follow any other institution or class of institutions. Yet its plans are based on a careful, personal study of the methods and systems in Europe and America, while its scope of studies and its methods of application are the result of thorough examination of local conditions. Here is the strength of this organization-the prominence of the individual association and the closeness of the state and international bonds. Each city or town, while primarily organizing educational features for its own people, has the advantage of the wider view and careful supervision of its state and International Committeesnone of them bound by any preconceived notions of "the best methods," and all determined to reach one end-the best training of the great company of young men who cannot have the advantage of higher education as a preparation for their daily occupation.

It was at the international convention of 1893 that the first effort was made at an exhibit of work, and that the first full presentation of the subject was had. The newness of this idea in this country of ours may be noted in the fact that the association was the pioneer in evening school work in many sections of the land. The first class in free-hand drawing in American evening schools, so far as can be learned, was started in the association. This led to the introduction of industrial, mechanical and architectural drawing, the public and other private schools following the example. In a few cities the association has been the forerunner of manual training. It has been stated by the boards of education in some of these cities, that had it not been for the work of the association in these directions manual training could not have been introduced into their public schools.

Neither has its influence been limited to young men; the Young Women's Christian Association has for a number of years followed its plans, joining, as far as possible, in its courses and examinations, thus extending the advantages to thousands of young women of the industrial classes.

Within this period also have come new social opportunities. Hence the enlarging plans for dormitories, restaurants, and home comforts in the new association buildings, and the value of the employment department, which has extended even to the college associations. Quietly but effectively in these few years the organization has been showing its power in cultivating Christian citizenship and thus guiding a very important feature of the work of the Christian church in a country like

In many manufacturing cities the officers of the association by their practical suggestions have ameliorated the industrial conditions in times of panic, winning the good will of entire classes of men and their active cooperation; in other cities, by opening their halls and rooms to special consideration of current topics, they have shown the truth from every

side and cultivated a conservatism and breadth of idea that has told for safety and honor. It has not been in the province of this organization to espouse any cause and actively to participate in any political or social movement, but by its evident interest in men who often think themselves divided from the rest of the world, by its teaching of the principles of Christian manhood and Christian citizenship, it has made men think and thus taught safety and righteousness and a better knowledge of their fellow-men. No organization in this land of ours has had a greater opportunity or has met it more fully during these ten years, than has the Young Men's Christian Association, with its educational work, its social life, its Bible teaching, its unbroken attitude toward equal opportunity for all, and its ever-existing atmosphere of truth and Christian manhood.

The practical character of the efforts for these classes and the development of the methods used may be briefly stated. Indeed, most of them have been already suggested.

The early means were as simple and direct when compared with the present comprehensive work as were the business methods and organization of that day compared with the complex system of the present. At the first, social parlors, reading-rooms, general libraries, committees to visit the sick, assistance in finding employment, Sunday evening lectures open to all, and simple religious services, comprehended the scope of the work. The general lecture course came later, and still later the gymnasium. Then came the association school, becoming more and more comprehensive till now, in day and night classes, scores of subjects are taught, every one contributing to the practical increase in the earning power of young men. The studies offered these young men include the elementary branches, emphasis being placed on commercial subjects; drawing in all its departments, particularly the mechanical; practical applications in elementary woodwork, patternmaking, ironwork, etc.; science as applied to industry-chemistry, physics, etc.; languages, largely the leading modern ones; history, political and social economy, with a view to the study of "present day" conditions and principles of government. Many cities add specialties applicable to their leading industries-wood-carving, carriage-draughting, watch-case carving, textile design, etc. In addition are some of the more especial culture studies-music, literature, etc., as well as lecture courses and practical talks, the training of the literary and debating societies, congress, educational clubs, and similar organizations and technical libraries, all of them stimulating the intellectual development of young men.

In accordance with the purpose to make work practical, the study has been along lines of "units" rather than "courses." Young men enter for mechanical drawing, chemistry, English,

etc., rather than commercial, scientific or industrial courses. In some of the large cities-Chicago, New York and others such courses are offered, and day classes, as well as night, are conducted with success. The aim is constantly to give the young man the special training he needs for his daily work; but in many cities the work is so good that young men looking to higher education often come here for their foundations. The fees are limited, in order to assist the young men as much as possible. Having thus helped to develop these young men in these scientific directions, the association has recently found opportunity to assist them through dormitories, supplying at small prices all the comforts of home and counteracting the evil influences of cheap boardinghouses. When our buildings have been opened twenty-four hours a day and seven days in the week, as is proposed in one of our aggressive associations, we may feel that we have taken another step toward the best life for young mechanics who are compelled to labor at all kinds of hours.

