Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-01-30
NJ. 9. A. INV THE COUNTRY.

Right in line with the effort to
start a Young Mems Christian AS
socfation In this city is the effort
to extend the Y. M. c., A.. movement
Into the towns, villages and other
rural communities. The work in
this direction is a result Of the re-
port of the County life Commits
missioner appointed by President
Roosevelt. In this report 1t said:
"There should be a, large extern
sion OF the work of the Young Mems
Christian Association into the rural
communities.
There is apparently no other way
to grip the hearts and lives OF tire
boys and young men Of the average
country neighborhood. This 1850
citation must regard itself as an ally
of the church with a special function
and a special field.
1t is pointed out that about one
half of ali the boys in the United
States live in the country. These
boys have been sadly neglected up
to the present time, while the city
boy has been well provided for. It
is to reach the country boy. there
fore, that the Y. M. @. A. has organ
lied a country and rural depart
ment. Each state committee has a
county work department and each
county haa It G5Rpty secretary and
it's volunteer leaders or workers.
In commenting on this new work OF
the Y. NJ. g. A., the Newark Even
inga News says:
In the country. as in the city,
there are men born to lead, to
teach. Many a mechanic has the
faculty - telling what he knows
about his trade In such q way as to
hold the interest of his hearers,
particularly his young hearers.
Many u village lawyer, doctor or
/ DuEluG8H IHAA Ad5 CARCl Jaw 1913
information that are of great In
structive and helpful value to boys
and young men, IL time and place
were arranged to bring the two to-
gether.
The country work plan OF the Y.
I'M. G. A. is to interest these local
LEADERS Ia the neighborhood boys,
to interest the boys In the leaders
and to find places in which they can
Inject each other. Very little money
is involved In the process, the main
thing being work, voluntary, unpaid.
interested work, with no other end
\ than to be of helpful, instructive,
moral service to the boys.
In nearly every State and n q
considerable number OF the coun-
ties In these States work has al
ready been extended by the Y. M.
lC. A. Strong, influential men have
been found ready to engage In 1t.
and the boys have met them eager
ly. There is no denominational
trend to the services, Anything that
will interest the boys properly and
beneflcially being accepted as valu-
able service.
In New Jersey work has-been be-
gun In Morris. Monmouth, Burling-
ton, Gloucester and Camden coun-
ties, and plans are laid for ORGANIC
Ing Hunterdon County.
The State Agricultural College
has become Interested In the work.
Encouraging competitive crop rails
ling and sending some of its best
men to talk TO the boys. The latter
has debating clubs. athletic clubs.
social conferences, educational talks,
Bible studies, games and activities
that tend to reliov3 the isolation
and monotony OF country life, give
them a new degree of pride N their
homes and their occupations, make
them contented aud check their I'm
pulse to rush to the city.
Summed up In a word, the conn
ty work OF the Y. M. G. A. il for
the development OF rural manhood;
to give country boys a different and
tDeJter view of iife. to keep them
away from bad influences, to inspire
an exalted view OF honest labor to
enlarge their mental, moral aud
spiritual activities and to make
them better farmers, bettery dairy
men, more ~contented, o SUCCESS
full, better and more useful citizens
as they grow up. The Y. M. C. A,
Is richly deserving of the highest
announcement
But 1t is doubtful II all the
money Thomas F. Ryan might have
In-oa+e5hn4ad IN fha Wilson campa5gr