Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-11
Is The Young Mems Christian Association Merely
Society for Ethical Cultme'
By BISHOP W. A. cANDInR.

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other day Ex-President Roosevelt is re-
ported TO have criticized the Young
Mems Christian Association of that place
for not granting membership on the
Board of Managers to Roman Catholics
and Jews. In the press dispatches he
IS quoted as saying:
81 want to protest in the strongest
manner of which am capable against
any continuance of that policy. / want
to say that as a matter of simple
justice we should alter this, and 1
want here to make my appeal, espe-
cially to the Protestant clergymen,
the men with whom / have worked,
especially in times past, the Protest.
ant clergymen from whom / have
just received letter of greeting to ,
this community which touched me
more than can say, thanking me for
what they are pleased TO call my
services to morality and good citi-
zenship.
Now 1 want to appeal to them in
the name of our common efforts for
ethical uplift and In the spirit of the
New Testament to take steps at once
to secure the righting of what l re-
gard as a grievous wrong. A Cath
Ollie layman or a Catholic priest who
works with us should be allowed to
have his full and fair share in the
management
do that in the name of Y. M. c. A..
and then when you get Catholic and
Protestant in, am going to appeal
to the Catholics and Protestants to
take in the Jew If he is good fellow
in the same way.
I'm other words, II a man acts up
to the teachings of Christ let him
in a al together
for the uplift and the betterment of
our fellow citizens, and gentlemen, the
target of evil is broad enough for all
the decent men to shoot at and not to
waste time in shooting at one an
other"
With the cathlicity of spirit of the ex-
presidents remarks all men of broad
mind and generous sentiments will cor
daily sympathize; but it is just possible
that he has uttered with his characters
tic impulsiveness an appeal which none
of the parties to the issue will approve,
and which the Young Mems Christian
Associations throughout the land will not
appreciate it.
That very excellent organization has
been understood from its earliest history
to be thoroughly christian and emphat-
ieally evangelical, although entirely UNI
UNCONVENTIONAL. While it employs many
agencies in Its work on behalf of the
young men of urban communities, 1t has
never disguised the fact that its ulti-
mate object is to make evangelical chris
tians of them. Its reading rooms, GYM
nasiums, and amusement halls have peen
subsidiary and instrumental to this su-
preme end.
Both its friends and It's foes have SO
understood the matter. Accordingly when
campaigns were conducted in the inter-
est of building-funds for the Young
Mems Christian Associations in the cities
of Havana, in Cuba, and Mexico City,
in Mexico, the bishops of the Roman
Catholic dioceses in which those cities
are located forbade the communicates
of their churches to participate in those
campaigns. The movement in Havana
was defeated by the opposition of the
Bishop of Havana, and on that account
was called off only a few weeks ago.
These ecclesiastics were entirely logical
in the positions which they took, and
their action was not unexpected. Ii
would be folly of course to talk about
any Of the men of their church being
managers of a Young Mems Christian
Association when the authorities of their
church forbid their taking part in a
campaign on behalf of the Association.
IT was doubtless true that members
Of the church were ready to make contri-
buttons to the work, as not a few Roman
Catholics probably contributed to the
fund for the Young Mems Christian AS
sociation in Atlanta which was raised
here recently; but they did not mean
bv that to be understood as so far agree
ing with its objects as to be willing TO
take places on it's Board of Managers. In
like manner a member of protestant
church, who might believe the knights
of Columbus, good and useful organlza-
ton for the young men of the Roman
Catholic church, might make contribu-
ton to build a hall for that body In
the city, but he would never once think
of becoming a manager of it. Or, one
might contribute to the erection or a
building for Young Mems Hebrew AS
sociation, but he would not wish to be-
come a member of the Board of Direct
Ors on that account.
In an organization aiming at some
worthy object in no wise related to re-
ligion men of all creeds and of no creeos
might be associated, and in such cases
they are constantly associated. But Is
the Young MEMS Christian Association
such an organization? This is the real
issue raised by the speech of the EXPIRES
ident at Reno. If the Association is one
for general ethical culture, for the up
lift and betterment of our fellow-citi-
zens" without reference to any religious
belief efforts or methods, then Mr..
Roosevelt is entirely right in his conclu-
sion that any man of any creed should pe
admitted to the management of 1t. But
If its object is distinctly christian AND
its methods evangelical, neither Roman
Catholics nor Jews will desire or accepi
places on it's boards of managers.
The real question then is, What Is the
aim and purpose of the Young Mems Chris
tan Association? All concerned are In
terested in having a fair, square answer
TO this question. Nothing else will meas
ure up to what Mr. Roosevelt has so often
called "a square deal''.
The Bishops of Havana and Mexico
City ought to know; for If 1t is no more
than an organization for ''the ethical up
lift" of the community, with baths, gym
nasium, ETC., thrown IND 1t is inconceiv-
able that they will oppose 1t. They would
doubtless give encouragement TO such an
enterprise. and with the encouragement
of the Bishop of Havana the campaign
for a new building in that great city fol
the Young Mems Christian Association
could be resumed and carried to speedy
success. Similar results could be accom-
plished in the city of Mexico with the en-
couragement of the Archbishop in thai
capital.
Christians of all denominations are in
terested in knowing If the Young Mems
Christian Association is what its name
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