The work of the associations consists of prayer-meet- ings, Bible classes, social meetings, educational classes, meetings in jails, hospitals and almshouses, open-air
YOUNG MEN'S CHRIST. ASSOC'N 1052 YOUNG MEN'S CHRIST. ASSOC'N
Libiiuy ol Lhe lutiui; J\lcu s Christian Associatiou liuildiug iu New York City.
services, services of song, neighborhood and cottage prayer-meetings, and the sustaining of reading-rooms, lectures, gymnasiums for physical exercise, and em- ployment bureaus. The extent of this work is indi- cated in the statistics given at the close of this article.
The great work and rapid growth already indicated, and still more apparent by an examination of the sta- tistics, could not have been secured by the active efforts of individual associations. A ve^^' common experience is that of a few j'oung men of a village, who meet and organize an association, obtain a room, meet for a few months, and then disband. Such failures result from a lack of organized superintendence. To counteract such evils, secretaries were employed, who were to give their time to the work and receive remunerative salaries. In 1870 these were 11 in number; while in 1880 there were 133 secretaries, with several assistants.
The system of organization and mutual dependence of these associations is best indicated by an extract from an article by Rev. George R. Crooks, D.D., in lJ(trper''s Weekly for April 3, 1880. He says :
"First are the local organizations, occupying hired rooms, or in some instances their own buildiiitrs, and em- ploying secretaries to conduct the necess;iry business. Then follow the state and i)rovincial organizations, com- posed of a State or Canadian province, liolding an annual convention and appointing a State committee to exercise due oversiglit. Tiieir relation to the local bodies, how- ever, is purely advisory; twelve of them emplov secre- taries. Ascending higher, we have the American Inter- national organization, composed of the associations of the United States and Canada. Its executive agent is an International Committee of twenty-live members, having a working quorum in New York city. The committee is a vigorous body, and has taken in hand the fostering of associations among college students, commercial travel- lers, Germans, colored young men, and railroad men. At the top of all is the International Central Committee, which met in Geneva, Switzerland, iu June, 1S79."
The work accomplished by the American Interna- tional organization has exerted a powerful influence upon the associations of the whole countrv. In 18G6 a committee of five was appointed by the convention, and located in New York. This committee has since retained its headquarters, with a working quorum, in that city, but has been increased to twenty-five mem- bers, many of whom reside in other parts of the coun-
try. This is the executive agent of the International Convention. By it the convention is called to assemble each year, and by it the proceedings are afterwards published. Each year the committee brings up a re- port of its work, and submits a plan for the coming j'car. This, after due consideration and such modifica- tions as are considered desirable, is referred back to the committee for execution. In 18fi8 the convention au- thorized the employment of a visitor in the West. The field included the states of Indiana, Illinois, ]\Iich- igan, AVisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Kentuck}^ and Tennessee. There he has continued to labor with abundant success. When he began his labors there were less than 40 associations, maintained at an annual expense of $29,000. Now there are nearly 300 associations, expending annually more than $100,000. At that time only one general secretary' was employed, and not one society owned a building. Now there are 48 general secretaries and eight buildings. The eleven states all have state or- ganizations, and of these six emploj- state secretaries.
The requirements of the central office had so in- creased in 1870 that a general secretary of the Inter- national Committee was appointed to direct the corre- spondence, visitation, and editorial work. He has since been retained, and, owing to the increased demands of this department, an assistant has lately been provided.
The work in the South has developed wonderfully within a period of ten years. In 1870 there were be- tween Virginia and Texas only three associations. In that year the visitors of the committee began their labors in that section, and now there are more than 150 associations.
The work among railroad men has alreadj' been re- ferred to. Another movement, entirely independent of the Pacific Railroad Mission, was that begini in Cleveland, O., in 1872. In that city, where about 10,000 men are employed by railroad companies, meetings were held to which men of this class only \vere invited. The idea was taken up and practiced by otlier railroad cities, and, finally, the International Committee undertook the general supervision of this branch. Since the begin- ning of 1877 a general railroad secretary has given his entire time to this work, organizing associations, lo-
YOUNG MEN'S CHRIST. ASSOC'N 1053 YOUNG MEN'S CHRIST. ASSOC'N
North A
Whole number of associatious
Total immljer of members
T(}tal amuial expenses
GeDeral secretaries
Number of buildings
Value of building;s
Associations having building funds
Amount of building funds
Associations owning libraries
Volumes in libraries
Reading-rooms kept open
Aggregate average daily attendance
Number of state and provincial conventions held
Number of associatious represented
Number of delegates present
Points at which work is done for railroad men
College associations reporting