The Washington herald., 1913-07-21
They Say the Y. NJ. c. A. Helped
Some Dorm in "Spiggoty Land

| sociations In the States were put to wori
under Mr.. Minears leadership. all al
government employees. For several year,
i there have been fifteen secretaries for the
\ Panama Canal carried on the govern
ment pay roll With the very hearties,
sanction of the Presidents. for it wal
fully realized that experts were neces.
| sary to a solution Of the human problems
there.
| Though practically subsidized by the
government. the latter takes no part In
administration or shaping Of policy by
the association. The government provides
the buildings and equipment, pays al
salaries. furnishes light, water. and re.
pairs. and does about as the secretaries
determine shall be done ..-.-
Social Life Wholesome.
|, Canal association activities are very
| similar to those in successful associations
| In the States. though instead of the sum-
| mer abatement Of activities ordinarily
found In the States, the interest and
patronage on the canal are kept at full
tide the year around. The organizations
| are social above all else. and their at
| tractive lobbies are very often the social
center OF the community. Families OF
American employees are admitted to the
Hobbies at all times. and other features of
the buildings are granted to women on
certain days. -.---. .-....-.
Contrary to expectation" said Mr.,
Minear. ''the Young Mems Christian As
soc.ation has made gymnastic and athle-
tic activities a success even in the heart
Of the tropics. Government ofYicials said
You never can make any physical ac-
tivities a success here But with limited
equipment IL was demonstrated that the
men who took exercise were the ones who
preserved the best health. and there was
created q demand for calisthenics, in
door baseball, basketball. volley ball.
bowling and other games. in addition to
all forms of outdoor sports"
What Is even more surprising is the
success Of the educational work in a To-
cality where the most natural tendency
is for the least possible mental exertion.
Seven or eight branches OF study, rang
ing from mechanical drawing to wireless
telegraphy, have recently been gfyen The
most popular Of these was the study Of
Spanish Libraries of from loo to 1000
volumes each supply the canal workers
and families with reading matter. There
are also 100 of the best weekly and
monthly periodicals and newspapers in
the building.
Bible classes have also flourished and
the general religious influence Of the as
sociation is indicated by the transformed
conoluon OF the communities and the
direct testimony Of the men themselves.
There are also, three or four entertain
ments each week. lyceum courses. yau-
deville and home talent ministries and
dramatics. Sods fountain receipts fire.
auentiy run over 1850 a month. this one
feature having made a reduction Of more
than 30 per cent in receipts of saloons
from American patronage.
Mr.. Minear pays high tribute to the
association men and their assistants on
the Canal Zone. They are men of
sterling character" said he whose Der
sonal influence has counted more for
righteousness than could have been ex-
erted by meetings and other agencies
As engineers of morals they have been
recognized as experts as surely as have
the construction engineers. Before the
association work was organized there
was no community of sentiment agains.
vice, but these associations soon built
up community OF interests in all mat
tiers affecting their welfare. foremost of
which was strong sentiment against
erosser evils that remained unchecked
In most communities the Young Mems
Christian Association has builded on a
foundation laid by the churches, but in
WORK a, ,odsw has hsau I'll. ~ az
fo,ndo,;o, 1aid b.. - so.;a..a. '''
assoc;.,;on roI;,,o. 49, a
.ro,,~t, 80 .i,o,p, a. o.1au ,ss
snv othsr nrsar;z,,in, $4,000 s"ia ~,.n
a eooS ,,.orr tn. oh,s1 s
nron,o,.r ~ ,,. 49, -. Hs. anu
r. a,,n,,oa p.s 49, nc w o
Mems Christian Association These same
ot ~oh 10 oe mstaneu