The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-30
Practical Christianity

A resume of what has been accom-
pltshed during the last decade by the
associated forces of the Young Mems
Christian association, as shown by the
January publication, just issued, shows
great achievement. During 1909
alone, forty-three buildings were erect
ed or enlarged at a cost Of So, 500 600
ana buildings now under way and as
sured Will cost $4,000, 600. The cur
rent expenses totaled 100000 more.
Statistics show membership OF Ito
opc, a third OF whom are drawn from
the ranks of industry The attend
ance at religious services during the
decade totaled 4o55.ouO men and boys
an increase of 100000, with 101.1oo
in Bible classes. The decade also saw
the beginning and development of de-
partments into we'll organized national
movements, such as the army and ma
Wy the county. industrial, immigrant,
Bible and religious and boys depart
ments. A railway furnishes an old
car "a secretary's salary and few sup
plies: the association a man and pro
gram, and a construction camp is
transformed. In New York city a
friend ereCts 500 900 building. eigh-
teen railway companies furnish sala
ries and supplies, 100 employees the
force. and the result is the better char
acter of the men and more efficient ser
vice by the railways centering in that
city. The same cooperation of men,
money, measures and materials brings
similar results in Alaska, on the Pan
anna canal. or at an army post or 4
navy station.
AS result OF cooperation in Young
Mems Christian association work, men
of foreign birth, standards and faiths.
coming together to learn English. have
learned Christian American citizenship
Forty nationalities in a single associ-
alton are melting in this mold and men
of a hundred callings and trades are
blending. The fact should not be
overlooked that thousands of men and
boys, working together in Christian
enterprises. have taken the first les
sons in Christian and civic service and
church and city, ministry and laity,
have received permanent additions TO
working forces. Among the lasting
effects is that, while working, studying
serving and exercising together, young
men broken from home associations
meet amid Christian surroundings. and
ideals are created which make for puri
ty honesty and ambition. Further,
cooperation with brotherhoOds, mis-
siOns, churches and all sorts of mems
movements of many denominations has
contributed to notable advance in
the work for men by the churches, for
which the association has not sought
the credit. Still again. in co-operat
ing with settlements, Sunday schools
and a city government, the physical
department has taught first aid, and
is leading national movement to
teach swimming and life-saving. The
physical department has also taught
boys to play fairly that character and
honesty result.
Cooperation of consecrated money
with consecrated men has put the for
eign work forward so that, by non
Christian nations, the association is a
recognized factor for good. The for
eign budget in ten years has grown
from $50 1910 to $4,000. and the force
of secretaries from 36 to 40. New
forces have developed and have been
combined in Mexico, South America.
the Philippines, Australia and South
Africa. provided with American secre-
taries, and among tne results is a
&1ION0O building for the City of Next
co association, to which the govern
ment railway gives $4,000, with other
buildings at Manila. Buenos Aires and
Honolulu. A force of secretaries have
also been sent to the West Indies.
Great advances have been made in
Canada and the new northwest. Build
ings have increased during the decade
from Twenty-Five to fifty-five and the
value from $76OOOO to S2.OOO,OoO. The
Pacific coast cities, almost without ex-
ception. have provided new buildings.
and there have been wonderful in
creases in the south. During the de-
cade the property of the association
has grown from S26.O0O,OOO to $6G,-
100000. The decade has also witness
ed a wonderful growth in what are
known as mems meetings, among
which the Sunday gatherings are no
table. In these meetings the attend
ance shows 2.1G9, Az as against 1921
242 ten years ago. The shop meeting
attendance has increased from 10000
to S49. $50 in the same time: PROGRESSED
conversions from I, 1883 to 2O.116: union
with churches from :3212 to 4!i4, and
the volunteer workers from 1913 to
1852. The association is justified in
the hope that the showing thus made
will serve to increase the cooperative
capital of me nand money for invest
ment in Christian betterment under
takings.