The Anaconda standard., 1899-10-02
GOOD THING IN BUTTE
Mr.. Ward Explains the Young
Mems Christian Association.
GREAT WORK 1T HAS DONE
Can Meet an Emergency--Has Been One
OF the Problems for Fifty Years
and Has Wrought
Success

night by a meeting called together to
hear about the work of the Young
Mems Christian association. Mr. Ward,
the international secretary, addressed
the meeting. He said that there were
two classes of men in the present
movement in this city-the enthusiasts
and the conservatives. He agreed with
the enthusiasts in their desire TO see
something done for the young men, and
done Immediately. He agreed with the
conservatives in wanting no organlza-
strong and conservative basis, with an
equipment in some degree commensur-
ate with the needs of the city. He
would not be a party to any organiza-
tion that did not meet these conditions
He had always had the conservative
business men with him in his work and
did not propose to part company with
them now. He expected to carry their
Judgment on the two points of the fol-
lowing:
First, the need Of a special work for
young men in city like Butte, with
its great temptations.
Second, that the Young Mems Chris
tina association Is the only organization
problem and has wrought out ultimate
success. To prove the success OF the
association Mr.. Ward pointed to the
wonderful growth in the last Is years,
during which it had gained million
dollars in property every year. These
buildings, he said, are the center of the
social life of the young men of many
cities. Sixty thousand men are using
the gymnasiums of the ASSOCIATION.
Twenty-Five thousand are in the even
ing educat tional classes. Seventy
thousand are in the buildings every day
on the average. A single association, in
a city not much larger than Butte, re
cords thousand baths every week for
over five years.
1.-THE physical and educational depart.
ments," said Mr.. Ward, "are thoroughly
organized on scientific basis h: the
international committee. Examinations
are made and certificates awarded"
In answer to the question, Is the as
sociation sort of elite affair or does it
reach the needy ones? four special
classes of men were cited whom the
association had been peculiarly success
full In dealing with-the railroad men.
college men, soldier boys. and working
men of the cities. 1t had worked a
great reformation among railroad men,
and the railroads recognized it by con-
tributing S150,000 year from corporate
IAHuS lOI llS SuppOit- WHO EallfOdu
systems are organized, with buildings
at each division point. President III
gals of the Big -Four and Chesapeake
& Ohio was quoted as saying that the
association combined the interests Of
employer and employe better than any
other organization and that 1t had saved
the corporation 5000 day In wreckage
expenses.
In the college department the associ-
alton is now the largest college frater
nifty in the world, with $1,000 members
in 1000 different institutions, even In
the great government universities Of
China, where some Christians are
found. In proof that the workingmen
appreciate the association, many asso-
Citations were cited where workingmen
predominate in the evening classes, and
the association frequently introduces
the rich employer to his employe for the
first time. The ability of the associa-
ton to meet an emergency was proved
by the celerity with which they took up
the army work. providing tents for the
soldiers to spend their time in. in read
ing, playing games, writing letters, eic.
These tents accommodated almost the
entire army of 100000 men. and their
value was asserted by all the leading
officers and pretty nearly all the pri-
Yates in the army Theirs was the only
tent near the fighting line at Santiago
ana was nlled up with Wounded men.
The secretaries with their tents are
now in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil.
ippines. A naval department has been
organized, with Admiral Philip at the
head of it, and "Deweys boys" have
expressed their appreciation. A New
York lady has given s500oo to this de-
partment this year.
"If the association is good thing for
railroad men, college men, soldiers ana
sailors and the yvorkinRrNen and will
lionaires of the cities, would it not be
good thing for Butter" said Mr.. Ward
in conclusion.