Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-05-01
SOCIAL WORK.
TIE Paper ssaa By Secretary 5. a. KIN,
caid on rhat Subject Before the

- 49, stNNd'N- 'fNtV'N aA'
MA.
The following is the paper read on
social Work By Secretary S A.
Kineuide. OF The Local Association.
before the State meeting Of The YouuS
Mems Christian Association, recently
held in this ely.
Man is prominently social being
No man lives to himself Man
must have company-he must have
friends and associates. There are
/ few hermits in the world, and these
are an unnatural product and made
so by unusual circumstances. There
are many men who find pleasure in
books and intellectual pursuits, but
these also find lif a dull thing indeed
without friends and frequent social
pleasure. There are few men indeed
like Edison who will forget all about
his friends and family and even to
eat or sleep, In his everyday chase
after scientific truths. There are few
indeed like Gladstone. who takes de-
lightful recreation in making
original TRANSACTIONS OF old Greek
manuscripts. we're nll men like
these, there would he little need for
our worrying about mems social
needs. But az It is we find that
men as rule, when not earning
their bread and butter hN toll, are
going after social plcnsure-are
making thoseabont them their part
ners in the pursuit OF harpincss-are
making aew friends aud assoeiates-
are seeking new hunts 81 pleasure,
new exeitements, new amusements,
beautiful places, Tie hearty welcome.
glitter, frolle aud tim Even the
labor OF life and the voluntary effort
of meiIin seeking higher attainment
is fer the purpose Of shining among
their associates In a social way in
most cases.
We all wish to have friends and
pleasant associates. How much do
we depend upon them? How much
good hive they done to u.s. We
certainly cannot afford tn lose them.
And then on the other hand, how
much OF evil have some OF our asso-
ciates brought into our lives? What
a good day in oui lives also when
we turned our baeks upon some old
l., nm ~ N
and married our lives by leading us
where we should not go and failing
to influence us to go where we ought
To 90, and to do what we ought to
do. Thus II is with mankind.
Our destinies, although distinct, are
vet interviewer with eachother.
Others are our partners in the affairs
of life. Others must in the nature Of
the case, share with us both veal
and woe. "Socius" mems partner
ship.
But If man is social animal. the
young nun is thcmost soeial animal.
Young ladies' are generally kept
close at home and shielded from the
world, while their brothers are early
in life thrust out into the world to
become their own bread winners.
The girl has her friends chosen for
her. but the boy usually chooses his
friends, and | am sorry to say he
usually chooses the wrong kind. Now
since a young man is known very
largely by the associates and friends
he has. il is safe to conclude that the
average young man is not the right
kind of young man
We all know TINT the Young Mems
Christian Association has been or
dained and established and sustain
cd by the good people ofnearly every
civ of Importance in the United
sta ties for the purposeof meeting the
needs Of young men who are in need
OF Il special work in their behalf. IN
beginning its work the association
starts with the fact TINT the young
man Of the country is what he Is
j largely because OF his environment.
| With evil associates he goes to the
bad-with good he is made better
man. Nearly every community Is
constructed on a plan that provides
evil associations and attractions
every day in the week and good as
soeiations about twice In the week.
with the saloons, billiard-halls,
bawd~-houses and gambllng-houshs
open nearly every day in the week,
aud the churches opened but twice
in the week. you can READILY see
that there is every opportunity for
tie evil and little opportunity Tor
the good and pure enjoyment OF the
Young men Of the community unless
there happens to be u well-eqnipped
Young slen's Christian Association
in the town. 1t is good thing in
the community that can be- enjoyed
every aay IN the week.
Now in our discussion OF how to
get the greatest amount OF efficiency
ont OF our work from this social
standpoint, let MS bring in the use OF
comparison.
1t is very easy for young man to
find the wrong places OF amusement
and the wrong associates. 1t ought