Evening journal., 1922-11-24
y. M. {. A. CHIEFS
AID in SMYRNA
Cave Help to Survivors
. Following Burning of
Smyrna
is ENGAGED IN
WORLDWIDE WORK

Citizens Of Wilmington, as well
a. those Of many other communi-
ties. haven't thought until recently
that they had anything particular
to do except in indirect business
relationships with smyrna. $4,000
miles away in Asia Minor. a. f.
Lindley general secretary Of the
Y. NJ. c, A.. points out. however.
that our own community had an
interest in Smyrna long before the
disaster there gave cause for special
relief efforts.
THE Smyrna disaster" SAYS Mr..
Llndley. has illustrated anew how
promptly thu symbathies OF our
acountry are aroused and seek ex-
preston when the facts concerning
real need are presented. But this
spirit Of service does not limit It.
salf to action merely when emer-
Esncy conditions give Il conspicu-
Gus role. 4 chief reason why our
t, country can. serve effectively in
situation Ike this is because our
people and those OF thousands OF
other American communities have
long been supporting. and carrying
on through their own representa-
t.ves, humanitarian work IN Smyrna
and hundreds Of other foreign
centers.
Newspapers reports have told ms
show American organizations in the
Near East quickly co-ordlnated their
efforts 70 serve the Smyrna refugees. 4
4 feature which interests me. be
cause OF my relationship TO the
Young Mems Christian Association
of Wilmington. is the fact that
Am srican Y. NJ. &. A. secretaries in
Smyrna Athens. Salonika and Con-
etantinople were able because Of
their established work and racog-
nized service there 10 take places
OF helpful leadership in the relief
efforts.
e American Y. NJ. c. 4 work IN
nearly avery country of the globe
is 20 NJ forward because there is a
! N. G. A. In this and in more
than 1000 other communities in tho
United States ami Canada. our y
srd -hess Others are separate and
INDEPENDENT organizations. self-Eov
err ne hu having common polio O.,
and a common purpose This pur-
nose is 20 help men and boys 20
live wholqsomely and usefully. after
the pa tern or that Man of Galilee
because Of whom we call ogrselve-
%. Christian nation.
THE first duty Of each Y. VI. q. a
Is 10 rs dommunty which finances
. through membership fees. other
revenue -pfoducing features and con
trIbut ons. and whose selected lay !
nen direct Il. But the memhershiP |
and friends Of The Association in
North America long ago determined
tha, they had responsibility TO help Il
establish in foreign countries a
proved service for men and boys.
and so through their general agency. H
the International Committee, tho Y II
NJ. Z As OF the United States and |
Canada direct the support OF the H
work abroad Of their selected rep II
resentatives. Native leadership is
developed and trained. and in due
time as in China, Japan and most Il
recently in Czechoslovakia-the As II
soc alton develops a truly national III
character and becomes self-directiDs n
and self-supporting.
Although the Association move
ent was founded in England. II
spread within n few years-in 1891 ii
to America. and here has had i's &
greatest growth and from here has 3
had its greatest outreach 10 the G
world NJ large The American Y. NJ 2
&. A. in Smyrna. A transformed cat' .
and dance hall Of notorious repuia II
ton. was burned by the Turks. but =
the service there typ.fied the prac- z
teal ideal!sm and the democracy g
OF a worldwide brotherhood Of y
which the........s.Y. NJ. c. A. Is e
proud 10 be a voluntary part III