Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-08-08
A RECORD YEAR.
WORK or YOUNG MEMS CHRIS.
TlAN ASSOCIATION FOR PAST
YEAR MOST ENCOURAGING.
Interesting Statistics Concerning
Growth and Present Gratifying
Conditions.

The forthcoming Yearbook Of the
Young Mems Christian Associations
covering the working year ending
May list, will show that the associa-
lions have increased the past year
from 1875 to 1896. The reports Of
800 OF this Number show q member
ship of 350,455, an increase of 27.231;
of this number 45,035 are boys under
sixteen. The active membership is
144,279, nm increase OF 10000; and
there are $4,000 men serving on the
committees of the associations. The
total property owned is SIS, 81 1856,
an increase Of $4,726, 900. On this
property a debt OF but $4,460, 100 rests.
There are besides this. 143 building
and endowment funds pledged.
amounting to $~2.449.137. The asso.
station spent $3.50, 49G for current ex-
penses last year, an increase Of $412,-
900. The state committees spent
$179,159 In supervising and extending
association work, against $152,1 100 the
previous year. The International com.
mittee expended $160,574. $4,000 less
than In the preceding year: but for
the extension OF association work In
foreign lands, the associations and
their friends raised and forwarded
$S1. 625. an increase OF $780, 900. There
are now l,729 men employed as gen.
eral secretaries and other paid off,
GERS, as against 1912 last year, and
there are EOS such positions now va
cant awaiting qualified men. The as
sociations have 739 reading-rooms and
expend $42.109 for periodicals. They
have 600 libraries with 544,450 vol
umes. Courses of educational lee.
lures and practical talks were given
by 214 associations and 499 educa-
tional clubs were organized. There
were $4,000 students in educational
classes who paid $4,000 In tuition
fees. In their religious work, the as
sociations show an attendance Of g.
954.2O7 at 70.2s6 religious services and
306 associations show an attendance
OF 1900 at foreign missionary meet
ings. The number OF men and boys in
the Bible classes In the city and rail.
road associations have increased from
1893 to 1900. There were 6.510
shop Bible classes and meetings held.
or much more than double the preced-
ing year. There were 1862 men en-
gagged on religious work committees
--an increase of 20 per cent. The
amount OF money spent directly on
religious work has increased from
$f02,bi0 TO $i26,7 6 The number Of
men uniting with the churches from
the associations has Increased II per
cent. There are ga associations en-.
gagged In physical training; these have
545 gymnasiums and 459 OF these en-
rolled 129,l93 men and boys. The
daily attendance at the associations
is 10S,052. Positions were secured
for 1879 men and boys. Women's
auxiliaries are assisting 443 associa-
tions. The railroad departments num-
Der 1876, employ 295 secretaries, have
62.2SS members. gave S62.456 baths.
their rcstrooms were used i1.i79
times; they served 2,373.9f5 lunches
and meals, and circulated 1Sl,645 vol
from their "a Libraries. There
are $50 student associations; these
having $1,000 members. Army and
navy association work is conducted
at 269 points. The committee has $50
travelling libraries In circulation, fur
nished rs tons of reading matter and
supplies, gave away 1900. 900 pieces
OF stationery. and secured the sigma.
lures Of 1866 young men to temper.
pledges. rfty-two rooms or
buildings are used by these branches