The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-30
All-Around Work Being
Done by the State
Y. NJ. c.. A.
STATE WORKERS IN
GREATER FIELD
All State Work Differs Very
Much From City Effort-Y. M.
c. A. People Getting Busy in
Rural Districts, and Get
ting Busy Where City
Work Is Unknown.
BY CHARLES ". KENT
University OF Virginia.


The work that the state executive
committee Of the Young Men'e Chris
tian Association is demonstrating
among the boys Of rura, Virginia, Is
fundamental TO the future of the
State.
Few people realize that SO per cent
OF tho boys of Virginia 1.-Two in the
small towns and country districts.
Here la the great held for the rural
Y, III G ~ The county OF rural work
IL u distinct type, and should not be
confused with the more familiar build
ing and equipment work OF the cities.
How 10 hold the boy on the farm is
the vital question OF the day. and a
big problem IL ie. The y. NJ. 9. a is
proving 10 be big factor In furnish
ing the solution. County secretaries
enter Understandings Into the life Of
The country boy, organize his recrea-
tional and social life. enlist him in in
teresting group Bible elias ana
other religious activities. train him
for service among his fellow, and,
through cooperation with the school,
church and home develop the boy In
character ana team spirit. these peins
absolutely necessary TO modern rural
progress.
Lcadership Rnther Thnn Equipment.
Most people who are familiar with
the city type OF work ask what the
equipment. The rural secretary is,
hrst OF all, a discoverer and trainer of
leaders, and the success OF this coGa-
try work proves that buildings and
other equipment are not necessary.
Character is caught not taught ana
the Fundamental principle is tho ChI!s-
t!an group leader constantly IN touch
With the fourfold life OF his boys
physical. social mental ana spiritual
The program for the whole county IL,
ia large measure, carried out through
The cooperation OF the local groups.
Better Crops aud the Boy.
The Y. NJ c i. recognizes 'Nat Tie
basis OF country life, in all It's phases,
is the soil md production. The boy
who is made TO see increasing returns
AID prosperity from his work on the
farm VIII need few other arguments.
Corn growing and other agricultural
contests are definite part OF the pro
gram. In Shenandoah County the SUI
pervisor failed to provide county
demonstrator, and the Y NJ. G. y sec
retnry himself promoted me contest.
Walter TisInger carried of the honors
in that county with It's bushels and
ninetcen pounds from one acre.
Fathers began to take notice as they
saw The results Of the work Of their
song. Othor practical educational fea
lures include visits 10 orchards and
Touring mills. talks ON seed testing
apple growing. etc.
The summer tnmp.
Though out oi DOCS much of his
time, the rural boy usually tails TO get
MI OF the benefits no might secure from
direct contact with nature Camp life
Cor little while In summer, under the
leadership cf vigorous, manlv, Chris
tan mon. and living iutimatciy with
boys from other parts OF the county.
perform wGnders iu developing q real
appreciation OF country life and the
spirit of help the other fellow" The
petty 3ealousies existing between
neighboring villages. and their effect
on the boy, arc we'll known. Camp
life cures these. At tho cnd OF a re-
cont camp one boy was heard to say:
"Goe, I didn't know that such good
fellows lived at E,dinburg"
There is always Il constructive daily
program OF work and play in these
camps. A days activities usually in
clude rising buglc. brijf physical drill
morning dip. ae raising. breakfast
Bible study. tent inspection. camp
duties. recreation, swimming. dinner
second tent inspection. quiet hour. AFT
ternoon recreation. swimming. supper
camp duties. campfire service, lights
out.
On tho Rond.
The educa tional hike is another
feature Which contributes to the boy s
life. y day on the road. broken by
the stop for meals (each boy doing his
own cooking> making camp for the
night. prayers around the campfire and
a good sleep u! der the stars are all
big factors for development. one
group tramred from Edinburg to the
l-uray Caverns under the direction of
tho county secretary and two other
leaders. Ono Of The state secretaries
m n
the fall. was asked if he knew anv-
thing about the twenty-five Y. NJ C. a
boys who tramped over from Shcnan-
doah County. campod at Luray. and
surprised everybody by attenairc
prayer-meetine in body II knew
cigarettes would get YOU" was III,
word of some of the boys to smoker
IN the group hs lie fell noticeaby be-
mind on one OF these hikes Di-ect
evidence Is ut hand to prove that these
boys are cutting out cigarettes and
the habits which too often accompany
them.
Boys ard the bible.
Wnen II comes to Bible study most
people figure that the live. active boy.
Twelve to eighteen years Of age. is
rather poor material but the fact is
that more thar $4,000 boys were in
y. NJ G. y. classes last year in Amer
lea In the county work, Bible study
Is the backbone of the program OF
each group meeting Special courses
have been written from the boys view
point. Last year the course selected
In shenandoah County was Men Who
Dared, study in Old Testament
heroes. About 10C boys were enrolled
In these classes. Boys naturally hate
examinations. but over forty Of them
took tho International examinations,
and nearly thirty passed. The Mt.
jackson boys won the largest number
OF certificates. emitting them to the
Continued on Third Pago.)