The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-01-13

Now that Kenosha is about to enter
tain the state convention of the Y. M.
G. 4. it is expected that there will be
big increase in the membership Of
the association in Kenosha during the
next few-woeks. The Y. M. G. A.
is an association which stands by itself
in work among the young men and the
general secretary Of the association
has issued a statement in regard to
the work which will be interesting to
Kenosha people. He says:
"The Y. M. G. A. does not recognize
BIRTH creed or color in it's membership.
This seems like an apparent sweeping
generalization with more broadness in
its scope than truth in it's statement.
The association has the truest democ-
racy in the world The courage and
virility of manhood are the only es-
sential qualities for membership. The
doors of the Y. M. c. A, are open alike
to Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Budd-
hists and Mohammedans. Denomina-
tious are not recognized in the mem
borship of the association. Universal
lists, Presbyterians, Unitarians, Metho-
dists, Episcopalians and all the differ
emit religious denominations are repre-
sented in the cosmopolitan membership
Of n large city association. This
equalization of creeds and sects extends
even one step further. Class distinc-
ton is unknown. All wings of socie
ty here cooperate with harmony. The
association is constantly reminding
these men that they are brothers in be-
ing of service to one another. The
million forms of activity which radiate
from the association building in the
night class, gymnasium, the summer
outings and the thousand and one
methods of cqualizing men, are teach
ing truer democracy than most men
know
''The development of the all around
side Of every mans nature is one of
the wonderful characteristics of the Y.
M. G. A. 1t takes him out and be-
vond his own narrow circle of interest
i'm himself and in his friends. Gov.
Folk has aptly said that, "The prin-
cip6s on which the association is
founded are the principles which
make a man seek the betterment of his
fcllowmen, to- elevate every man who
comes in contact with him and to
strive for the right and against the
wrong in public and in private life.
''Politics is and always will be abso-
uteIy eliminated from the develop
nent of the Y. NJ G. A. Republican,
Democrat, Prohbitionist or Socialist
bottles up his ideas and his activities
when he comes here in contact with his
fellowmen. The association has avoid
cd with as much care as an alliance
with Mephistophcles itself, the en-
trance into the dusty arena of politics,
or in any alignment whatsoever in the
battle Of the sects, The one common
banner that all are united together
under is the fight in behalf of national
morality,
eff any citizen of Kenosha wishes
to help his fellowmen, he cannot do it
better than by working for Y. NJ c..
A. building. 1t matters not whether
he be Caucasian, African or Mongol-
ian His creed can be unknown. His
class unrecognized The association
building develops the only real true
aristocracy, that of brains and charac-
ter. This produces the great Ameri-
can paradox of true aristocracy in a
democracy. The Y M. c. A. without
building is life without a home. The
man who believes in the work SHOULD
house it comfortably and adequately
to suit the necessities of the city"