Page 144 - YB1896

Skdcb Of Young m~n'sCbristian Jlssociation. C HE.RE. are many forces are silent in their work. So it is 111 our for college in ,the operating wor-ld our make which yet which happiness, life. is a great which deal of work There lts results are seen, but its operations done are silent. does not attract notice. Some phases of college life, such as the different contests upon the ball field and tile tennis court, come prominently before the public; but there is one feature of it which, while it does not furnish much material for the papers, goes hand in hand with the work of the classroom as a controling influence for good in the college man's life. This is the work of the Young 1V1en'5 Christian Association. One of the most hopeful phases of college life in this day is the fact that every institution, from the large university down to the smallest college, has its Young 1'1'en's Christian Association. So that, while parents feel a great deal of anxiety when the time comes for the boys to leave the influences of the home and church, yet it is certain that if he is to go out from the he can hardly find a place where the good is seeking him so earnestly as it in most of our colleges. Especially is this true at Western Maryland. Here not are the in- fluences 01 home in a large measure supplied by the general appear- ances of the place, and that sociability for which 'Western Maryland is so well known, but he finds the needs of church associations fully met by the college Christian Association. If he is a Christian already, he is given the right hand of fellowship, and immediately becomes' a co-laborer in Association work. If he is not a Christian, an associate membership brings him directly under those influences which, sooner or later, lead him to his salvation. The past college year has been one of unusual success in om Association. At the opening of school in September the membership was nearly doubled, thus making it one of the largest in the State. 'iVith the increase of active, earnest men came a renewed determination to do more earnest work, and as a result the Week of Prayer found the Association in the midst of a grand revival, during which about fifteen men were led into a new life. , This is but a small part of the year's work. Space will not permit a de- tailed account of the work of the different committees. Suffice it to sav. that under the direction of an efficient chairman, each committee has done good work. The Association was both interested and helped by the reports of the "4