probably been opened up for the conducting of good number Of night classes during tte next year.
 The general secretary, with ap- proval of the board of directors, is at this time aiming to secure the means by which a physical director may be secured to give special at tention to the physical department and give it due prominence in the work.
 Surely the officers of the Associa- tion should receive encouragement of the people of the city in making the Y. M. c. A. complete in it's work. This is an interesting time in the history Of the Association. If the present plans are successful there will be added to the member ship at least 125 men and boys, and probably more, besides adding to the working of the Association one man who can give special attention to the physical, and assist in all the departments of the work.
 For the money expended, the Y. M. 0. A. of Pine Bluff is the best in- vestnent in the city, as an insti- tuition depending upon the supnort