The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-06-07
SOLDIERS MAKE
SIXTY MILLION
VISITS TO Y,M,C,A,
Stupendous Figures Given Out bv
southern Department Headquar.
ters-ReIIsiOus Meetings
Popular.

Stupehdous figures showing some
thlng of the activities of the ARMY
Young Mems Christian Association in
the Southern Department during the
year ending April 30, 1919, have Inst
been compiled at Southern Denart.
ment headquarters at San Antonio.
lex. 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 Fl
ii. Simmons by Business Secretary T.
u. Williamson, the total attendance at
!. NJ. Q. A. buildings during the wear
was 6O'2I2,S23-or equivalent to more
than half the population Of the United
States. Statistics are based on dailv
reports covering each of the 36J 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 a total of 1O,997 show
lngs, had an attendance of 3,914.6S1.
by way of explanation, 1t is said that
1t Is only fair to admit that many re-
hglous services were held Immediately
AFTER the movies, thus getting the bene-
at OF the movie audiences. It is we'll
known that motion pictures draw at.
tendance as no other amusement fea-
ture.
Among the outstanding figures en-
'raced In the report, under the head
u the several departments of Y. NJ.
}. A. work, are the following:
Observation-Disclosures at buildings,
O,2l2,823; amount Of postage stamps
old, $1,022,24648; money orders sold,
i 1856, OO6.92; envelopes given away,
i ,lO6,l7O; pieces Of mail handled v
02l2,755; comrades in service com. e
littees organized, 2,O61; number of \
Zen serving on these committees a
6S1. G.
SOcial-Number Of entertainments n
ther than motion pictures, 1858: to. A
Il attendance at same, Sab, 412; mum. Ia
er OF entertainers participating, 49, m
10; motion picture programs, 10997: T
tendance at same, 3,914681; sOcials
70; attendance at same 1854. re
Physical-Number participating in w
mpulsory athletics, 892,174; partici. til
ting in formal athletics, 639,27s: le,
anticipating in informal athletics, go
'51,7O4; total spectators at above,
S37, 461. 4
Of class meet.
ss, 1882; class attendance, 951 .9O7: s.
ldier-teachers, 13,4O8; civilian teach. 81
J. o'430; textbooks distributed, H.. M
y; pamphlets, 1,S06,707; lectures
727; attendance at lectures. 2612.
5; books loaned, 136,761; total vol.
les In library. 203,784.
0elglous-Religious meetings. 49,.
:; attendance at same, 2,719,719:
lie class sessions, 9913; soldier and
Tor leaders at same, 4,497; attend.
e at same, 1851; meetings of in. q
circles or prayer circles, 327: at.
dance at same, 1887; normal train.
class sessions, 255; attendance nj
le' 1879; Christian life work de.
ons, 907; Christian decisions, n.
!; Scriptures and portions dtstrib. II
L. S84,O27; other Christian litera. 81
: distributed, 1904; personal