The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-01


young people of whom we are con
stantly hearing, we find OF course
many who are not wild over the
things we care not about, but new
er In the history Of American col
leges has there been so large q
number Of young people wild
about worth while service. This
enthusiasm does not always express
Itself as yours and mine did, but
this, may even presage well for the
cause we represent.
Upon these very young people
full Of lue's enthusiasms, must we
build our hope for the future whe
Their wefwill or no. PessImism
can never win the day. What are
some Of the signs which an optimlsI
can discern and seeing take new
hope for the future?
Five years ago the benevolent
budgets OF the Christian Associa
lions in the colleges were number.
ed in figures so small that we fail
ed to take account OF them. To q
great extent the money given was
raised by the appeal Of some speak
er who, made a special plea fol
some object. Today all over the
land the students have taken this
matter into their own hands; they
make out their benevolent budgets
at the beginning Of the year: they
determine the objects which they
will support. and raise their fund:
In afiwell.planned campaign. In
the New York and New England
colleges last year over eighty thou
sand dollars was raised by bcnevo
lent objects.
During The past five years there
has been u remarkable increase in
interest In mission study through,
out the colleges In America. Last
year q goodly number OF colleges
reported 100 per cent-regiatration In
mission study. among these not.
ably Wells College, Manchester Col
lege and Western College. Many
colleges are following close with
sixty, seventy, and eighty per cent
enrolment. These classes are led
by college students in most cases
and are a wonderful agency for
promoting interest among the girls
and scattering seeds OF information
the; harvest OF which no one can
compute.
Five years ago college students
booked forward to summer vacations
Os time for play, for travel, for
recreation: now girls are anxious
for real task to take their time
and attention for the summer
months OYER one hundred and
fifty actual applicants for summer
work have interviewed our secre,
ta-ies during the past year; OF this
number we have been able to place
less than twenty-five.
A few months ago the writer
went to an Ohio college to inter.
view a group OF girls who had ap.
piled for summer work among the
migrant groups. Announcement
had been made in chapel that any
girl who desired Christian work for
the summer or positions In mission
schools, could sign up for an in.
tervlew. The writer arrived Satur.
dag on l o'clock train: interviews
were scheduled to begin at two, and
between that time and noon on
Monday she had interviewed forty.
six girls; twenty-four OF these
wanted TO spend their summers in
getting an idea Of the kind OF worl;
that could be done at the end OF a
college course; six wanted to apply
definitely for work on mission fields
this coming yeas, and the rest were
seeking advice on various and sun.
dry questions. One note ran
through all the interviews-a de,
sire to invest life where II would
really count. This desire is more
manifest in the student life Of To-
day than ever before. Are there
any discouragements? There are
many, but they are receiving more
than their share OF attention. Let
us pin our faith on the hopeful
signs.