Evening journal., 1903-01-29
PHYSICAL WORK
At THE Y. M. c. A.
1t Has 600 Gymnasiums and
a Grand Total of 100, 900
Members
LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES

During the Past Thirty Years the
Character Of the Work Has
chansed-Aim Is Health and vi
taIity.
A recent issue Of a paper devoted to
the Young Mems Christian Association
work. contained the following interest
ing article on physical work;
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton has the largest organized physical
work in the United States. There are
nearly 900 gymnasia. with a grand
total OF 100000 members. The col
leges, the athletic clubs and the Ger
man Turner Societies together do not
have as many active members in their
gymnasia. The first Young Mems
| Christian Association gymnasium was
opened in 1869. and since that time the
development has been phenomenal The
question naturally arises: Why do the
associations occupy such prominent
position i'm this field? There are several
causes for this condition. First, the
lneed OF the city young men for exer-
else has increased enormously with the
growth OF the cities, the intensity of
n
linnumerable labor saving devices. Sec
londly, the associations have developed
a body Of men who have applied broad
scientific methods to this great prob
lem. thus keeping up with the con-
stantly changing demands and evolv-
ling a rational. simple and effective
course Of physical training to meet the
needs Of the times.
During these thirty years the char
acter Of the work in the association
gymnasla has changed considerably. II
the early days the primary objects
aimed at were great muscular strength
and skill to perform difficult feats. Nov
the first aim sougth for is health ant
vitality; other aims receive only sec
ondary consideration. Fully 80 pc
cent. of the members in the association
gymnasia seek only health and recrea
tion without any desire or ambition L
| become athletics or star performers.
Much of the improvement in con
struction Of gymnasia, apparatus an
bathing appliances during this perio
has been done in the association. Rec
reative gymnastics were largely de
gelOped In the associatiOn--a good ex
ample Of this is basketball, which wa
. invented in the Young Mems Christia
= Association Training School in Spring
Il field. This training school has been
5 large factor in raising the physicl
a work Of the association to the high pc
g sition which it occupies today.
Iel thorough three years course at tn
lie training school gives by far the be-
" preparation to be obtained anywhei
II in this country for the profession
o physical director There is abundal
~ proof Of the leading position OF phys
S cal training in the Young Mems Chri,
= tiOn Association today. out Of twenty
one physical directors in the college
n secondary schools and city publ
IS schools of Massachusetts,el eleven of the
d, were trained in the Young Mems Chrii
Is tian Association, and out OF all Il
l. physical directors in institutions
learning in the United states, near
a 40 per cent. were taken from the ranl
v Of the Young Mems Christian ASS,
. citation. A few days ago the physic
~ director Of the largest secondary scho
in the country told me that from h
y, experience OF several years in associi
~ tion work, he is convinced that ass
Citations are far in the lead in physic
training in the country today. III
8, physical director i'm the largest unive
II. '-NS "a t"N NDuAieA9 Satu the SAME tull
lg some time ago.
Finally, there is another factor Will
is largely responsible for the exalt
position Of the physical work I'm q
Young Mems Christian Associate
The physical directors of the associ
&c tions are Christian men who consid
k the thousands OF young men In tn,
rt gymnasia not simply as so many h
" man bodies to strengthen and develC
ne but as so many young men to be
rected and assisted to harmonious d
4. yelopment Of a complete physical, i
- tellectual and moral manhod.
C. L. M