The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-02-28
Those ChurchIess Communities
Must Not Be Neglected.
An Interesting Talk on Railroad
Branch of the Society.
Men In the Service Give Their
Experience Last Eve.
From Saturdays Daily.

From SATURDAY DalH.
Standing room was ut a premium
at the Presbyterian church last even
ing. State Secretary Peck, of tn,
Y. NJ c. ~, conducted Il short but in
spring song service. The male quar-
tct consisting of o. L. Edwards, +
+. Johnson and Z. w. Peck, all Of
Minneapolis. and +. w. Van AIKEN
president of Parker college, rendered
in Il most impressive manner mum
Der of songs.
Chairman Palmer introduced.
DR.. Milo b. Price announced the
election of George NJ. Palmer as chair
man of the conversion. Mr.. Palmer
was escorted to the platform by E
W. Van AIKEN and c. J. Hunt. Mr.
Palmer very feelingly expressed his
appreciation for the honor bestowed
upon him and i'll Il few but most
fitting words briefly told the history
of the local association, contrasting
the conditions of the home associa-
ton seven years ago when the conven-
ton met before in Mankato, with its
200 members and only poorly equipped
and rented quarters with the present
splendid and fully equipped building
and over 800 members.
Obligations to the Country Youth
This subject was ably presented by
John II. Boardman of New York. 1t
was stated that three out of every
ten boys in the rural communities are
there to stay and that the Y. Nj.
c. \. must do some very practical
work for these three boys. The as
ISOLATION must help these boys to real
ize their best ideals. There are
100000 boys and young men in rural
America. Fifty per cent of all school
one room schools and ninety-fve per
cent of this number leave school
before they are fourteen years of
age. The association should make it
possible for these to acquire sufficient
knowledge to be able to truly live.
The churchlcss communities must not
be neglected \ doctor with large
country in New York state was
quoted as saying that eighty five per
cent of the male youth of his county
were guilty of private or social vice.
Give the country boy his chance, y
was The speakers plea
Railroad Department.
A. NJ. Bruner, the railroad secre-
tary of Illinois, had charge of this
part of the program. He stated that
there were 235,000 miles of railroad
in the United States, that one-ffth
of all the wealth of the country was
invested in railway stocks and bonds,
that l,000O00 men were employed,
these together with their families,
made 100000 people receiving their
living from this industry. The speak
er declared that three things were
necessary to run railway success
fully, money, labor and men with
business ability. The railway associ.
alton nightly helps to furnish the
latter.
Eighty-fvc per cent of the rail
road mileage is back of the Y. NJ
G.. A. There are 237 railroad associa'
tions with $500 members, la build
ings worth $3.569,OOO; 1890 men are
enrolled in Bible classes.
Railroad Train Service.
Mr.. Bruner had fifteen railroad men
on the platform, each of these men
representing some phase of railroad
Il,
man, mail clerk, expressman, baggage
man, lagman, brakeman ticket agent
fireman. engineer, passenger inspector
dispatcher. conductor and official were
called out and each man spoke of his
special work and made spiritua
application. When the men were
through they arose to leave the plat
form while the male quartet sang
''Speed Away" No service of thu
convention produced so profound al
impression as did this one.
Skcpticism Due to Ignorance.
Much was expected from DR.. Camp
bell Coyle in the Bible study hour ant
this expectation was i,.ore than MT
The doctor took for his theme. "Wh,
/ Believe the Bible The, speake
declared that the Bible was God'
book. 1t has more influence than al
other books ever written. "The near
er men get to God the nearer the.
get to the Bible. If the Bible was
bad book bad men would love it
The Bible speaks to the uttermos
needs of the heart. Our duty is t.
study the Bible. Ninety seven per cen
of all skepticism is due to ignoranc
of the Bible. Having learned tn
book. we must live it out in on
lives"
Conducted an Institute.
Walter NJ. Wood conducted an in
stitute on "Social Work. He sal
that it was the work of the associia
ton to attract men to the associatio
to assimilate them in the work, t
socialize them by reducing their pred
indiees and ciltiSating their sym
pathies. The man who has only enouS