The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-11-23
MEETING OF OLDER
YOUTHS OUTLINED
Boys Conference Here Novenn-
Der 80, December 1,2
HELP TO ALL THE LADS
Great InspirationaI and Educational
Sessions Will Be Carried On
For Three Days. g.

The State Y. NJ. C. A. for the past
thirteen years has been promoting
Older Boys conferences. Last year
there were four, one at Rochester,
one at Grand Forks, one at Virginia
and one at Moptevideo. 1t is esti-
mated that approximately 1900 boys
will attend the Older Boys confer
ences this year. The one at Man
kato will be the largest, as 1t takes
In all Of Southern Minnesota.
The plan calls for the bringing to-
gether of the selected high school
boys and employed boys of the yari-
Gus towns. these coming together in
groups of five to seven with an
adult. adviser for each group. They
are ordinarily boys who are render
ing valuable service in their home
communities, and they come TO the
conference for instruction and In
spiration. School superintendent
and pastors over the state have been
loud in their praises of the influ-
ence these boys have upon the local
situation when they return. Super
intendent Brown OF Albert Lea says
the work Of such a group ID his high
school is the finest thing he has ev-
er had accomplished along moral
lines. Superintendent Bohlander OF
Moorhead reports for number Of
years they have been sending boys
and the moral influence is strongly
felt. Rev. Burgess of Rochester says
the return Of boys from such con-
ference has been a great impetus to
the young people in his church.
Last year the largest, delegation
attending any conference came from
Winona, consisting of fifty seven
boys and men. Minneapolis and st.
Paul had special busses for the con-
ference last year and sent down
one hundred boys and leaders. Eve
leth sent thirty boys to Virginia,
Mankato sent to- Rochester. Sleepy
Eye had seven go to Albert Lea.
Ten boys from Winona drove 125
miles to attend the conference. The
conference directors. however, are
not seeking large delegations except
as they are well manned. Rules cali
for one adult leader with every sew
en- boys. -.
What VIII Be Done. =
The program consists of an open
ing banquet on Friday night. Novem-
Der 80. at which time an outstanding
Christian athlete talks to the boys.
On, Saturday morning. conferences.
discussions, and talks make busy
day until $3.50 in the afternoon, when
the boys are given three hours Of
recreational and educational period.
This year Saturday evening is to be
taken up with reports of discussion
groups for the early part, to be fol-
lowed by an address, Boys of 9th
er Lands" by Frank M. sLiddle. Sun
day afternoon is the big mass meet
ing at which very outstanding speak
ers to boys will put up great chal-
lenge. Sunday evening is usually
union service. largely attended by
the people in the entertaining com
munity, as we'll as bv the delegates.
The cities in which these confer
ences have been held have always
shown very fine spirit in acting as
hosts. The boys are entertained in
homes on the Harvard plan, includ-
ing Sunday dinner: they are met by
local boys at the train and escorted
TO their places of entertainment.
Very fine friendships have been es-
tablished between delegates and the
people in the homes at which they
have been entertained. ~