The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-08-28
SECRETARY PARSONS TALKED
The Minneapolis Secretary Discussed
Y. n. c. A. Matter. at
Union Meeting.

Sunday evening practically all of
the churches Of the city closed their
doors to join In a union meeting
which was held at the Methodist
church to listen to q presentation of
the work Of the Young Mems Christ.
ian Association through w. M.
Parsons, n OF the International
secretaries. After the preliminary
exercises, which were in charge of
President Reamer, Mr.. Parsons
made his address. DR.. Reamer said
that 1t would require about 90, 900
to run the association the first year,
So. 900 OF which they would raise ~
the membership fee and the rest
would have to be secured by popular
subscription.
Mr.. Parsons made a splendid pre-.
%sentatiou of the Y. M. @. A.. which
he said represents the work of
Jesus Christ, which has been adapted
to the modern conditions by the best
men of the church who have given of
their best thought and talent to its
advancement. He said the associa-
tion was a high grade. low cost club,
that is within easy range of the
ayelale wape Garner of the country,
with the undesirable features Of the
general club eliminated. Referring
to the athletic features of the associ-
alton. Mr.. Parsons SAID that
athletics we're for the purpose OF
building up the lei and not for tie
men to build up athletics. The
assoc alton possesses some educational
featuA es, and in a religious way 1T
reaches a class of men which the
churches cannot touch, and it en-
braces men of every religious faith
and many men Of no religious faith
Mr.. Parsons gave some interesting
details Of the work of the association
as it is found in the navy, where at
several prominent ports buildings
have been erecled to aid the sailors
in keeping 10 better company, and
1t has been successful. He referred
to the Y. N. G. A. in the railroad
work and mentioned specifically what
was accomplished in the railroad
camp at Mobridge, west Of Aber-
deem, during the construction of the
Milw lukee railroad bridge with a
camp of 400 or 500 men,. He stated
that Il Y. M. Q. A. secretary was
sent there and began work. The
Day days usually followed by
drunken men and rows Of a general
character, and from Is to IS per cent
of the men failed to report for work.
Two months after the Y. NJ. G. A.
secretary began work, and the men
were paid of at son point remote
from the saloons, there were only
two cases of drunkenness aud the
other men were putting their money
in the bank or sending it nome to
their relatives. Mr. Parsons stated
that the Milwaukee officials we,e so
pleased with the work accomplished
out at Mobridpe that the company
hired two men from the Y. M. G.
A. and sent them out on their
Montana construction to aid III keep.
ing the men within the straight and
narrow path.
Mr.. Parsons said he felt that Mitch.
ell could conduct . splendid associ.
alton, and although 1t was necessary
to start In rented quarters, he felt
that within q few years the associ.
alton would have . hone OF its own.
The work Of finishing up the last
details Of getting the association
stared here will begin Ut once, and
II T. the t1sa to employ Z secretary
to come to Mitchell and devote mis-
entire time to boildlng up the ascot
alton.