Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-19
BUFFALO CONFERENCE.
Y. M. c. A. to Discuss Future Policies
In Post Exchange Buildings.

All the Young Mems Christian asSoca-
lions of North America have been summon
ed to accredit delegates to meet In interna-
tional conference at Buffalo May Ills.
This Is to be the thirty-fifth meeting of the
kind held within fifty years, the first being
held in Buffalo in 1854. at which thirty
seven men formed the first confederation of
Young Mems Christian associations.
/ At this jubilee meeting, which will prob
ably have nearly 1000 representatives of
the association management, the future
policy of the organization will be discussed.
The association has grown amazingly since
the constitution of the early federation.
This meeting is to be one of the most sig
nificant ever held in the history Of the asso-
Representatives are on the way from
China. India, Japan and Europe to repre-
sent the far east. Besides the association
leaders who will conduct the discussions
tario, the Secretary OF the Navy. Mr..
Moody; Admiral Higginson, Maj. e. w.
Halford, u. 8. A; President George w.
Stephens of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
bash, President ]. A. Wickersham of the
Atlanta and West Point railroad. Robert e.
Speer, Rev. G., Campbell Morgan, DR.. Clar-
ence A. Barbour, Chancellor Frank Strong,
Commissioner H. B. F. mcfarland, DR..
Barton of the A. 3. c. f. M. and DR.. Brown
of the Presbyteria board of missions and
8. D. Gordon.
Exhibits showing the history and develop
ment of the association movement are be-
ing prepared some of which may be placed
In the room still in existence. where fifty
years ago the first meeting Of the conven-
ton was held.
All eastern railroads have given the eX-
ceptional rate of one fare to this conven-
ton. The Central Passenger Association,
which withdrew this rate through misun-
Outstanding, has restored 1t. The western
a md Inv
fare and a third.
The recently issued order of Secretary OF
War Taft directs that permission be grant
ed the army Y. M. c. A. to establish its
work at the various posts in the United
States, Porto Rico and the Philippines, and
that commanding officers facilitate the eff
forts Of the Association to provide helpful
physical, intellectual and unsectarian re-
ligious influences, Ito provide suitable quar-
tiers, If available, in the new post exchange
buildings, for which an appropriation OF
81 500 Goo has already been granted.
While this order gives the association
quarters at the most available point where
soldiers will meet for recreation. 1t does not
place 1t in charge OF the post exchange
building, nor has the association sought
to secure this. The order is practically the
same as that issued by the department In
October. 1899 under which some eighty
rooms or buildings haye been provided at
the various possibly commanding officers
for the army association work. and which
Is now conducted at an expense of over
100000 a year. This order will give the
association far larger opportunity of
service to the enlisted man. Many officers
have been strong I'm its advocacy.
Chaplain Randolph says: we gladly well
come the association s. assistance" Chap
lain Groves states: There Is a kind OF
work the association gan do for the sol
diers that no one else seems able to do
as we'll A secretary is provided but the
soldiers carry forward the activities, and
| no sectarian bias Is recognized.
A returning officer FROM the Philippines
stated that ii was his deliberate judgm hit
hat the association had saved many lives
| In the islands by helping soldiers to over
come the terrible mental depression which
often attacks them far away from home.