Evening journal., 1903-08-11
TREMENDOUS BOOM IN |
ASSOCIATION WORK
Rapid Strides Both
in a Financial Way and
in Membership


show that The Young Mems Christian
Association 4 work is having tremcnd-
Gus boom. The associations during the
past few years, and especially this
YEAR. have been making rapid strides.
both in financial way and in mem
bership. In America alone the mem
bership reaches more than a third Of
million.
Wilmington, although not as far ad-
vanced in association work as she
should be, has picked up considerable
during this year. The proposed new
building. however will arouse inter-
est and in case the directors secure
another such man as r. O. Sellers for
secretary there Is sure to be a great
boom here in the work next year.
Interesting Facts For Y. M. c. A.
Members.
The twenty-fifth anniversary OF the
establishment of the Worlds Commit
tee of the Young Mems Christian AS
sociations is held this week i'm Geneva,
Switzerland. Clarence ]. Hicks and
John r. Mott, associate secretaries
with Richard c. Morse Of the Inter-
national Committee of Young MEMS
Ill AoAAtAAA -AocONl0AAOAAni represent Alf
American Associations Leading men
of the association from all countries
comprise the committee. Among the
members are Sir George Williams, who
founded the association in London in
1874; Prince Oscar Bernadotte repre-
sents Sweden Count Bernstorin. Ger
many; K Ibuka, Japan; and James
Stokes, Hon Cephas Brainerd II. B.
Ames, Esq. and r. G. Morse, America
The president of the committee is
Prof Edouard Barde of Geneva. A
feature of the meeting was the pre-
sentation to Charles Fermaud, for
twenty-five years general secretary Of
the committee, of a large sum Of
money, in recognition of his work of
twenty-five years i'm developing the
associations in Europe. which now
number 1851. The Worlds Commit
tee has trebled its force i'm a few years,
and is rapidly extending associations
IN Russia, Portugal. Spain and Greece.
This committee established the Ma
tional Committee of France. where as
sociation development has been most
pronounced of late. In Asia there are
2SO associations, of which AZ are in
China, apd, ISL yip, Iudia, and "a i'm
Japan. rBefe- are, 20 III Africa and is
in t9cehnfea. lsRmerica has by far the
laigase Membership, nunibering s5O =
45 IS, o lShdn possesses netfflyi four times
Jas much property as all the other
countries. i'm the world combined, Great
Britain has 9s5 associations with 9S,-
4d9 members, owning buildings valued
at $3.OOO,OOO.
The South African associations have
just held a third conference at Pieter-
maritzburg. Natal. which was presided
over by Sir Henry Bale, chief justice
of Natal and president of the South
African Council. The mayor of Pieter-
maritzburg and Bishop of Natal were
speakers. A travelling secretary is
being sought from America.
The Danish National Committee re-
ports 297 associations with 1928
members and 20 secretaries. They owl
IS buildings. At their recent National
Conference 5000 delegates and mem
bers were present.
Tokyo, Japan. this year celebrated lis
financial independence. 1t has hither-
to depended upon the American asso-
Citations for the most Of its support
Several hundred members are en-
rolled as students of Christianity"
Calcutta numbers among it's mem
bers a great many foreigners. who com
bined on the Fourth OF July to cele.
brate Dominion Day and independence,
Day inviting every Canadian and
American in the city to be present TIL,
United States counsel presided. TIL,
Star Spangled Banner" the Maple
Leaf" and America" were sung 10y
everybody.
The army association secretary IL
one of the Philippine camps combined
with the Catholic chaplain to make
pay day so attractive TO men that the!
are kept away from the saloons. Here
is a telegram received by the secretary
from the chaplain: PAY day today
come 7vei end nelp hold the men.
Another one read. "Can you conn
with the Life Of Christ lecture to
night?" The result was that tn
keepers of the canteens outside be
walled a dry pay day
The Association at Cavite, p. l.
secured a lease of the old Midway caf
building. At Olongpo the naval au
thorities set aside apart a site for
building which is now being construct
ed for the association for work amon
the $40 marines stationed there.
Just outside the water-gate of tn
Tartar City. Pelxin. China, a littl
building has been secured for
Soldiers Association. which has bee
conducted by L. ]. Christian, a Unite
States Army Hospital Corps man. VIII
has given his services for six month
without salary. The expenses of 50
a month are paid by the soldiers.
Read the E,uor,lrr. Hn,,rnnl