The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-09-13
THE YOUNG MEMS CHRIS
TIAN ASSOCIATION.

The following editorial from the
pen of the Most Reverend Arch
bishop Ireland appeared in the
first number of The Catholic Bull
letin. There have been so many
requests for copies Of that issue
long since exhausted-that we
deem it advisable to reprint the
article for the benefit of all who
have expressed a desire to re-
peruse it and keep it for future
reference.
Beyond question the Young
Mems Christian Association has
succeeded in making itself pow
er in America, and, we may add,
in the world. In every city, al
most in every town, in the United
States, it erects its costly build
ings and gathers to itself crowds
of patrons and of clients. It
reaches into our colonial depend
encies -the Philippine Islands,
Porto Rico, the Panama Canal
Zone. Far beyond lands over
which futters the American flag,
it has its social centers, it's edifces,
it's groups of workers. It is in
Cuba, in several large cities of
South America; it is in Europe,
in Asia. Immense sums Of money
are needed to sustain it in this
wonderful expansion; but those
scarcely await an invitation to
rush into it's treasures. In rapid
diffusion of it's agencies, in ambi.
tious plannings, and, we must add
in efficiency of methods in prac.
teal work, the Young Mems
Christian Association stands with.
out parallel among American So
cial institutions of present times
An interesting study it were, tc
examine in detail the Youne
Mems Christian Association in its
opportunities and in it's methods
and read out the causes, remote
and proximate, Of it's growth anC
power. Credit would at once be
attributed to America itself-first
to it's genius Of organization anc
It's management Of projects, and
next, to it's lavish generosity II
aiding movements believed to be
philanthropic and humanitarian
In no other country could the
Young Mems Christian Associa
tion have waxed so rich anC
strong, as today it looms up il
America. And, then, we should
have to note the opportunity sci
before the Association by circum.
stances in our modern social or.
ganisms. In cities and industrial
centers, the young men are legion
whom no well-constituted home
no immediate parental control
guards from peril or guides to
safety along the pathway Of sound
morals and good citizenship. Tc
harbor young men, bring them
within reach Of wise counsel, pro.
cure to them innocent recreation
seasoned with encouragement tc
Christian manhood, must be taken
as a most needed, most praise.
worthy work. To work Of this
kind thousands of well-meaning
people will contribute promptly
and literally; and thousands Of
young men will readily put them
selves more or less under its pro
tecting wing.
Caring for unprotected youth il
a blessed benevolence, to which
none object, to which many are
strongly drawn. Right here, how
ever, enters the criticism we fee
bound to make with regard to the
Young Mems Christian Associa
tion-a criticism from which in its
present form Of organization anc
methods it cannot escape. The
Association in organization anc
methods is OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
1t is, in essence and in fact, what
it's authorized sponsors call it
Evangelical Professionalism. This
is why it is not patronized yet
more extensively than it is-why
large numbers of young men hole
themselves aloof from it's class
rooms and recreation halls; why
many, as deeply concerned in thu
welfare of young men as any Of
their fellow citizens can ever be
refuse it encouragement and pc
cuniary aid. Worse yet-the AS
ISOLATION because of this sectar
ianism is compelled, in the carry
ing out of its work, to mis-stat'
before the public its character anC
calling-let us speak plain word
to mislead and deceive.
In appeals for contributions, il
invitations to young men to tax,
advantage of its Inequalities, tn,
Young Mems Christian Associa
ton is a large-minded, unsectar
ian, philanthropic, social institu
ton aiming to afford homes t,
homeless young men, to guar
them from evil, to uplift them il