The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-15
EDUCATIONAL FEATURES OF
THE Y. NJ. c. A. WORK.
"A Magnificent System of Evening
Glasses Has Been Developed-What
ts Taught.

Only about one young man out of
every hundred goes to college; only
four or five out Of every hundred
finish high school. A larger majority
or the young men, for one reason or
| another, drop out Of school while
attending the primary grades. They
enter life's battles lily trained intel
lectually. They occupy the mediocre
positions in the industrial walks of
life, and after it is too late for them
to go back to school, they realize that
they should have more intellectual
training.
For this class Of men the Young
Mems Christian Association has de-
veloped magnificent system of even
ing educational classes. The work is
extremely practical, very high
grade and very efficient. 1t is in
creasing efficiency of both labor and
manufacture, it is improving COM
merce, trade and industry and MAX
ing good citizenship more effective
and developing Christian Character.
There are in these night schools in
the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tions $4,000 students. The Associa-
ton have $1,000 in educational clubs;
it manages IL trade schools, and con-
ducts 3S day schools; it offered 5,4O0
practical talks which were attended
by 100000 men last year; it employ
ed 2,1S4 teachers and 65 educational
ucational fees. Their are 5000 stu
| dents in electricity, 1900 in plumb
ing, 5000 in chemistry and 2,400 in
commercial classes.
A we'll equipped Association in
| Sumter conducting such work would
mean very much not only to the
| young men and boys, but to the fu-
ture economic progress of the city.
The Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation is making today, a very val
liable contribution to the physical
and moral betterment of railroad
men. The railroad department of the
Y. M. G. A., one Of the largest broth
erhOOds of the world, combines in it's
buildings the club and the home All
needs are met from baths, restau-
rants, domitory and pool table to first
aid, library and Bible class, without
thought or benefit for the welfare of
America. Travel is safer, goods more
secure in transit, and employees bet
ter protected against physical and
moral dangers, and the kingdom of
God is advancing because of this
practical and rapidly growing effort
of Christian railroad men for their
fellows.
One of the latest developments Of
the Association idea is the work in
the great industrial centres. Green
Vile, S. c.. has examples of this work
at Monaghan among the better mill
workers, and will have others soon.
Other mill towns have smaller AS
sociations. The industrial depart
ment moves the Association nearer to
industrial workers. 1t adapts old and
new methods of Christian service to
meet their needs, and enlists them
for self-help; organized this service
into a system of welfare work hav-
ing an economic value to employers
and promotes work for non English
speaking men. Its field: Cd The
great industrial centerS working
through existing associations. (2)
Establishing special associations in
mills, mines, forests and construction
camps.
Sumter should have an up-to-dat
Association with a building planned
and built for the purpose. This build
would mean much to every young
man and boy in the City and much
for the future prosperity and welfare