isa-normaladvance-1914-00050

Description:	50THE NORMAL ADVANCEI?. M. ana !?. ». C. ft.Y. M. C. A.ANEW phase of Young Mens Christian Association work has been presenting it¬ self in a very forcible manner within the last few years. Our association has not taken ac¬ tive part in this new movement, but the grow¬ ing need and the big-heartedness of the fellows in our school will soon put us in line for a most active campaign in social service wTork.Following is a portion of an address made by Mr. A. H. Lichty, student secretary of Ohio Young Mens Christian Associations. He said: The Ohio State convention of the Y. M. C. A. of 1908 passed the following resolution, among others, which particularly concerns the college associations:We recommend that increasing emphasis be laid upon the further development and perfec¬ tion of the following features of state work:That, noting the social work started in four of the forty-four college associations of the state, a comprehensive plan, fitted to meet local conditions, be promulgated to do social work in the college associations to the end that stu¬ dents may be prepared to become civic and re¬ ligious home missionaries in their future resi- dental localities.Mr. John R. Mott, for years the recognized head of Student Association work, gives it as his conviction that we must discover for the student work more avenues of practical ex¬ pression for the Christian strength that is being accumulated. He believes that a healthier and stronger life can be built up if we are more active and develop from the positive point of view, rather than endeavoring to be¬ come good simply because we refrain from doing what is bad.In some colleges, the association activities are not attracting the strong men of a certaintype, because the work consists chiefly of re¬ ligious meetings, Bible study and mission study. Little in the way of active and attrac¬ tive organized service either within or without the college is attempted, and the meetings are studies mentioned, without some practical serv¬ ice do not attract these men. As some one has put it they want to engage in what they con¬ sider service, real service, rather than to hold services. Do not understand me to say one word against either the religious meetings, Bible study or mission study for I consider these activities fundamentally important. But the point is, these are not equally atractive to all men.Another reason why we need some additional activities in such service, is that at present only a small percentage of college men take a very active part after graduation in the work of the city Y. M. C. A., the church, movements for civic righteousness, boys clubs, social set¬ tlements or other similar activities.In April, 1908, issue of Ohio Association News, under the heading: The College Man in City Life, General Secretary H. A. Wil¬ bur, of! Dayton, formerly college secretary, said:Whether from city home or country fire¬ side the college man returns to city life, or enters it, in a new relationship, and a strange one. The city needs him and wants him. Yet he is received without demonstration, maybe without notice. In his books he has resources of entertainment and often finds his chief en¬ joyment in his room or in his limited circle of earlier friends. His best resources of enjoy¬ ment he may utterly ignore. Often he does not value rightly the places where he could feel most at home and could use well directed energy for service as well as for advancement. These places are the association and the church.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/32490
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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