The Nevada County picayune., 1917-11-01
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 K, Mott. General Secretary.
 On my return from Russia 1 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 by our Government I assured Presi- dent Wilson that th~ whole Associa ton Brotherhood ~as at his disposal for the service Of the men who would soon be called to the colors and for strengthening the hands of the nation in this momentous hour in any other ways which he might indicate.
 Before 1 started across the Pacific on the Special Mission on which he sent me, joined with the seCretarial and other leaders of our Movement in facing up to the new responsibility. When we cont emplsted the securing of fund of at least three million dollars, 1t was stated that this much money would be needed to enable tho American Associations 10 serve a number of enlisted men greater than they were serving in the entire mem bership of these Associations after slXty years of history.
 To my amaxemsnt 1 hnd that la sonAection with our Army and Navy ve are already ministering to fuiiy trsn have been ssrvins in our regular membership. Thus in . ssnse we are bringing our principles and spirit to boar upon . body of men three-fold greater than we were touching six months ago. In other words. ws have Qutcksned our rAce and enlarged oar outrsach to do, As 1t were, three yssrs' work in one.
 This great sXpension has been made possible by four factors. In the frSt place. the Association lead CTS have unitedly and without hesita- ion recognized and accepted the now and growing responsibility. h the second place, mon by tho 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 h hn ht f the Brotherhood In the third place, the members and friends of the Asso- citations have given their money with characteristic generosity and convic. ton. Apparently their gifts in re- spouse to the appeal for three mil lion dollars will aggregate not far from twice thar figure Moreover. there are unmistakable evidences Of the free and efficient working of fourth factor-the superhuman Spirit of Christ-in answer 10 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 -Xpended by the end of the year 1917. none of us expected that before tha, date we would be called upon to srrve any considerable number of American soldiers in Europe We are nol al liberty to make statistical s'ate- mont, but it can be sOd that the rum- Der of our enlisted men in France and England is very large indeed and Is rapidly increasing and in itself pre- sents one of the most extensive and appealing hAds which our Movement has ever been called upon to cultivate. The meeting of this need 10 peculiar ly urgent. What we do fof these our brothers who constitute cur first line nf defense. and who are to make the arst great sacrincial offering, We must do quickly. Anything which our trusted military and Association lead. srs in Europe ask us to do we must So without hesitation CT grudsinK May something of the spirit wli ich ieals these soldiers to offer their lives even unto death prompt us to place with prodisal haud every facility and comfort al their disposal.