New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-06-20
SOLDIERS MAKE
SIXTY MILLION
VISITS TO Y.M.C.A.
S~tupendous Figures Given Out by
southern Department Headquar-
ters-ReIiaious 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 80. 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 II.
H.. Simmons by Business Secretary l..
G. Williamson. the total attendance al
Y. NJ. @. A. buildings during the wear
vas 6O,212,s23-or 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 a total Of l0,997 show
ings, had an attendance of 3,914,681.
BY way of explanation, II IL said that
1t Is only fair to admit that many re-
llgiOus services were held Immediately
after the movies, thus getting the bene-
fit of the movie audiences. II IS well
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.
G0,212, 1923 amount of postage stamps
sold, s1.O22,2f64 AZ; money orders sold,
s 1885. 006.92 envelopes given away,
81, JOG, 10; pieces of mail handled,
10,212.755; comrades in service com
mittees organized, 2,O61; number of
men serving on these committees,
1851.
Soelal-Number Of entertainments
other than motion pictures. 13,453; to
tai attendance at same, 5,473,412 num-
Der Of entertainers participating, AS
S65 motion picture programs, 10,997
attendance at same, 1914, 6S1 ; socials,
53S attendance at same 1851.
Physical-Number participating In
compulsory athletics, 1902, partici-
pattno In fnrnal athtosto. GOO O7Q d.
participating in informal athletics.
2,951, 704; total spectators at above.
1897, 481.
Observation-Disclosures of class meet
ings, 44,382; class attendance, 951 GOT
soldier-teachers, 1 ,4OS; civilian teach.
ers. 5.435; textbooks distributed, H.
80; pamphlets, 1905, TOT; lectures,
sS, 1877; attendance Mt lectures, 2,o13,-
923 books loaned, 1875, 781 total vol
In library, 3,7S4.
Rcliglous-Religlous meetings, 49,
092; attendance at same. 2,7l9,7l9;
Bible class sessions, 9.913; soldier and
sailor leaders ut same, 4,497; attend
at same, 213,571; meetings Of In
ner circles or prayer circles, 1877; at
tendance nj same. 1887; normal train
ing class sessions, 255; attendance at
snme. 1879; Christian life work de-
c%isions. 967; Christian decisions, IL.
175; Scriptures and portions distrib-
uted, 1884 ,027; other Christian litera-
ture distributed, 1904; personal
interviews, 20l, 1859; visits to
sick. 500 403.