Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-12-26
ENLARGED SOCIAL
SERVICE PROGRAM
ADOPTED BY ''Y"
Plans to Increase Membership
to One Million.
WIFI Assist In General Movements for
characterization and Improved
Relations Between Capital
and Labor.

. A!>ING their stand sQuarcly with
The churches of America for So
ciGi Justice, based upon Tic
teachings of Christ. the Young Mems
Christian Associations Of North Amer
lea. at their forticth international con
ventlon held recently in Detroit, MIS-"
adopted the most comprehensive pro-
gram of expanding social service ever
presented to the associations In their
three-Quarters Of n century OF exist
ence.
The social creed previously adopted
by the Federal Council OF the Churches
OF Christ In America and indorsed
later by the Interchurch World Move
ment was adopted by the ''Y" conven-
ton without the alteration Of a sylla-
BILE. 1t definitely, commits the asso-
Citations TO many specific social re-
forms. such as the Improvement OF the
relations between capital and labor.
the enactment Of uniform divorce laws,
better housing conditions and the like
1t also was definitely resolved. that
the future great developments which are
being planned shall be worked out To-
cany and nationally in positive harmony
and cooperation with the evangelical
churches. One OF the reports which
was adopted put the matter OF the rela-
ton Of the Y. NJ. c. a. to the churches
in this form: Tho association is indis-
pensabie to the churches and the church
les arc the associations base Of opera
tons. The vital union between tho two
should be made 40 evident that no one
could misunderstood IT,
The eniarEinE plans Of the associations
call for the gradual extension Of it's work
- nnh
America Steps are to be taken imme-
diately to Increase the membership in
the associations from 739. 900 to 1000. 600
by 1920. but this L. only q small part Of
the program.
. In small cities and large. in industrial
centers. in mining camps In rural COM
munities. In villages. In oil fields. In set
Elements OF colored people. in colleges
schools and universities. at railroad ter
manalR and division points. the T. NJ.
C. A. - planning to bring its influence
TO bear upon tho boyhood and young
manhood.
The industrial work Of the association
will be developed largely along community
lines. The convention favored the adop-
ton Of the so called hut idea" That
Is. the use .of buildings Of not 30 formal
a type AZ those erected by the Y. NJ. c.
A before tho war. but more like the
army and navy nuts a. a ready means
for extending association service TO
groups OF men and boys otherwise not
reached by the association.
Community wide recreation Ia to be
promoted, not only for its physical bcne-
Hta but. as a developer of national
morale. and the value OF mass athletics
and mass singing was recognized and
will have a large place in the future
association activities.
The program for the more complete
characterization OF the foreign speaking
peoples who and a refuge in America u
not TO be limited to the teaching OF Eng
lish and a smattering Of civics. but will
include m effort TO inculcate the highest
American ideals.
The experimental home room service
Of women la city associations is to be
extended. the value OF women in the Y.
M. &. 4. uniform in Europe having sug-
gested to some OF the association leaders
the possibility OF their use in so!tening
the institutional character Of the orG!-
nary Y. NJ. c. A. building and bringing
to its lobby a feminine touch suggestive
OF home and mother.
The Railroad Y. NJ. G. A. will be OK
tended to many towns where no rail-
road association has M yet been estab-
lished. and the Railroad Department also
vii! undertake TO provide service similar
to that Of the Railroad Y. NJ G.. A. to The
thousands OF young men who have re-
Gently entered into the service of the
Merchant Marine.