Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-12-20

ancc of religious meeting sof more than 100000 If the men will not come to it. it goes to the men. It holds short dinner hour meetings for Workingmen ill the quarries of Yer mont, in the lumber camps and cotton mills of the south, and ill the mines land steel plants of Pennsylvania. Not long ago in a blaze of missionary en- Ithusis.sm, it took forty of it's young imen and sent them as advance agents into ten foreign countries.
 Examine this Pooh Bah os institu- tions still further, and you will dis cover that it gives lodging to several hundred thousands, baths to 100000 and meals to 100000, in the ordinary course Of the years work. It owns farms. islands, house boats, tents and gypsy wagons Probably l4,000 of it's members have been summering this year in its country camps. In fact, the Young Mems Christian Associa- tion has developed into q young men s world, with almost everything in t that young man needs, from the day that he earns his first dollar until he marries and makes a home of his own
 The Young Mems Christian Associa- ltions of the world what parade there would be If the whole army marched past! Six abreast, in close formation, there would be 90 miles be- tween the rivers and the last. There would be 100000 young Americans and 800 900 from the rest of the world. Two thousand would come from South America, $500 from Australia, 1000 from the Dark Continent, 14.000 from India, China and Japan, There would be 54,00O from France. l75,00o from Great Britain.
 5O,0OO Boys Under IS
 In the American division. 50,00o Iboys under IS - the owners of the fu- ture -- lead the way. Gen. Sherman, in his march from Atlanta to the sea. Ihad smaller army than this boys brigade. Then come 47,000 students. TWhat mighty college yell splits the air as they go by! Swinging along behind march 72,000 railroad men, led by Tom Keenan, the converted en- lgineer' The main body of the army follows-20O, ,00o clerks, mechanics, Isoldiers and sailors; while 5000 south Iern negroes guard the rear. Never before has the world had such a body of drilled and trained young manhood trained in body, mind and morals.
 How the Movement Began
 How did it begin? It began years Iago on Blackfrairs Bridge, in London. It was started, as great things often are, by one man speaking to another. Two young men, George Williams and Edward Beaumont. both clerks with small salaries, were crossing the ibridge on their way home one even- ling when Williams suddenly said:
 Teddy, are you willing to make a sacrifice for your religion?"
 you lead I'll follow"
 "Yes George" replied Teddy, If |you lead I'll follow
 Williams then proposed that they should call their fellow clerks to- gether and form society to help one another lead better lives. Teddy agreed. They made known their plan and. as they expected, were jeered at and pelted with nicknames.
 Williams then proposed that they and pelte dwith nicknames. They Ipersevered and won over ten of the Ienemy. Their employer took notice of their efforts and lent them little room in the garret of the store. Here on June G. 1S44. the F young clerks organized the first Young Mems Chris tian Association.
 After a while there was less jeer ing, and the society grew until it was too big for it's room in the garret. A room in little coffee house was rent ed for 60 cents a week. The clerks in several other stores followed suit, and in seven years there were branch les In Scotland. Ireland, Canada and lthe United States. The first Ameri- can Young Mems Christian Associa- |tion was organized in Boston, in 1851
 Raising the Standard
 In London GA years ago. the clerks I-or shopmen. as they say in England I-aed a dogs life. They usually slept In the stores or warehouses. and from