University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-02-12
Growthof fY.MC.A.

THESE changes have been due in mos
part to the spread of the Young Men,
christian Association and to the ex
tension of its influence in thes'
places where it was already estab
llished. Ta train the spiritual nature
of the student at the same time hi
mind and body were being educated
has always been a problem. 1t is one
that is only beginning to be solved
Il is the Y. M. C. A. that has come
forward to solve the problem.
Religious training isn't the only
training that the college curriculum
has been unable to give. Social edu
cation has been neglected to grea'
extent. Socializing the student has
been left to the lessons taught by the
world through its jars and rubs and
multi tudinous and multiform infiu
ences. But the Young Mems Christian
Association has filled a great need In
this respect. 1t serves to bring men
together for common purpose and
to present problems of various kinds
to then and to g.ve men who are awake
to their opportunities the training they
need to fit them for the most effec'
tive cit ,zenship in the commonwealth
and nation.
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton movement in the United States
started in Boston in 1851, but it hard
ly got good beginning when the Civil
War came on and stopped its growth.
The real spread of the movement
dates from 1866. Since that time it
has gradually become extended over
all parts of the United States and is
rapidly spreading over foreign ma
tions. From time to time it has taken
on new features and has become
more highly organized.
The progress of this movement in
the last decade has been particularly
significant. The number of associa-
tions has increased by 40 per cent;
the number of members by "a per
cent, and the value of the property of
the various associations by 173 per
cert. In this decade the association
rs a whole has been busy uncovering
the needs of its members and has bent
tx-ith oil pI 1yrin
needs. Thus it is that there has been
such an increase i'm the number of
gymnasiums. which has increased by
316 per cent; in the number of dor
mitOries, as parts of the association
buildings, $50 per cent, and in the
interest in foreign fields. The interest
in the last feature is shown by the
fact that the international foreign
budget grew by 4S5 per cent and the
number of international foreign Sec
retaries by 400 per cent.
One particularly ting and i'm
portant work carried on by many of
the various associations is the night
school and the other educational
classes. The increase in the num-
ber doing work in such classes in the
last ten years has been more than
100 per cent At present there are
like $4,000 studying in the
association classes. This number
seems enormous when it is considered
hat in the University of Missouri
here are probably not more than L.
700 men. The number of men in the
classes under the supervision of the |
Young Mems Christian Association
hen, correspond to about thirty uni |
Tersities the size of our own.
The Young Mems Christian Associa- |
ion is coming to be recognized as an |
that does things and peo-
lie are showing their faith in it. The
'ublic is willing to give it what sup
ort and aid it shows itself to de-
erve. The recent "whirlwind CAM
align" in Philadelphia shows how
reat is the public confidence. In
welve days s1,050,0OO was raised.
mother striking instance was one last
ear at Vancouver, B. c., where $685.
90 was raised in five days. Men of
'ealth understand the efficiency of
ne association and are ready with
lrge sums Last fall John d. Rookie
,ller pledged $4,000 toward a fund
,r establishing forty-nine association
uildings in as many important for
Ign cities. Other men subscribed
eely and the amount totaled about
!, 100000
"For all the man and for all men"
the aim of the Young Mems Chris
an Association. 1t is a truly cos
opoiitan institution, and therby it
Inns much, and takes to itself the
uly modern spirit which so many
stitutions working for much the J
lme purposes have failed to adopt.
n this account they have not realized
q great success that has come to
e Young Mems Christian Assoca-
On.
Furthermore the aSSOciatior e