Having accomplished these varied objects, the association has been able to begin recently here and there the latest and, to my mind, the best of its contributions to the welfare of these classes. This has been made possible by the confidence which has grown out of their experience with the organization in the other departments mentioned, and could not have been even begun had not the educational work especially won so many of them. I refer to the noon shop Bible classes of some of our associations, carrying a straightforward gospel to the haunts of the men, meeting them frankly and openly, with attractive presentation of the gospel as the only means of salvation. This idea has only begun, and vast will be its power if developed as carefully and as wisely as have been the other departments.

A few facts of growth will show how fully these activities have accomplished their purpose-assistance to young men in commercial and mechanical lines.

As late as twenty years ago, the membership of the associations was almost wholly commercial. More than this, they failed by the methods then emphasized to reach the brightest young men, and did not touch, except in rare cases, the leaders among them. To-day many associations number among their members from thirty to forty per cent of mechanics, while some, like the Institute, New York City, are wholly of this class. Montreal's members are largely among the commercial class, while Boston to-day enrolls thirty-two per cent of its membership from the "artisan" class.

In 1866, six associations reported evening classes; in 1881, seventy-four; in 1891, two hundred; in 1901, three hundred and fifty, with twenty-seven thousand different men enrolled. Of these, about twenty per cent are office men, nine per cent

students, twenty-four per cent clerks, twenty-four per cent skilled mechanics, and twenty-three per cent general tradesmen; or, stating it otherwise, these classes enroll among their number about forty-four per cent of men in commercial pursuits and forty-seven per cent of men in industrial. Open to these young men are five hundred and twenty-three libraries, and they used in the past year four hundred and eighteen thousand five hundred books, many of them of the highest class of technical books; they formed one hundred and seventy-five literary societies and many more clubs of congenial men interested in particular lines of study.

So well is this work done that one hundred and eight colleges and technical schools recognize the certificates of the international examiners, and, what is more important, thousands of employers find the training such as to enable young men to take advanced positions. This excellence has been made possible by the unity of the work and the strength of its supervision; by the uniformity in general courses of study while adapting each to the special local needs; and by the stimulus of the international examinations under supervision of men whose names give confidence and standing among educators, as well as among employers and the young men for whose best training they have been planned.

What the Christian church through its colleges, with great endowments, has done for the higher education of the comparatively few, that it is now doing through the Young Men's Christian Association, with limited expenditure and little endowment, for the young men of the commercial and industrial classes. Its success has surprised even its friends and commended it to practical men, while its possibilities are measured largely by what Christians are willing to entrust to it in the future.

Illustrating the practical success in training, thousands of instances might be given, like these:

Three instructors in the mechanical and scientific departments of one of the largest of our state universities received their first instruction and their impetus for their profession in one of our association evening schools.

Seventy-seven per cent of the men who have taken the course in draughting in one association have been raised to positions that would have been unattainable without this training, many of them receiving their positions on the basis of the certificate given.

A general manager of a large western railroad says that he owes all he now is to the Young Men's Christian Association training. The assistant manager of a great factory acknowledges his indebtedness to the chemistry class of one of the associations.

The Bowery Branch, New York, the one association em

phasizing charitable effort, has secured employment for fortyeight thousand five hundred men during its thirty years of history. During the last year alone, in three hundred and eighty-seven associations employment was found for thirteen thousand one hundred and eighty men. So fully have many of our associations met the demands that employers to-day look to them to supply their vacancies, giving as their testimony that the young men coming in this way rarely fail to meet every requirement put upon them.

Is too much emphasis placed here upon these secular incidents of association life? If it seems so to some, let them remember that this very prominence has brought many a man of these classes to a recognition of the real character of the Christian life and to pass in his thoughts from the daily round of affairs to the higher life so essential.

Briefly summarized: (1) The association was the first to study the social, physical, educational and special religious needs of commercial and industrial young men, thus leading the way to a clearer understanding of their needs and the best methods of meeting them. (2) It has emphasized the essential quality of manhood, whether in overalls or business suit, and the right to equal opportunity for improvement in those things which best fit the worker for his environment. (3) It has touched carefully upon the greatest of the problems of our nation to-day-the industrial problem. It has not solved it, but beyond any other organization it has the power, under God's guidance, to win men to mutual confidence and to higher and safer ideals. (4) It has opened the advantages of home life, of Christian social influence, and of practical Bible study to the great company of young men and clerks away from home or needing better home influences. (5) It has successfully planned and organized a thorough and systematic scheme of education whereby a young man can obtain that education which will supplement the failures of his own schooling and provide immediate training for increased efficiency and wages -supplying all in his leisure hours, the very time he has at his command, and at an expense within the ability of the poorest young man to attain. (6) It has not only offered this training to him in its own halls, but has stimulated public and private enterprise and generosity, so that many other such schools have been perfected and operated. (7) It has given to these great numbers of young men a clearer idea of the true principles of the Christian religion, has brought them into direct personal contact with active Christians, and has taught them the truth about the Christian church, leading them to a kindlier attitude toward the church and the religion of Jesus Christ which it exemplifies.