The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-12-17
BEREA IN Y. M. C. A. WORK
Luther Brown Tells of Work in the
Coal Region

| Befca, NY, Dec =, II
Dear Berea Friends:
During my visit of two or three
days in Berea | have had many in
quiries from interested friends as
TO the nature of my work as Secre-
tary OF a Miners Young Mems Chris
tian Association in the coal fields OF
Eastern Kentucky. shall try in a
brief way to give an idea Of the
kind of work we are doing.
Many corporations see the need OF
recreational, social and religious
centers in their towns or camps.
Men must have recreation and So
cial contact with his fellowman
and some opportunity for the ex-
preston of his spiritual nature in
order to do the best work. Life is
more than food and raiment. Cor
porations are realizing this and at
tempting, we feel. in an unselflsh
way to help TO meet the needs OF
the men who work for them. At
the same time, OF course, it pays.
The Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION has, since its beginning,
had for its main purpose the pro-
viding of means whereby men can
raise themselves TO higher things
to help Danish seliishness and ig-
norance. In many places the cor
porations and the Y. NJ. C. A. are
cooperating with the people TO
carry out their work. We. have
buildings suitable for the work, pro-
vided and equipped by the Com
pany. No membership fee is charg-
ed, but a small fee is charged for
the different activities that require
great expense in supervision and
running expense.
For recreation in the building we
have bowling alleys, billiard tables,
soda fountain, checker boards, DOM
inoes, volley ball, basket ball and
moving pictures. After days work
in a dark mine men enjoy bright
light and we think it is better for
them to gather in a Y. M. C. A..
where games are carefully supervis-
ed and directed than in a saloon or
other questionable place.
We have conveniences in the
building such as barbershop, bath
room, shoe-shining stand, and
laundry agency. Men coming in
for these conveniences come under
the influence of the place.
II is one OF our prime RESPONSE
bilities to provide educational and
betterment classes in subjects Of
general interest and such as will
lead to higher efficiency in work.
We promote classes and lectures in
the following: English for for
eigners; Mine Safety or Accident
Prevention; First Aid to the In
jured; Mine Foremanship; Reading,
Writing and Arithmetic for boys
or men who are or can be interest
ed. We have reading rooms and
encourage the reading OF good mag
azines and books. From our news
stand any magazine OF good reputa-
tion can be had as well as the daily
papers.
In our religious work a COM
munity pastor, who is an educated
man and an ordained minister, is
employed to direct the work. In
our auditorium we have Sunday
Schools, preaching and other Chris
tian worship, conducted in union
spirit, so that the Christians Of
different denominations may feel
free TO worship and help support
the work.
These are our main plans Of work
and we fell that much good is being
done. We have evidence of COM
munity spirit cooperation in
christian work, and the prevention
Of many OF the bad things that are
liable TO be carried on in q camp.