The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
THE STATE YOUNG WOMENS CHRIS.
TLAN ASSOCIATION.


The need Of state organization did not
become apparent until there were q
Aumber Of states, each having several
associations organized and at work In
colleges or cities. but all isolated and
with no sffiliation with the others, who
were trying to do the same work. But
a. soon az the need was fully felt. the
ISOLATION was followed and the separ-
ate organizations grouped themselves
by states, districts or sections as SEEM
cd best. Experience In other lines OF
Christian work had also shown that
I'm union, there Is strength" Charters
were readily obtained. giving power to
certain bodies, called "State Executive
Committees" to act rs advisory and
supervisory councils over ali local asso-
Citations, that elected to place them
selves under their leadership. There
was but little red tape needed in order
to DO this. It was only necessary to
make official request for admission to
the state association, under the name
of '.The Young Women's Christian AS
ISOLATION OF -" and to submit q
constitution. which required the evan
gelical basis Of membership and stated
a. the object Of the association, "The
promotion Of the physical, social, in
tellsctuA and spiritual welfare Of
young women for and by young
women"
The elecion of the members Of such
committees was to take place at the
annual state convention, which was
provided for in the state constitution.
The number Of such members was to be
determined with due regard to state
laws. and, when not limited. could be
increased st any convention. by q ma
5ostty vote Of the delegates. These
members were to be representative
Christian women. q quorum Of whom
should reside at headquarters; the rest
70 reside In any part Of the state and to
be connected or not with tho local
work. Our state committee 10 COM
Hessd OF eighteen members, eight Of
them residing at headquarters.
The state ONCE was to be at point
best adapted, in the minds Of the COM
mittse. TO its object; the effort being
made to have II located In connection
With strsng local interests. where prac-
ticabae. so much fer the plan in gen.
era4 Now for the results following the
adoption Of It IN our own state, which
y counted among the strongest.
u
isation since ISIS. Eight associations
formed. Since that date, this number
has grown to tlirty-three. Ten of these
are In large cities and twenty.three in
schools and colleges.
The state office is in this city, at No.
2O5 Washington avenue 1t was put
here at first and there have been no
arguments sufficient to warrant its re-
moval to any Of the points that have
since asked for 1t. Scranton is a center
OF wide and growing influence and its
people support and foster Christian
work In a most positive and aggressive
way. Why should It 60 away from old
ana tried friends to new ones, who
could not possibly treat II betterf
The chairman Of the committee 10 al.
ways chosen from the resident MEM
bern. Our state has been peculiarly ad.
vantaEed In the personnel and perman.
snos OF its committe members. The
nrse choice Of chairman was q happy
one. Mrs. H. N. Boies, who was admir-
ably adapted to the position in mani.
fold ways
For seven years she served az a wise,
progressive leeder, sparing neither
enort nor influence to deepen and to
spread the work over the entire state
with such an extended and important
held, the care and responsibility was
great. but her energy and desire was
always toward more and better results.
NO ono can measure what her helpful-
ness 20 genIelly and graciously given,
mas meant during ell these years to
the many oo-workers on the COMMITTEES
ana throughout the state. Her success
sor. Mrs. L. M. Gates, one Of the ablest
Christian women in the state and in
the whole wide work, was one of its
nrst promoters and has been q member
Of the committee. continuously, since
There need be no fear of q backward
step In Pennsylvania state work 10
long a. there Is succession in ONCE Of
rare women. whose faith and works
equally energizs and spiritualizs the
centre and circumference Of it.
The only paid officer 10 the state
secretary, although at times the en-.
ployment Of other helpers gives the op-
poftunity to the associations to hold
special svangslistio or other meetings.
The state secretary studies and reports
the whole field. She Journeys from place
TO place on different errands. At one
point 70 vacant ssoretaryship. She
meets and talks 70 the board Of man
agers and then seSks to hll the place
with ths most eonsecrated' young
woman that she can find. Then she
must help the nsw worker to get ac-
Quaintsd with her new field, II Il Is
possible for her to stay with her for
awhile. She 10 q medium Of informa-
tion. striving always to present the
highest ideals to each place, melting it
to think that II does not want any
lower standard than its neighbors.
Besides visiting organized points,
sAs goes to new places where she may
sow SEED or at once plant new branch
Theee are yet . score Of important
points whore the work ought to TO-
with few exceptions, the leading
schools and colleges are already at
work The exceptions are considering
the aAvisability Of ahiliation with the
state body and It IL onlv . question Of
time. when there will be Q sure and
rapid increase In the number Of college
chapters. When students get thor
oughly alive to the advantages Of visi-
tasion frem experienced and helpful
workersi Direct eorrespondence with q
counseling committee. together with
printed matter bearing directly upon
yisal points and methods and the hene-
hts q intar.eollsgiate conferences at
~ etAoe conventions and summer con-
SeeenceA thay will not long delay 70
eeoome eccee1lteo memberA K,
eenaaea ~ eat1se = aise vogv 1as1F.