The Pulaskian., 1917-11-02
AMERICA RESPONDS AND WILL RESPOND
EXPANDING WORK OF THE Y. M. c. A. BRINGS IT INTO CONTACT WITH MILLIONS MORE MEN
 THAN EVER BEFORE.
By John R. Mott, General Secretary.

By John R. Mott, General Secretary.
 On my return from Russia I am profoundly impressed by the splendid manner in which the American Asso citations and their friends have risen up to the wonderful opportunity which opened before us when Ameri- ca was drawn into the world war. The | day this momentous step was taken l by our Government I assured Presi- dent Wilson that the whole 'Associa- tion Brotherhood was at his disposal for the service of the men who would soon be called to the colors and for l strengthening the hands of the nation in this momentous hour in any other ways which he might indicate.
 Before I started across the. Pacific on the Special Mission on which he sent me, joined with the secretariaI and other leaders of our Movement in facing up to the new responsibility. When we contemplated the securing Of fund of at least three million dollars, it was stated that this much ! American Associations to serve number of enlisted men greater than they were serving in the entire mem bership of these Associations after sixty years of history.
 To my amazement I find that In connection with our Army and Navy we are already ministering to fully twice as many men and boys as we have been serving in our regular membership. Thus in a sense we are bringing our principles and spirit to bear upon a body of men three-fold l greater than we were touching six months ago. In other words, we have l quickened our pace and enlarged our outreach to do, as 1t were, three years work in one.
 This great expansion has been made possible by four factors. In the first place, the Association lead CTS have unitedly and without hesita- tion recognized and accepted the new and growing responsibility In the second place, men by the thousands, including large numbers of the finest laymen of the country, have gladly accepted the call to serve either as employed officers or as voluntary workers, in order that the great task might be promptly and worthily per formed This constitutes one of the most inspiring illustrations of the true Association spirit-the spirit of Christ-like serviee-in the history of the Brotherhood. In the third place, the members and friends of the Asso- citations have given their money with characteristic generosity and convic- tion. Apparently their gifts in re. sponse to the appeal for three mil lion dollars will aggregate not far from twice that figure. Moreover, there are unmistakable evidences of the free and efficient working of fourth factor-the superhuman Spirit of Christ-in answer to the interces- sion of many.
 In these crowded months of glorious life. as we have tried in some meas ure to overtake the daily widening opportunity among the American troops at home, almost unbelievable, boundless opportunities have been thrust upon us overseas. When we asked for three million dollars to be expended by the end of the year 1917. none of us expected that before that date we would be called upon to serve any considerable number of American soldiers in Europe. We are not at liberty to make a statistical state ment, but it can be said that the num- Der of our enlisted men in France and England is very large indeed and is rapidly increasing and in itself pre- sonts one of the most extensive and appealing fields which cur Movement has ever been called upon to cultivate. The meeting of this need is peculiar. ly urgent What we do for these our brothers who constitute our first line of defense, and who are to make the first great sacrifical offering, we must do quickly. Anything which our trusted military and Association lead CTS in Europe ask us to do we must do without hesitation or grudging. May something of the spirit which leads these soldiers to offer thelr lives even unto death prompt us to place with prodigal hand every facility and comfort at their disposal.