Arizona republican., 1907-11-14
FOR TOMMY AND JACK
What Y. NJ. c. A. Does fer Soldier and
Sailor.

one Of the interesting modern fea-
lures of the Young Mems Christian
Association which will be represented
at the international convention in
Washington, Nov. - to 20. is that
which has to do with the enlisted men
of the United States army and navy.
Organized in 1898, the army and
navy movement was at the first
largely a temporary one, providing for
the peculiar need Of the soldiers in
camp during the Spanish American
War. SO Loyalty did the soldiers res
pond 10 the movement and so heartily
did they appreciate the efforts in their
behalf that at the close of the war
there existed need for the perman-
ent extension of the effort to the reg
ular army posts and naval stations.
Since that time the organization has so
developed as to extend its work
throughout the United States and to
Alaska, China. and the PHILIPPINE Is
lands. In fact. the policy Of the assoc
citation is To follow the soldier or sailor
wherever he goes and has need Of this
cooperation.
The freedom and uplifting surround
ings found in the army and navy as
ISOLATION buildings are in striking con-
trast with the degrading influences
of the other resorts which these men
formerly frequented.
BY act of Congress it has been made
possible to erect association buildings
at military posts. and through a circu-
lar of the Secretary of War the priv
ilege of establishing headquarters in
the post exchange has been to the
association. Here definite service
seems to have been given in co-opera-
ton with the commanding officers in
stimulating and directing the men in
the use Of the recreation buildings. In
many cases the association secretary
takes charge of the gymnasium work
and recreative features. including the
athletics. There are now something
like thirty secretaries of army associa-
ton alone, and about an equal number
in the navy. II is proposed in time
to extend the movement so that every
post and station having a sufficient
number of men will have a branch of
the organization.
For the army work tehre was dedi-
Gated on October 20 beautiful build
ing at Fort Leavensworth. Kans, the
largest post in the United States This
building. which was given by Miss
Helen Gould, cost about $4,000 and is
equipped for every possible need of the
physical. educational, social, and spir-
itual well-being. An indication of the
interest and esteem in which the as
sociation is held is shown by the list
OF the speakers on the day Of dedica-
tion which included Brig. Gen. Charles
b. Hall, L. S. A: Gov. Hoch, Of Kans-
as. and Rev. Charles NJ Sheldon, au-
thor of In His Steps, Mai. Gen. ].
Franklin Bell, u. 5. A, chief of staff.
was especially interested in this pro-
ject when he was stationed at Fort
Leavensworth. and was instrumental
in starting the movement for the asso-
citation building there.
Members of the Washington a.so-
citation will be interested to know that
p. c. Pierce, who was very popular
here as membership secretary of the
local association few years ago, is in
charge. as secretary of the army assoc
citation, at Fort Leavensworth.
Among the significant advance steps
of the present year has been the OPEN
ing of the Philadelphia Naval Branch,
which makes eight branches of the
naval association now organized. They
are located near the navy yards at
Brooklyn. n. Y; Newport. r. l.: Nor
folk, Va; Vallejo, Cal; Philadelphia.
Pa, and Cavite and Olongapo, -Philli-
pine Islands.