The Irish standard., 1915-05-08

tracted so much attention, and seems |
in itself so important, that we shall
give it a more extended treatment
than was at first contemplated. The
first article in this series established
from reliable data, that the Catholic
membership in the Y. NJ. c. A. ap-
proaches 100000 out of a total of $685.
900 members. The second article dealt
with the status of these young men
as set forth in the official documents
of the Y. M. G. A. 1t was proposed in
a third paper to take up the question
of the influence which the Y. M. G. A.
exercises upon these Catholic men,
bers. In the meantime, however, the
writer has had an opportunity of dis
cussing these previous papers, and the
questions they raise, with very in
fluential member of the organization;
and it will be worth while to give this
interview at some length, since it pre-.
sents the questions under discussion
from the standpoint of the Y. M. c. A.
officials themselves.
Mr.. L. Wilbur Messer, the general
secretary of the Y. M. c. A. in Chicago,
Illinois. is perhaps the most represen-
tative and influential of all the general
secretaries Of the organization. He
has now for some time been in charge
of the vast activities Of the Y. M. G.
A. in Chicago, with an annual budget
of over a half million of dollars and
he is looked to by officials of the Y.
M. C. A. as an authoritative exponent
of the policy of the organization and
representative leader in its counsels.
Mr.. Messer therefore speaks with sim
gular authority and his words may well
be taken as representing the FREEDOM
inant sentiment among the Y. M. C. A.
officials.
The writer had an interview with
Mr.. Messer on the 18th of March of
which the following conversation gives
pretty much the substance. The sim
cere readiness of Mr.. Messer to meet
the situation squarely, and his candor
of speech, confirm the impression that
he is man thoroughly in earnest in
all he says. Therefore, the following
interview may be taken as the express
sion of his candid opinion on matters
with which he is eminently familiar,
and which he realizes are of great mo.
ment to Catholics.
At the outset of the conversation
asked Mr. Messer's judgment on the
articles in this series which have al
ready appeared, and which he had
read carefully.
How did these articles impress
your, Mr.. Messer?" said l, from the
standpoint of an official of the Y. M
c. Ar"
"Your articles were very fair and
true" replied he. "You called things
by their right name and made them
very clear"
Mr.. Messer offered no criticism o.
the previous articles. He seemed quite
satisfied both with their tone and will
their contents.
"And now" said l, may l ask 70,
to give me your frank and full opinion
on the questions opened up by thes'
articles, SO that l can present THU
question to my readers from the stand
point Of a Y. M. C. A. official?"
Il shall be very glad to do So" salt
he. land in the beginning l wish tt
emphasize this fact. The Y. M. C. A
is essentially a Protestant organiza
ton. In my judgment it should remail
distinctly Protestant"
II have been assured by one office
of the organization" said l, that il
his opinion II the Catholics made dc
termined and unanimous demand TO
active membership, it would be grant
ed to- them"
II do not agree with that view,
said Mr.. Messer, 80 far as am cor
cerned would oppose such an a
tempt. think that the Y. M. c. A
should remain what it has always bee
a Protestant organization"
What then is your view of tn
rights Of the large Catholic member
ship in the Y. NJ. C. Ar" continued.
II will be frank with you, Father,
said he, "and will say that in my opir
ion the Y. Nj. c. A. should not includ
loyal Catholic young men in its az
tive membership. They are out Q
place there.
THE Catholic church." he went OF
SHOULD in my opinion have an OF
ganization of its own on the lines G
the y. M. c. A. to take care of its ow
young men. 1t seems impractical fo
Catholics and Professionals to cooperat
effectively and directly in single o.
ganization OF this kind. The Catholi
church should take measures to pr,
vide for Catholic young men as we ar
providing for Professionals and it
much for the best, under the circun
stances. that the two organization
should be separate.
Il wish however" Mr.. Messer col
tinued, ITO make three statements o
this subject which will give you m
personal convictions quite clearly. Til
f3rct ia that tho Catholico should mr.