The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-08-24
Y N. C. A. IN RUSSIAN
CAPITAL A SUCCESS
Duke Alexander, Brother-in-Law of
the Gear. Is Its President-Mem.
hersbin rs 4 600

the Gear, Is Its President-Mem.
bership of 1900.
Chicago. Aug. 23.-william e. Cur
Ms st. Petersburg letter in the Rec
ord-Herald: N
There is a Young Mems Christian
association in ST. Petersburg with L.
500 members, nearly all native Rus
slams. The president is Duke Alexan-
der of Oldenburg, who married Olga,
the sister OF the car. The secretary
and active man is Franklin A. Cay
Ord, a Vermont Yankee who came here
from the Y. NJ. c. A. in Paris and or
ganized this institution. Mrs. Gay
lord is making plans to organize a
Young Women's Christian association
on similar ines.
Until recently 1t was almost impos-
siblc for sucn an organization as the
Y. NJ. c. A. to exist in Russia, be-
sause associations OF all kinds were
forbidden. 1t was a crime to belong to
one, but when h Duke of Oldenburg.
4 man whose motives a never been
auestiened and whose benevolence is
Known to every person of intelligence
n Russia, took charge of the move
lnent its success was guaranteed. New
srtheless, when the political rouble
broke out last year it was discovered
hat more than half the members were
1GNOlullOlilSlS ana lneTS was q lively
scrap for several months to prevent
them from capturing the management
and turning the institution into a rev.
dictionary headquarters. Mr.. Gaylord
made a rule prohibiting political dis
cussions under the roof of the building,
md finally got the upper hand of the
e~onspirators and secured the re-elec-
tion OF the conservative element in the
list of officers.
80 Out Of 100 Revolutionists.
1t was not an unhappy incident,
however. Almost every member SYM
pathized with the sentiments and
spirit of the revolutionary element, al
though the,- could not indorse its judg-
ment or permit the purpose OF the or
ganization to be perverted into polft-
teal lines. You must understand that
30 per cent. OF the young men in Rus
STA are revolutionists more or less rad
Nal, according to their previous train
mr.. their social rank and their environ
-nent. Nobody supports the car in his
efforts to maintain the autocracy ex-
cept the members of the imperial fam
w (and they are not Unanimously, the
imperial household. the cabinet, army
officers OF high rank and the bureau
likely to shift their point Of View as
circumstance change. Therefore it
was not strange and 1t is no reflection
lpon the character of the members Of
The Y. NJ. c. A. that those who are most
interested in politics should attempt
20 use the organization as a revolu-
tionary machine.
Called "Mayak" (Lishthouse).
1t is not called a Young Mems Chris
ian association here, for that title
would be an anomaly and would de-
Drive Jews. Mohammedans and MEM
oers of other religious faiths of its ben
sits. Hence it is called "Mayak' (the
a%ighthouse), which you will agree is
a very good name, and on it's rolls are
he representatives of half a dozen
different religions. The Jewish ele-
nent is quite strong. Jews predomi-
iate wherever they are permitted to
go in Russia, in ability and energy II
aot in numbers, and they are keen to
adapt themselves to all situations and
% seize upon every opportunity for self
Improvement. Nowhere and at no time
nave h superior qualities of that re-
narkable race been demonstrated as.
Turing the period of their persecution.
Russia, although there is no law to
permit II. A better term is religious
ttoleration," because all people are
allowed to worship according to their
own creeds provided they 10 so quiet
y without offense to Others and do
not attempt to proselyte.
On the Main Avenue.
sv Iva iae a wgNsey ~ ps 81 peter sne pen m
most opposite the KAN cathedral of
I,1tharan churcb and . iit+i y g e. 49,
Town on the next hlocls is . Rnman
Catholic church at which services are
lines on week davs. There is NO ctr.
sr ' Protesta n c daSs: es,een - = no ch o .
connected with the British embassy,
which is attended by members Of the
American and English colony The
British maintains the
Chaplain.
Religious services are conducted nv
Mr.. Gaylord or n of his associates
after a ~nonsectarian fashion in the lee
:ure room of the Y. M. c. A. building
twice on Sunday and on Thursday
evenings, including the reading of the
scriptures. prayer, hymns and usually
q short talk On moral questions, care
DULY avoiding controversial differences.
Has Fine Home.
The Y. M. q A moved into , now
h,iIdinp last wear and now has onn.,a -
a,,t ond on,fontah ~ a,Soa.s 49,