The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-03-21
Y. N. c. A. WORK
MEANS MUCH
IT is WONDERFUL IN ITS SCOPE
Trains Body, Soul and Mind and
Builds Young Men Into
Good Citizens.

lHt WI I'll tiie OuHS MEL
Christian Association covers very
wide field ana is ''set up TO meet the
needs Of young men and boys at
practically every point and at all
ages and stages. In corresponding
proportion it's responsibility is also
great, for the interests involved call
for careful handling and keen judy
ment.
Take. for instance, the real estate
end of it. The association in the
United States alone owns more than
s31 900 600 worth of property. This
is being added to constantly. Last
year. (1gO5y new building going
up every fivesdays, and this year the
indications are that the average will
be one in every three days. More and
more 1t is impressing business men
with its value as great factor in
the right development of a city, and
their response is shown by the readi-
ness with which it is supported as
soon as the work is understood
Given these buildings, what is be-
ing done with them? Here is one as
pect of the, work which always in
terests healthy-minded young fell
low, viz: The physical work, COM
prising the gymnasium, with it's up
todate apparatus, running track,
handball court, ETC., as well as the
swimming pool and shower baths.
There are upwards of $40 gymnasi-
ums throughout the country in which
are conducted thousands of classes
in body building and pleasurable ex-
ercises. and used by more than 140,-
900 members. 1t will indeed by a
great thing for North Yakima when
the young men can thus profitably
use their spare time.
But suppose young fellow gets
plenty Of exercise, what is there for
him?
The Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation is the largest night school in
the world. 1t has more than 5000
students, learning everything, almost
any thing they want to, from first
grade English to poultry farming or
automobile running. 1t can special
ize so readily and adopt itself to
specific needs, as for instance, in the
Seattle association, where there are
! four classes conducted weekly for
miners, who can learn during the
winter months and put into practice
what they learn on going to Alaska
in the spring.
Not only does it teach men, but
helps them find employment as soon
as they are ready for it, many asso.
Citations now using mans whole
time in the employment department
for the benefit of the members.
Then the social features are at
tractive to many fellow. He may &C
to the building for some other OBJ.
| ject but he remembers that he "got
skinned" by fellow last night and
now he wants to beat him at some
| game or another.
The promotion of clubs tourna
ments and teams is good work and
members can put them through from
inception to finish and have a good
time while engineering their scheme
The religious work, that which ap-
peals to a mans inner nature and
helps him give vent to those emotions
which are planted in him for his owl
good, has stood the test of time. The
'drop-in" Bible classes, the study
courses, the mems meeting. all COM
bined, or separated, are we'll used
adjuncts of the work, and in the
heart and life of the movement.
''If I had my life to live over
again." said John Wannameker, ed
give twice as much to the YounG
Mems Christian Association 1t is
an investment that never disap-
points"