The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-21

Asheville. N. C., June 2o.-(special.)- Tie next meeting of the Gulf States as sociations which will be held in Birming- ham in the autumn was the subject ol much interest at the southern confer ence recently held in Asheville when members of the American committee and officers of the Gulf States associations were present. The programme for the meeting has not been completed but lh an interview with Mrs. Arthur McD. Nh- son, the chairman of the Gulf States cofn- mittee, just before the close of the con ference, she said that several prominent sneakers would address the meeting and that the members of the Gulf States coIl- mlttees were looking onward with much pleasure to the,r visit to Birmingham.
 "You may state,' said Mrs. Wilson, that the programme will be one or great il terest and the present plans point 10 the most successful meeting yet held Tn the gulf states. The exact time has not heen definitely decided. but it will be not later than the first week in November. This matter is always left to the resi- dent members of the committed
 | rs Wilson when asked as to the work of the Young Womens Christian assoeia- tions in the gulf states, was enthusiastic over the results shown in the city re- ports. She declared that the outlook was more encouraging than ever and that peo- pie generally were realizing the real spirit of the associations end the good that they are doing In reaching hundreds of young women and brightening their lives.
 "If only the conferences could be at tended by those who doubt their helpful and wholesome influences, I believe that there would be few persons who would no. enter into the spirit of the associa- ton's work
 A woman. who Is q member of one of tn, Gulf States associations. in speaking of the work in the south. said that she was surprised at the attitude of certain of the clergy who were not in sym pathy with the associations.
 She said that a well known Protest ant clergyman in southern city had frequently taken issue with them on the subject. and had maintained that the work done by the associations should be left to the churche4. This particular clergyman expressed the opinion that the Young womens Christian associations now eneircling the globe, were encroach- irg upon the proper domain of the churches and his attitude was one of unfavorable criticism.
 When asked if this particular clergyman was not alone in his attitude she said tlat he was the only clergyman in her own city who had indirectly criticized the associations.
 From other sources 1t is learned that certain other clorgynen, while not direct ly attacking the work of the associa- tions, either through ignorance of the work. or a misunderstanding of the ob- ject of the associations, are not giving tLe approval that would be naturally ex- peoted.
 But while there may be a few clergy men who are withholding their influence" !" said a woman in discussing the subject, ''the large majority of them, I have every reason to believe understand the work sufficiently to give 1t their sincere cooperation and as fer as lies in their power to advance It. The clergyman of today must be broad enough to see be- v nd the close confines of his study or his pulpit. and those who keep abreast of the world know that while there may be other agencies besides the churches that are reaching out to help humanity, that every thing leads to the church, not from it, and the man who realizes this has no trouble in reaching for himself the hearts of his hearers. I do not like to criticise the clergy, but it seems to me that any unfavorable criticism of the great work done by the Young Wom- en's Christian associations emanating from a Christian minister comes from a rec most surprising' A. K. w.