The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-02-04
PEOPLES FORUM
YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSOC
ALTON

The following article from Fort
Smith daily apples well to Ardmcr,
and every other city trying to forge TO
the front II takes men. not dollars
/ 20 build a city. and the city that SUI
ordinlt,s the boy to the dollar is the
one that will ultimately losc ON. Thr
/ Y. VI. G. y is an institution which
cares for the boy in q thrce-fold way
morally. mentally and physically.
For five years little band of WORK
egs have faithfully stood for Y NJ.
G. \ in Ardmore II Arimorc. as g.
city. would come to the assistance Of
these few workers. she could have :ue
bcs. working Y VI. G. s. in America.
What would such an institution mean
for Nrdmore's young manhood?
"Tho call for money is everlasting
about the time fellow imagincs that
his expenses are fixed along comes p
new proposition of one kind or aaoth-
appealing To- him for an outlay. IN "y
is mo- end to the demands made upor
those who have been so fortunate as
to accumulate litt'c or much OF this
worlds goods
The people OF Fort Smith have been
generous. They have responded TO cy-
cry call for help. They have givel
of their goods abundanny. but ie.
;hcm not lemdc themselves in the
belief that the end has been reached.
( So long as We have here community
of interests: so long rs We are trying
to build fit abode for ourselves and
ourchildren so long a We are in
competition with the rest OF the world
for existence. there win be these de.
mands for money.
"The establishment mere of a Youn
| Mems Christian AssN"ia',on IS going to
cal upon every ore To the straininy
| point. It is going 10 demand sacrifices
from some. 1t is going to be er
barrassinS to many but ii will be- the
everlasting shame OF this communi'.
II a sufficient amount of money to
establish this iustitH;ion is rot fp~t l.
coming. Indeed it will be put up to
the people of this c,.y I'm W." ta"y
cannot afford to POT, ., TO give.
1t IL something n1rc than ~ an
thropy. Those ic VII! ~ rrqurs',j d
to donate may well limulJa tn" idea
of charity. They migl: as WI get
down on the solid ro X of fcasor cn'
recognize the fact that tii3 iustitut,o or
j. to be an iuyes,mer'
There is someth!rr moe than per
soal' prid, r,o .,d IN this enter
prise. If Fort Smith w"'" simp.y ,.y
ing to outdo her neish5O"a in n" mat
ter OF establishing ia. ( would J.,
different. But the :rG Il Is, the propo
sition to establish Young Men!
Christian Association is in every sens,
domald d upon the people OF this ci;!
to contribute OF their means sufii
cieut amount to enable Fort Smith t'
take her proper place in the rank OF
/ American GllltS,
The utility and desirability OF ;
Young Mems Christian Associatio:
have been told In sermon and story
million times. 1t is no longer AZ
experiment. Fifty years OF success ha'
established its use beyond the shad
ow of a doubt. It is as well know
as anything could be that the commu
nifty maintaining these institutions i'
more prosperous. better place I,
live. than communities in which the!
are not maintained The youns AL
who have access 20 such institutions
are forging ahead of their less fortu
nate fellows everywhere. SO that 1t i.
not matter of pride. but OF necessity
that We establish here 4 local soclet!
OF this Worldwide organization
There Will be those, as tner,
always are, 20 claim that /, is not al
auspiclous time to establish this soci
ETY., that little later on II will b,
better: that there are other and NOR,
pressing reforms 70 be worked out
But there has never been 4 period II
the history OF the world when suci
things could not as truthfully have
been said As now. AS matter OF fact
Fort Smith cannot afford To delay thli
great work another year. II is tn,
marvel OF cities OF this size all owe
the country that Fort Smith. with he