Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-24
Or. STEVENSON .
49,
REPORTS GREAT
Y CONFERENCE


- - VOOM4 -
Probably the most important
convention the 7. NJ. c. A. has ever
had were the words Of DR.. John
Mc00wn Stevenson IN speaking Of
the =. y. C. A. international con-
ference which was held ut Detroit
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sat-
urday and Sunday.
8 Dr.. Stevenson returned Saturday
from the convention, to which he
Nls . delegate from Broadway
Presbyterian church. John Hau-
borg and Rev. A. n. Brunsr were
other delegates to the convention
ana are expected to reach here this
evening.
There were an approximate 5000
delegates, Y. M. C. A. secretaries,
ministers and laymen present at
the conference. which 10 the FIRST
International meeting Of the asso-
sln>1Qn since the war. The Arena
3t4ens. where the convention
II Dedngs were held, has q ground
4 boz seating capacity OF 1000 and
I lxNas filled at every assembly.
= who IRE leaders In. every line
OF Industry and endeavor were
present and took part on the pro-
gram.
A Religious Influence.
The religious note was strongly
1ouAded throughout the confer
ence," DR.. Stevenson says. There
qeemed to be a determination thst
tie Il. N. c. A. should be, not 3
strictly social organization but .
tollki0us influence. John Timothy
Stone sounded this keynote when
he said, In the opening address Of
the conference, that the Y. M. C. a.
4 would have been useless unless it
seized its great opportunity to re-
Christ" x
William Sloan Of New York gave
- report of the war work Of the Y.
M. c. A. after an extensive report
Of the good performed by the asso-
citation in its war activities. Mr..
Sloan made reference to the crit
5eisns which have existed in re-
ssgprd to the wartime activities Of
the organization. While admitting
that the Y had In some ways fallen
: short as had all organizations to
some degree, MIR. Sloan said that
this could be laid at the door Of the
individual workers, not Of the or
I ss4i1etion itself, which had been
m6kd1capped in its ability to get
trained and efficient workers.
He pointed out the absolute in
Justice Of this criticism in view Of
the4 extensive influence for good of
the Y. n. C. A., and disarmed all
suspicion of those who heard him
as to the absolute good faith Of the
organization.
Country District Activities.
One of the new movements un-
! deftAken in some districts by the
Association, and which.-will prob
ably become . general movement Of
the near future, IL the move for
carrying activities into country dis
tyfctS.
Blake W. Godfrey, state secretary
n Mississippi, told of his work in
organising the entire state to
reach the young men In rural dis
tricts, organizing them in recrea.
tons, bible classes, and other lines
ct interest Fred B. Ship n
Pittsburgh discussed communjl
work there, by which activities arc
carried into outlying. districts.
An action WAS taken 1t the con.
veRt1on in regard to pension fol
I secretaries. The plan provided
that secretaries may be retired OF
4penAion after the age Of so, pro
vided they have been in the asso-
.ciatien service for 80 years. TIT
@enSion will be half pay.
Religions and educational de
partments had extensive programs
Dr.; Stevenson reports. Each sec
ret&fy In associations is to b,
made responsible for the religion.
life Of each man In his department
a. one new feature OF the future re-
ltgious program.
A feature Of the educationa
plans was the appointment Of DR.
T. w. Galloway Of New York t,
supervise the program in sex edu,
cation. DR.. Galloway was q ply
stefan who gave up a lucrative
practice to take up \. N. c. A
work.
Other features of the Detroi