The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-06-02

THE Y. M. c. A. MOVEMENT.

THE Y. M. G. A. MOVEMENT.
AS will be seen from our news col
umns, the Y. M. A. movement is
progressing favorably. At the meeting
of laymen last week. and at the joint
conference of laymen and pastors Mon
day, one point was definitely reached
and agreed upon, which was this: That
the Club or Association, il started at all
must be started right. It will not be
uompetitor with either of the other
clubs; the Century Club is an exclu-
sive social organic alton. y hich has
played an important part and done
good work in the social life of Columbia;
the Elks Club is home for the Elks,
and is conducted on conservative and
moral lines, but is open only to Elks,and
everybody does not care TO ride the
Elks' goat. So neither of these clubs
reach the great body of the people; and
that is what this new Club proposes to
do. The boy not yet old enough to be-
come an Elk or a Century Club member,
may find recreation in the gymnasium
or bowling alley of the Y. M. @. A. The
laborer, tired from his days work, may
And welcome and good comradeship in
these rooms. The young man or the
old man who wants to keep abreast with
the times, will find the latest magazines
and newspapers in these rooms. The
man from the country who wants a
place to leave his bundles, or toilet
room to remove his travel stains, or a
resting place. may find it here: or the
stranger within our gates, or our guests
will fnd an open door and hospitable
welcome always.
This Is what the new club meaDs. 1t
is an open, hospitable retreat for all
who may care to enter there. 1t is a
krysting place "where the rich and the
poor may meet together, for the Lord is
the Maker of them ALL" And where
Columbians may get acquainted with
each other: for one half of Columbia
does not know the other half. Know
ing a man by sight or name IS nos know
ing him at all We all need to become
better acquainted, to have more social
contact, to meet and talk more with
each other.
This is busy age and busy town.
Men who call each other "Friend, and
whose minds and purposes travel along
the same lines, are 80 busy they &c
year in and year out with never heart
to heart talk. Men earnestly striving
TO serve the same Master but who wor-
ship in different churches, rarely have
A chance co know what each other are
doing, and mss the inspiration OF that
helpful knowledge Men who have the
moral welfare and the commercial inter
ests OF the town at heart, have no com
mon meeting place where they may
talk 1t over And last, but not least
In fact first and foremost of all, the boys
and young men under twenty years O
age. have no place to go.
Now the success of this movement de
ponds upon it's general acceptance D!
the great body of the people. Not be
ing at all exclusive. no special class vii
support it. Intended for all, all mus
sustain it. Every boy in Columbia, be
tween the ages of 2and 20, ought q
become a member, because, mentally
morally and physically, it will do hin
good. And nearly every man in Colum
bia ought to become a member. becaus
it will do him good, and because 1t vii
help him to do others good. The Asso-
citation will give value received to all 1t
members, but older men and bushes
men should not consider it from mar
row standpoint. Every man will at
tend it more than he thinks; and vii
yet out of it, personally, more than q
thinks; but aside from that, the annua
dues being only $40 for men, every ma
who can possibly afford it should con
tribute that mite and the influence Q
his name, for the common good
Columbia is getting to be big tow
and ought to get out Of its old ruts. !
q town we know If, of 10000 inhabl
tants, the Y. M. @. A. has L400 men
bers. In Columbia and its suburb
with 10000 inhabitants, the Y. M. G. A
ought to have 1000 members. Will 20
do your part. or will you be laggar
In good cause?
The Herald told the first news in Co