The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1918-02-09
Organized on the Lines Of the Y. M.
G. A.-Advantages Of Member
ship Set Forth.

I'm ten years we hope to have
fully-equipped Catholic Young Mems
Association building established in
every city and large town of the
United States" said Rev. Edward F.
Garesche, s. j., in the course of an
address made before the Buffalo Cath
olic Young Mems Association at it's
quarters in the Catholic Institute.
The non-Catholic association working
on the same lines has sixty years ex-
perience in the field and the lecturer
said it was wise to adopt many of its
proved plans of ways and means for
raising funds and also for conducting
the work.
Father Garesche told of his long and
extensive investigation of the Y. M.
c. A.. in order to know it's tenets and
it's progress. He referred to the
courtesy and frankness with which his
questions had been answered, either
entire membership of the Y. M. G. A.
is Catholic, and while Father Garesche
eXonerated that association, at least
the mems section, from proselytizing,
he said the danger is the Indifferent
ism which it eventually developed in
the Catholic member. The Y. M. G. A.
ai1ns to give it's members service rather
than religion, to give member any
thing he wants, be it athletic or men
tai, plunge baths or night classes, of
the best, and at lowest price.
While the Catholic Young Mems AS
sociation regards the practice of re-
ligion the paramount object, it, too;
must give members good service,
otherwise g young man will go else
where Its buildings must be neat and
comfortable and appointments up to
date. When a Catholic young man
arrives a stranger in city he will
seek the building where sleeping &C.
commodations, bath, etc., are inviting
and comfortable and the price low,
rather than one which has not all
these.
The establishment Of dornitories,
building containing only sleeping
apartments and general sitting rooms,
is one of the aims of Catholic associa-
tons. By lodging in one building,
young men would lessen expenses, at
the same time enjoy better accommo-
dations than are offered in the medi-
OGRE, low-price, rooming houses. Be-
sides, the companionship Of the men
| rooming under the same roof would
lessen the loneliness young man
feels when a stranger in a city, also
often prevent his going outside to find
other and dangerous company.
The need of buildings for Catholic
young men was also dwelt upon by
| Father Garesche. Young women are
even in greater need of such because
they cannot forage for company as can
men. Referring to the Y. W. G. A., he
said Catholic girls are more liable to
have their faith tempered with, the d.
rectors of this section, being women,
are more prone to push the religious
side of the work.
An interesting light was thrown on
the much.mooted question of Catholic
members of the Y. M. G. A. not having
a vote in its government. Father
Garesche asked the question of a Y.
NJ. G. A. secretary and was shown a
copy Of the constitution drawn up
when knights of Columbus and the Y.
M. C. A. were not fraternizing as to-
day in q common cause. The consti'
tuition states that only members OF an
evangelical church may vote or take
office. Evangelicism holds the Bible
as the sole rule of faith, Catholics
hold the Bible as rule Of faith, but
with it the living Church of Christ
ergo Catholics not being evangelical
are not Christian.