The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-10-08
THE YOUNG MEN TALK
A oUSY DAY SPENT AT THE Y.
M. C. A. CONVENTION.
THE ATTENDANCE INCREASING
An.ExtracJ of the Proceedings of the Day
About 100 Delegates in Attendance
Some No Longer Young Men
in Years.

The attendance at the Y. NJ. G. A.
convention has increased somewhat to-
day, and each train mas brought an
increasing number, until today there
are slightly over 100 here. The con-
vention opened at about the hour set,
and the first half hour was given over
| to devotional exercises.
At $50 o'clock L. p. Bond, of Mil
waukee, took up the discussion of The
True Purpose of the Physical Depart
ment in the Association" The essay
ist started out by relating the purposes
of ancient people in training their
bodies to great physical endurance.
and stated that the first to regulate
physical exercises into systems were
Scion and Pythagoras, who lived be-
tween 600 and 500 B. G. From this
time he followed the history of physical
culture through the Romans, the peo-
pie of the middle ages, the Germans
under tie tutelage Of jain and down
to the present day.
Z first gymnasium in the Y. NJ. c..
\ u.ts opened in New York city in
| l0OJ This proved so successful that
within fifteen years eighty-three asso-
Citations had gymnasiums established.
There are 500 Of the associations in
North America which now have them.
MIR. Bond then asserted that more
men join the association for the bene-
| fits derived from this source than all
else combined. He advocated the
procurment of the necessary apparatus
by every association for the proper con-
duct of this branch of the work. Many
physical defects are cured by proper
exercise and the physical director has
many opportunities for correcting bad
habits among the young.
Mir. Bond thought the true purpose
of this department was to make bodies
sound for the greater and better build
ing up of the spiritual and mental sides
of the members lives. He appealed to
the organization to oppose the tendency
to place victory of the body above
character. The departments true
purpose is to build up christian charac-
| ter.
Immediately after Mr.. Bond finished
the subject was discussed shortly by
| the convention.
Next came the. topic " Business
Methods Essential to Success" which
was handled by B. F. Bergman, of
Madison. His subject was divided
into three parts-in finances; in COM
mittee work; in keeping records. 1t
was very able and strong plea for
business methods in all the business
affairs of the association. He used as
sort of text the proposition that the
Y. M. G.. A. is not alone christian or
ganizatiOn, but an incorporated body.
1t not only deals with its members, but
has business relations with business
men. It's working force is composed of
the best and most active men in the
business world. It's management is in
vested in the hands of the most infu
entail and devout men of the cOmmun-
ity. Its membership is composed Of
the active, energetic and wide awake
young men of the city. 1t has to deal
with every phase of business life in an
earnest, active and business commun-
ity. Therefore, having all these ele-
ments to deal with, it is absolutely
necessary that business methods be
adopted in every department of associ-
alton work.
Mr.. Bergman was followed by James
E. Congdon, of BaraboO, on The
Railroad Men of Wisconsin" Mr..
Congdon thought that the young men
on our railroads made the sturdiest and
best christians and that every effort
should be made to draw their interest
into association work.
Rev. Augustus Nash closed the morn
ing session with talk on Bible study.
The Afternoon Session
At the afternoon session the topics
under discussion were Eyangelistic
Agencies; The Regular Gospel Meet
ing; Special Efforts; Individual Eff
FORTS" by G.. 81. Trimmings, of La
Crosse. This was followed by con-
ference on the junior department, led
by M. c. Otto, of Milwaukee, and the
reports of district committees by their
chairmen.
At 4 o'clock the Rev. Augustus Nash
again talked on Bible study
Thursday Evenings Session.
The meeting of the state convention
of the Y. M. c. A. Thursday evening at
the Congregational church opened with
a song service conducted by c. B. Will
lis, of Milwaukee. Following it was an
address by the president of the con-
vention, W. W. Cooper. Mr.. Cooper
pointed out to the young men the great
need of christian work and eXhorted
them to be always alive to the needs of
the hour. He closed by thanking the
people of Kenosha for their hospitality