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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