Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-31

1
Prospects for 1915.
The membership of the association
reached the high water mark Dec. l.
| 1914, at which time we had 613 men
and AL boys as members, giving us
a total membership of 1854. AS we
look over the past years work we
are conscviuos of many failures, but
the successes OF the year serve TO
| increase our faith so that for 1915 we
| expect great things. 1t ought to be
| the best year in the history of the as
sociation, in fact each year ought to
/ see an improvement over the proceed
/ ing one.
We are not at present working as
hard to increase our membership as
we are to increase the efficiency of the
work done for those already mem
J bers. The work now ought to be of
an intensive type. Our goal should
be to serve in every way possible and
with the greatest efficiency those
young men and boys who have come
under our direct influence.
The success of the work for the
next year rests not upon the board OF
GERS, but with the membership as a
whole. Therefore, as we enter upon
the new year we ask for the same
hearty cooperation from the members
that we have enjoyed during 1914.
We wish at this time to express our
appreciation of the courtesies shown
Us by the newspapers of the city. both
for reports printed and for the encour-
agement and support they have given
the work.
The year 1915, what will it mean to
the young men and boys of Rock Is
land? Every citizen will contribute
either consciously or unconsciously. to
the record which the year will show.
If you want to make it better than
last year you will need to give some
consideration to the social and econo-
mic conditions. The Young Mems
Christian Association is one of many
agencies that exists for the purpose
of lettering conditions, and it offers
opportunity for varied service. If you
wish to contribute to the betterment
of Rock Island we most heartily in
vite your cooperation. We can find
a place for you in some form of COM
an experiment, but is the survivor of
many experiments. and we ask you to
become identified with US.
We hope YOU will read carefully all
the reports given by the different de-
partments, and then feel free to offer
any suggestions or make any criticisms
that would be beneficial.
Method of Organization.
The Rock Island association is ;
corporation organized under the laws
of Illinois. II is strictly a Rock Is
land institution, and the property can
never be sold and the proceeds taken
from the city or used for any other
purpose. Its entire management is
vested in a board of Is directors, Sc
lected by the members from among
their own number. who are represent
atives of the churches.
Five members are elected each year
to serve three years, and not more
than one-third of the directors can be
members of the same denomination. |
This keeps it Christian organization, |
bu. prevents 1t from becoming an
other church.
1t is part of "a great international
body with $500 branches, owning |
property free of debt amounting to
SIS, 299, 900 and paying annually for
current expenses S12,000,00O. Its
in the United States
alone numbers more than 100000.
The object of the physical depart
ment of the Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION is not merely to train and
make star performers in gymnastics
and athletes, but it is ito promote by
means of exercise, recreation and edu-
cation the highest physical, mental and
moral efficiency of men and boys es
sential to the development of the best
type of virile Christian manhood" The
gymnasium and swimming pool of the
Rock Island Y. NJ. c. A. has meant
much to many boys and men, both
young and old, for it has corrected the
mistakes of boys who do not realize
he Importance of them, it has taken
off the fat from men who were fast
getting too heavy, it has been the
means of a better development to
many who were too thin. Its work is
lot so much the remedial preventive,
1ut there have been cases during the
rear where men have greatly in
creased their physical efficiency
through the form of work given here.
The whole department with it's splen-
lid equipment and wide range of in
truction presents to any class of men
IT boys an attraction which cannot be
duplicated in any other institution in
he city. The class exercises as con-
lucted here are not dry or dull" on
he contrary they are interesting and
ull of variety of features. The bust
less and professional men of today
ack the opportunity in daily tasks for
nough bodily exercise to keep them
n good physical tone. This need can
e made up in the classes provided in
his association. AS a whole the ply
ical department is a health and man.
God factory in the fullest sense of the
Tord for men TO regain lost health and
eep good health, while boys are de-
clipping manhood through clean