The Detroit times., 1914-12-26
''Y' CONFERENCE
PRODUCTIVE OF
GREAT RESULTS
Boys Have Taken New Interest
In Work Since Ann Arbor
Meet, Is Report
MANY NAMES SIGNED TO
ABSTINENCE PLEDGES
Similar Session For Upper Fen
insula Lads To Be Held in
Calumet Soon

.IIt ----
Quicker and better results than ever
before have been noticeable since the
bie conference OF older boys OF MICH
irsn during the Thanksgiving yaca
fion At Ann Arbor, according to J. "A.
(. van Dfs. state boys work secretary
4 for the executive COMMITTEES OF the
Wiobigan Young Mems Christian asso'
ciation. At the state ofiices III tne
Detroit Y. M. C. A. building reports
are already being received from may
3 of the 2.O42 boys who representa-
282 different communities In the
rtate as delegates. These reports Ten
of the clubs being formed Tor blple
study, for work among factory poys,
and Tor many kinds OF service IN inc
community. 49,,
Many OF the letters are from boys
who have been helped In their mora
and spiritual lives by the great gatns,
ing OF delegates and students In hiii
auditorium where Secretary OF Sta.e
Bryan and Fred B. Smith, the former
leader In the Men and Religion BOT
ward Movement, delivered addresses.
Towns and cities throughout Ms
state are now experiencing moral
awakening among boys not heretoiore
apparent, according to state omciais o.
the Y. M. q. A. One community sent
SIX delegates to the conference; these
boys returned to their home town ana
Immediately organized q high school
club Of rs boys. all or wnom are
spreading the influence OF tnat meet
ing among scores or other poys:
The conference has reyolutionizeo
the moral complexion OF the Ann Ar
bor hiRh school student body, accord
inr to high school oficials of that city.
Mr. Van Dis last week directed the or
9anixation there of a large high
scbool club which will have Bible
study as its principal aim and service
FOR others as an important second.
Other clubs are being formed for the
moral betterment OF the student body.
Al 4 direct result Of the conference.
several boys are known to have re-
formed their lives. Two boys who
had given their principals great
amount OF trouble went to him after
the conference and declared that in
the future he need expect no trouble
from them. They are now serving
on important committees and have
evinced an entirely new attitude to-
ward their school work
I'VE never have had conference
whe-e the response was so quick and
4 the results so satisfactory" said Mr..
t van Dis. "The effect OF the confer
enco Ii statewide already. OF course.
Z We have letters and reports from boys
+. al over Michigan telling Of the effect
3 uDon them OF their fellowship with
I the two thousand boy delegates. Many
OF these fellows have caught the
Christmas vision OF service for the
0rst time; some Of them are going
into religious or Y. M. Q. A. work as
3 result"
Hundreds of boys are signing the
total abstinence pledge put up to
them by Secretary Bryan. Besides
the two thousand delegates who de-
clared before Mr.. Bryan their inten-
tion OF remaining total abstainers all
through life. there were 1000 students
IA the audience who signifed like
intention. The student Y. M. G. A.
az Ann Arbor has followed mp this
work and is actively circulating copies
OF Mr.. Bryan's pledge among the stu
dents. and with surprising results, 1t
Is said.
The superintendent OF Ferris Insti-
tuts has Just written 70 the state Y.
M. q. "A. asking for more blanks upon
which to secure the signatures Of
students and others. Younger boys In
All parts OF Michigan also are showing
keen interest In the pledging activity.
one boy In Holly. Mich., sent to the
state once blank filed with 29
names and asked the privilege OF get.
ting some more names on another
bank.
Preparations are now being made
Z for the second annual conference Of
older boys OF the upper peninsula, at
Calumet, Feb. 10. 20 and 21. There
Will be 400 delegates In attendance.
4 Albert Il. Roberts, county work secre-
fary for the international committed
0f the Y. M. O. A. win be the princi
nal speaker