The copper era and Morenci leader., 1919-07-04
SOLDIERS MAKE SIXTY MILLION VISITS TO Y.M,C,A,
stupendous Figures Given Out by Southern Department Headquar- ters-ReIiuious Meetings
 Popular.

Stupendous figures showing some thing of the activities of the Army Young Mems Christian Association in the Southern Department during the year ending April 30, 1919, have just been compiled at Southern Depart ment headquarters at San Antonio, Tex. The Southern Department en- braces the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arizona, and according to the figures submitted to Executive Secretary .H. H. Simmons by Business Secretary l.. c. Williamson, the total attendance at Y. M. O. A. buildings during the year was 60.212. .823-or equivalent to more than half the population of the United States. Statistics are based on daily reports covering each of the 385 days during the year just closed.
 A most remarkable showing Is made by the religious work department, very positive refutation of the claim on the part of some people that the soldiers dodge religious services. Dur ing the year, according to the report. there were 1902 religious meetings with an attendance of 2,719,719. The movies, with total of 10.997 show ings, had an attendance of 3.914.681. By way of explanation. it is said that 1t Is only fair to admit that many re- ligious services were held immediately after the movies. thus getting the bene- fit of the movie audiences. It Is well known that motion pictures draw att :, tendance as no other amusement fea- ] ture.
 Among the outstanding figures em- braced in the report, under the head ! of the several departments of Y. M. 0. A. work, are the following: General-Attendanc at buildings, 60, O,212, 2,s2Si amount of postage stamps sold, $1, ,022, ,24648; money orders sold. $1, ,986, 6,OO6.92; envelopes given away, 31, ,1O6,17 pieces of mail handled, 1O,212, ,755; comrades in service com mittees, organized, 2,O61; number of men serving on these committees, 6,5S1.
 Social-Number of entertainments other than motion pictures, 13,453; to- tai attendance at same, 5.473.412; num- Der of entertainers participating, 45.- S65; motion picture programs, 1O,997 attendance at same, 3,914,6S1; socials, 5SS; attendance at same 7S,641.
 Physical-Number participating In compulsory athletics, S92, 2,174; partici- pating in formal athletics, 639, 9,278 '; \ participating in informal athletics, 2,951 ,704; total spectators at above, 6.637, ,461.
 Educational-Number of class meet ings, 44,3a2; class attendance, 951, ,907 <; soldier-teachers, 13,4O8; civilian teach CTS, 5,435; textbooks distributed, Ill., 91O; pamphlets, 1,SO6,7O7; lectures, SS, ,727; attendance at lectures, 2,613,- 923; books loaned, 136, ,761; total vol umes in library, 203,7S4.
 Religious meetings, 1S,- O92; attendance at same, 2,719,719 Bible class sessions, 9,913; soldier and sailor leaders at same, 4,497; attend. ance at same, 213,571; meetings of in. ner circles or prayer circles, 327; at. tendance at same. 7,537; normal train ing class sessions, 255; attendance al same, 1879; Christian life work de cisions, 967; Christian decisions, n,
 175; Scriptures and portions distrib uted, 384,027; other Christian litera
 ture distributed, 816,044; personal Christian interviews, POI, ,169; visits tc
 sick, 593, ,4O4. 74