The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-07-30
Y. NJ. q. A. DEPARTMENT.
The Young Mems Christian Association
Makes Record Year.


Makes Record Year.
The forthcoming Year Book of the
Young Mems Christian Associations
covering the working year ending
May Ist, will show that the Associa-
tions have increased the past year
from 1875 to 1896. The reports OF
1900 OF this number show a member
ship of 35o,455, an increase of 27,231.
Ot the total 45,o35 are boys under
sixteen. The active membership is
I44,a7o, an increase of 1900 and
there are 36,3o6 men serving on the
committees of the Associations. The
total property owned is $aS,Sa7 $50,
an increase of $4,726,ooo. On this
property debt of but $4,4fo, 100
rests. There are besides this, 143
building and endowment funds pledg-
ed, amounting to $2,44o,I37. The
Associations spent $3,5S3,4o6 for cur
rent expenses last year, an increase of
$4Is,ooo. The State Committees
spent $r79,I5o in supervising and ex-
tending Association work, agains.
$I5a,Ioo the previous year. The In
ternational Committee expended$I so,-
574, $4,000 less than in the preceding
year but for the extension of Asso-
citation work in foreign lands, the AS
sociations and their friends raised and
forwar led $SI,625, an increase of
$4,000. There are now 1920 men
employed as general secretaries and
other paid officers, as against I,6r2
last year, and there are 2os such po-
sltions now vacant awaiting qualified
men. The Associations have 7,o
reading-rooms and expend $42,
for periodicals.. They have 600 libra
rles with 544,4so volumes. Courses
OF educational lectures and practical
talks we've given by 5I4 Associations
and 800 educational clubs were or.
ganized. There were 10000 students
in educational classes who paid $780,.
ooo in tuition fees In their religious
work, the Associations show an at.
tendance of 3,o54,2o7 at 7o,2S6 re-
ligious services and goo Associations
show an attendance of 1880 at for
eign missionary meetings. The num-
Der of men and boys in the Bible
classes in the city and railroad Asso-
citation have increased from 25,oos to
$1,000. There we're 6,51o shop Bible
classes and meetings held, or much
more than double the preceding year.
There were 1862 men engaged on re-
ligious work committees-an increase
of twenty per cent. The amount of
money spent directly on religious
work has increased from $Io2,5Io to
$I26, ,766. The number of men uniting
with the churches from the Assccia-
tions has increased eleven per cent.
There are 634 Associations engaged
in physical training; these have s45
gymnasiums and 459 of these enrolled
Ia9,I93 men and boys. The daily
attendance at the Association is Io8,-
I52. Positions were secured for 16,-
759 men and boys. Women's Aux
lllaries are assisting 443 Associations,
The Railroad Departments number
I9s, employ a95 secretaries, have
6a, ,aSS members, gave 86a,456 baths,
their rest-rooms were used BALTIC
times; they served a,373,a15 lunches
and meals, ard circulated I8I, I,645
volumes from their ga libraries.
There are 68o Student Associations;
these having $1,000 members. Army
and Navy Association work is con-
Quoted at 269 points. The Com
mittee has $50 travelling Libraries in
circulation, furnished IS tons OF read
ing matter and supplies, gave away
100000 pieces of stationery, and
secured the signatures of 1865 young
men to temperance pledges. Fifty
two rooms or buildings are used by
these branches by permission of the
authorities. At the three Naval
Branches in operation the total at
tendance was I63,I35; 1885 meals
were served; 43,aIo beds were oc-
cupied. and $IaI,4S7 was deposited
by sailors for safe keeping with the
secretaries. The Colored Mems De-
partment has "a city and town AS
sociations, and Al Student Associa-
lions. The SIG Associations having
Boys Departments employ 81 boys
secretaries, have a membership OF
nearly $4,000, have 33,47S different
boys using the gymnaslums, and gave
2o4 educational talks. The OTIS
Bible classes were attended by 49,
l7I4, and religious services were at.
tended by 100000. There were
1850 boys in the 2I4 summer camps.
| Associations have been extended
IN the past year among street railway
men, industrial workers, lumbermen,
and miners The wear has heen an