Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-11-22
ROSE HIGH IN
CHOSEN WORK


receipt of letter yesterday from ii.
E. Dodge, formerly general secretary
and physical director of the local Y.
NJ. @. A, that tells almost a wonder
full story of the rise of a man from an
inexperienced beginner in association
work to one who is now recognized as
one of the strongest Y. NJ. G. a. men
in the country.
The letter is the fulfillment of a
promise made long ago to write to Mr..
Schoch. 1t was dictated on board the
New York and St Louis Limited,
while Mr. Dodge was on his way from
Terre Haute. Indiana, TO Wilmington,
Delaware, where he was to speak to a
mems meeting. He came east from
Terre Haute 70 speak at this one meet
ing and returned west Sunday even
ing.
Mr.. Dodge will be we'll remembered
by many Danville people. When he
came to this city II years ago he had
no Association experience at all, hav-
ing been picture agent. He remalu-
ed here about years in the capacity
of both general secretary and physical
director. Leaving Danville, he went
to Pottstown, where he remained for
two years and then having been offer
ed the general secretaryship of the
Warren, Pa Y. NJ. G. A, he left for
that town. In his letter Mr.. Dodge
says:
"Our eight years stay at Warren
we're the best years of our Association
work and under the blessings of God
the work was built up to large proper
tions, so that during the last winter L
was there we were conducting thirty
to thirty six religious meetings and
bible classes each week, besides main-
tairng IA good work in the gymnasium
and conducting four or five classes in
our evening school. The money ex-
penses were approximately $1,000
wear. and | understand that the new
secretary is making the work more ag-
gressive than it was under my super
vision
On the first Of last June Nj. Dodge
left Warren and took charge Of the AS.
sociation at Terre Haute, Indiana. His
description of the city and his work
there is most interesting. He saws:
"Terre Haute is city of $4,000,
having increased to that population
from 81. 900 in the last five years. 1t is
properly called the Pittsburgh of tie
middle west .:The moralsIof the city
have been very bad III the past, the
saloons never thinking of cl 0sing from
one weeks end to the other, and one
saloon keeper went so far, when asked
if he ever shut the, front door, as to
reply, No, | do not aud | have thrown
the key in the river. The gambling
Joints were run openly and above
board.
"There came an awakening some
months ago when the city council i'm
peached the mayor, threw him out of
Office, and with him went his appoln-
tees aud a new and clean administra-
| tion was sworn into office. Today, we
are a law abiding citv and each week
| it is becoming more difficult for men
to break the law and go unpublished.
"Terre Haute has great future and
we expect to be city of l00 900 by
| the end of 1911. The Association has a
| splendid lot in the best location III the
city, has new gymnasium, 55x7O, a
fine swimming pool, splendid shower
baths and the two best bowling alleys
in the city. The rest of the building
is an old club house and lily adapted
to our work. In three years we expect
to erect building costing not less
than $3.50, 900. Our present membership
is 700 and is increasing all the time.
We have an enrolment of 81 i'll the
evening school. We have two pool and
one billiard table-the best in the city
which appeal to certain types OF
young men and keeps them out of the
public pool rooms.
Il am Just reminded that L am in
my 18th. year of Association work.
Although it seems like yesterday that
| began my work i'll Danville. My
salary has steadily increased until al
Terre Haute | am getting $2400, which
is five times as much rs | received
when | began work in Danviile. pre-
sumo our board of directors will raise
it to $4,000 before | am there five years.
| | have done considerable travelling
in the last three years, and last season
in four months l travelled over 10, 00(
miles and spoke to over 5000 men.
was as far south as Richmond, Va.
and Marietta, Ohio, and as far east a:
New York City and Holyoke, Mass.
also spoke at Syracuse, Schenectady
N. Y, Erie and Milton, Pa, ant
Youngstown, Ohio"
Mr. Dodge has been in rather il
health for some time ami on October
Bird underwent an operation. He fear
that he Will have to undergo another
operation before he is entirely well.
Mr.. Dodge sends his best regards tt
his friends of former years i'll Dan
Vile