Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-05-13


! building until late in the fall, and
/ the influenza ban which was placed
! on the association, the various de-
partments of the association were
inactive for period of four
months during the. year and yet
| from the standpoint of statistics
and finances the association has
made a very creditable showing
! over the previous year.
The religious work of the asso-
citation received due attention
throughout the year. Bible Glasses
were held weekly. The Hi Y club
held its weekly meetings, while
Sunday afternoon meetings for men
were conducted from December 1
to April l with an attendance of
from so to $50 per Sunday.
The association building has
been used largely this past year for
various clubs and organizations
that have found it convenient to
hold their meetings here, such as
the ministerial alliance, the
churchmen's federation and other
groups and organizations that had
the welfare of the community in
view.
Large Extension Work.
A great deal of extension work
has been done by the association
during the past year in various
ways. Large groups of boys who
were not members have been grant
ed the privileges of the association.
The yearly swimming campaign
was conducted as usual when
scores of men and boys were
taught how to swim Numerous
talks have been given before vari-
oEs groups outside of the member
ship by association employees, and
the secretarial force has been in
strumental in serving the commun-
itv in numerous ways as opportun-
ity presented itself. The father
and son banquets promoted by the
association this past year were the
r.ost successful ever conducted
Altogether, the year has been a
most successful and gratifying one
to those having The association
work in hand. The report however
saws that we must not be content
with past or present achievements
Int must look forward to the future
with enthusiasm and determination
to make the coming year even much
better than the past has been.
The report of the secretary says
in closing: 1.-The one word that
looms big from the standpoint or
secretaries, members of the board OF
directors, and members of the asso-
citation this coming year is work.
The board of directors has financed
the work of the association these
past five or six years, without APP
pealing to the public, excepting last
year, for funds with which to oper-
ate the organization Since the war
broke out the membership has not
even been askedtto work in a mem
bership campaign. So little energy
has been expended along these
lines that a good many have come
to believe that the association can
run itself withou& this necessary
wor kand cooperation. Such, how
ever, is not the case.
Turn to Peace Work.
''Aow that the war is over and
conditions are fast becoming normal
and th9 young men are getting
home in large numbers, the ranks
of the associations membership
must be recruited by big member
ship campaign this fall, without fail,
Everyone who has the interests of
the organization at heart, must plan
to throw himself into the work with
an energy and enthusiasm that will
be productive of some very fine re-
suits.
"Then our indebtedness of S2S,U00
must be wiped~out in order that the
association may be relieved from
this everlasting interest charge
which so far as the association is
concerned, is a tremendous waste OF
money. AT the present time, the as
ISOLATION is paying interest at the
rate of S164 per month. At least S5,-
600 has been paid out in interest
during the last five years.
There certainly can be no reason
why this indebtedness. could not
be paid off at the earliest possible
moment. The money is here in Rock
Island, the association is an instftu-
ton the city can not get along
without and will willing support,
and l am sure all the association
needs, in order to get itself estab-
lished where it can do its best work,
is simply to state its case to the
public and the support which is
needed will be forthcoming.
with such a program ahead of
US and with such an institution to
tho Nome Chricf-
ian Association, / trust we may all
look forward to this coming year,
each one doing everything in his
power to make this year the great
year in the history of the Rock Is
land Young Mems Christian asso-
citation"