The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1914-07-15
Village and Rurul Y. M. c. A.
Work in Southwest
Virginia

virginia
At the suggestion of the Ex-
ecutivc Committee of the State
Y. Nj. G.. A., Hon. III. G.. Stuart,
DIR. j. Il. Mcconnell and Prof.
L. S. Randolph, members of the
State Committee of the y. NJ.
G.. A., invited II number of gen
tlemen OF Southwest Virginia
to meet in Bristol recently, to
formulate plans for bringing
the benefits of the Y. NJ. g. a.
TO the young men and boys of
the industrial towns, the viii
lagos and rural sections of this
part of the State. In com
pliance with this call about
fifty men, prominent in bust
ness and civic life of this sec
ton, men i'll the Y. NJ. G. a.
Building in Bristol and spent n
day in discussion of the needs
of the young men aud boys of
Southwest Virginia.
Our Needs
Attention was called to the
perils aud needs Of young men
away from home in the indus
trial villages and in the mining
towns. The needs of the BOYS
in the villages and rural sections
also were discussed. Attention
was called to the fact that in
most of the villages and rural
communities there is little OPP
portunity for wholesome re-
creation and social life. In
consequence of this many young
men and boys fall into idle and
sometimes serious pastimes and
habits.
1t was pointed out that in
Southwest Virginia in the last
few years great changes have
taken place in transportation,
industry, agriculture, educa-
ton, home comforts and con
veniences Along with these
changes have come changes in
the life and ideals of our PEG
Pile. We are in the midst of n
period of transition in moral
and social life as well as in in
dustrial methods; many forms
of relaxation and social pas
times are appearing that do not
develop the finest and sturdiest
type OF men and women.
I'm this period of Elasticity
aud change in our section we
have a great responsibility as
well as an opportunity through
proper institutions and social
arrangements so To shape the
ideals and direct the thought
and Astounding energy of our
youth rs To get the greatest
benefit from the great advances
that are being made in the de-
velOpment OF our material re
courccs.
What Should BE Done.
In view of all this it was the
opinion of the meeting that
some wholesome. stimulating
influence should be substituted
for the demoralizing Influences
that are now so prevalent in
rural communities, small towns
and industrial villages.
Several representatives of the
National and State y. NJ. {. A
were present and spoke, SHOW
ing the benefits brought by the
y Nj g. y. to young men aud
boys in the villages and rural
sections in other parts of the
country. They showed that the
extension of the benefits of the
Y NJ G. A. to the High School
students, the young men and
the boys in small towns and
villages and country places in
Southwest Virginia is perfectly
feasible
1t was decided to employ n
Travelling y. NJ. G. \. Secre.
tary for the counties of South
west Virginia who shall orga.
niZe the boys and young men
in the High Schools, villages.
industrial towns and rural sec,
tons and regularly visit and
supcrintend these organized
groups and cooperate with
them in making their work
more effective.
The special effort will be
made to organize the boys in