The Era-leader., 1919-06-19
SOLDIERS MAKE
SIXTY MILLION
VISITS TO Y,M,C.A.'
Stupendous Figures Given Out by
Southern Department Headquar-
ters-Relisious 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 iust
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 n.
II. Simmons by Business Secretary L.
G. Williamson, the total attendance at
Y. NJ. c. A. buildings during the year
was 60,212, ,S23-0r equivalent to more
than half the population of the United
States. Statistics are based on daily
reports covering each Of the 365 days
during the year just closed.
! A most remarkable showing is made
by the religious work department, a
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 1O,997 show
lngs, had an attendance Of 3,914,6S1.
BY way Of explanation, it is said that
it 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 we'll
known that motion pictures draw at
tendance as no other amusement fea.
ture.
Among the outstanding figures EN-.
braced in the report, under the head
of the several departments Of Y. NJ.
G. A. work, are the following:
Observation-Disclosures at buildings,
60,212S23; amount of postage stamps
sold, $1,O22, 2,246.48; money orders sold,
81 1886, ,0O6.92; envelopes given away,
81, ,1O6170; pieces Of mail handled,
10,212, ,755; comrades in service COM
mittees organized, 2061; number Of
men serving on these committees,
8,5S1.
Social-Number Of entertainments
other than motion pictures, 13,453; to-
tai attendance at same, 5,473, ,412; num-
Der of entertainers participating, 49,
1855; motion picture programs, 10,997;
attendance at same, 3,914,6S1; socials,
538; attendance at same 1854.
Physical-Number participating In
compulsory athletics, 892,174; partici.
pating in formal athletics, 639,278;
participating in informal athletics,
2,951, ,7O4; total spectators at above,
6,637, ,481.
Observation-Disclosures Of class meet
lngs, 44,382; class attendance, 951 ,9W;
soldier-teachers, 13408; civilian teach
ers, 5.435; textbooks distributed, H.
D1O; pamphlets, 1,8O8,707; lectures,
88,727; attendance at lectures, 2,613.-
923; books loaned, 136761; total vol.
umes in library, 203,784.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. meetings, 49,.
092; 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, 1887; normal train.
ing class sessions, 255; attendance at
same, 1879; Christian life work de.
clsions, 967s Christian decisions, H..
175; Scriptures and portions distrib.
uted, 384,027; other Christian litera-
ture distributed, 816,944; personal
Christian interviews, POI, ,169; visits to
sick, 59a404.
l