The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-31


 Mechanical drawing. A fourishing class in this branch has always been conducted. About twenty-five men take the course. The results of this instruction are very apparent as considerable number of successful men in the shops of the city derive their only technical instruction from this source.
 Show card writing. A successful course was given in the fall.
 Employed Boys Night school. This school is free to any boy or young man who is a member of the intermediate department Many of these boys have been forced out of school because Of poverty and would mature into man. hood bereft of the most rudimental ed ucation were 1t not for this depart ment
 Other Courses. Instruction has been given the past year in Commercial English German, Latin, Rithmetic Ge- ometry.
 Musical Clubs. This past year there has been some work carried on in this direction. Under normal conditions the association could do much in the way of mandolin, orchestra and other lines of instruction.
 Glasses for Foreigners. A most prom ising line of activity A careful study of the field few weeks ago showed vast opportunity for this line of social service among the foreigners of our city. Comparatively little is done for these men. For instance: There are over 5000 Poles In one part of the city who have had little or no opportunity for mastering the English language. To supply this need. the association in connection with the students of the eheffleld Scientific school have opened or encouraged classes for foreigners in various parts of the city. The associa- ton furnishes the supervision and the students do the teaching. All of this work is done gratis. No agency Is bet ter adapted for this work than the Y. M. C. A. And a vast unexplored field l is lying before it in our own city, the bounds of which are only limited by their means
 Boys Summer School Each summer vacation school has been conducted, | designed 10 assist boys of 9th. 7th and l Sth grades of the grammar school. who l for various reasons have failed to pass l their grades, Last year quite a number i of them were enabled to pass the fall finals, thus saving them a years work This summer school is good invest ment of time and money.
 Social Department
 Probably the greatest need outside of 1 the religious work of the association, is the supplying of wholesome social environments for young men. largo 1 part of the membership Is composed of 1 men away from home, whose only so cial life would be found in the saloon or boarding house, were 1t not for the association The rooms are provided with all kinds of games, such as checkers. pool. billiards and chess. 1 Frequent tournaments have been held ] this winter with good results. Scarcely an evening passes without the social rooms being we'll filled with young men.
 Bowling Two bowling alleys have been in almost constant use every evening the past year
 Suppers. Frequent suppers have been held the past year to which various l groups of men have been invited. The dormitory men have been given several These suppers are made self-support- | ing. They afford a fine opportunity for social intercourse and are enjoyed
 Entertainments. Entertainments ot various kinds are given as occasions may require.
 Dormitorics.
 The unintated would scarcely realize what vast undertaking with such far reaching results is our dormtory de- partment Eghty-five rooms in our building accommodate about 100 men constantly who are for the most part from that class which would be forced into the cheap lodging houses other wise The claim has been made that | these dormitories are occupied by men who could well afford to pay more for their accommodations and who simply use the association as a money saving device. A careful study of the facts will reveal quite the contrary conclus- ion, Many of our rooms are occupied by two men and the larger part of our roomers are not in position to pay more. Frequently the association has given accommodations to men who have been out of employment, friend less, homeless and penniless who have been assisted in finding employment and have later settled for their rooms. An organization has for the first time been elected among the dormitory men, its object being the cultivation of so- cial atmosphere among the roomers, as well as to cooperate with the associa- . tion itself, in the conduct of the work. About 400 different men occupied the rooms last year for at least a short time. This department accommodates an ever shifting constituency.
 Religious Work Department.
 Mems meeting. Every Sunday aft ernoon meeting for men is held in the association auditorium, which a large number of men attend. The number varies from time to time. but averages about 225 men a Sunday. For the most part they are without church connections, the association being the only religious influences which they know. Many stories could be told of cases where men who have cut loose from home, family and friends have been brought hope and good cheer through these mems meet ings. Scarcely a Sunday passes with out some man has been shown the way for the first time In his life. The