The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-03-29
Y. w. G. A. ACTIVITY IN
WINONA.

Some weeks ago movement
was started in Winona for the
establishment Of a branch of the
ny. w. G.. A. that would serve as
an educational and recreative
center for the women of that city.
Those behind the project desire
to make it a civic. affair to which
all the citizens will be invited to
contribute. 1t is heralded as a
public institution that will confer
great benefits on the people at
large and especially on the women
who are to be the immediate bene-
ficiaries Of it's activity. Several
meetings have been held for the
discussion of the project by those
interested in providing ampler
facilities for self-improvement and
recreation for the women of
WinOna.
AS usual in such cases, the
friends Of the Y. W. c. A., con-
tend that it's educational and So
cial advantages will be for all
women without exception. They
reiterate the same old story which
has been rehearsed wherever this
organization seeks a foothold and
solicits public support for the cree
ton, equipment and maintenance
of it's building. In this instance,
as in others, it does not suit the
purpose Of the promoters to give
publicity to the constitution Of
the Association which proclaims
it's distinctively Protestant char
acter. 1t would pass as an non
sectarian organization, despite the
; constitutional provision which
! excludes from full participation
} in it's rights and privileges all
; who are not affiliated with evan
gelical churches. This excludes
Jews, Catholics, Unitarians and
others who are, therefore, de-
barred from membership in the
: directorate which controls the
activity Of the Association.
This view Of the Y. w. G.. A.
project, was clearly and forcibly
brought to the attention Of the
) people of Winona by Miss Mary
O'Brien, who has always taken
such an active part in educational
| and social projects in that city.
; In the course of an interview pub
: lished in the Winona Independent,
Miss O'Brien says:
eff Winona women are to have
? a building which will open wide
2 to them possibilities for recrea-
ton, self-improvement and rest, ii
7 should be building in which all
women would have not only equal
1 privileges, but equal rights.
"When Winona women are de.
e sirous of doing the good which
3 will serve all equally, their efforts
!. will not go to building a Y. w. c.
, A. for the reason that the Y. w
C. A. debars far too many from
: it's active membership.
eff the desire is to do some.
$ thing for the good Of all the
e women of Winona, why form al
e organization which debars from
I full privileges and rights, Jews
Unitarians, Christian Scientists
0 and Catholics?
I Gin the industrial survey re
S Gently made of this city there was
:, mention of 1892 wage earning
women, IS per cent of whom are
foreigners (the correctness of the
use Of the word foreigners" il
to be questioned.
cit should be thoroughly
) understood before the Y. w. C. A
f is organized that the majority O.
e these girls and women will not gt
n into a Young Woman's Christian
n Association"
g Miss O'Brien has taken tn,
! proper attitude in this matter
l She has pointed out the radica
J, u0l0CG Ill Gu0 l. w. ". n. prO
: ject. She holds that "true Demo
/ cracy demands equal opportun
n ities," and, judged by this stand
/. ard, the Y. w. G.. A. is un-Demo
It cratic. Not only that; it is un
e American in as much as it seeks
n the financial backing of all class
: es and creeds, but denies equa
: advantages to some, while making
e profession of non-sectarianism.
S Strange to say, the Winon;
i project receives commentator
/ from an unexpected source. 4
e representative of the Jewish PEG
Y pie of that city declares that:
S "Tn the present agitation for ;
i Y. w. G. A. In this city, they 9TH,
o Jews) are united In their appro
val and are willing to give mora
n and financial support towards !;
|, realization of its existence.