The most remarkable work of all was for the Expeditionary Forces in France. Herr over 3.000 miles from its base of sat Zs„ the rt association undertook to serve 2, men scattered through France and later western Germany. How to interest the soldiers in their leisure time back of the front and how to serve them to the uttermost in the war area was the problem of the staff at headquarters. The association did not shrink fromtask so which it was called, even when asked to carry on the army store (canteen) in order to re lease effective men for fighting. When Mr. Caner reported to General Pershing that there were complaints about the canteen, General Pershing replied, 'The Y. M. C. A. are not in this war to avoid criticism, hut to render as much service as possible to the men, under the limitations under which we are all working in this war.* In the canteen alone the EY" in France from Jane 1918 to April 1919 handled 2,000,000.000 cigarettes. 32,000,000 bars of chocolate, 18,000, 000 cans of smoking tobacco, 50,000,000 cigars, 60,000,000 cans of jam, 3)000,000 packages of chewing gum and 10,000,000 packages of candy. These were only a few of the items handled. (Report on Activities by George W. Perkins). Because of the difficulty in buying supplies, the •Y* operated in France 20 biscuit factories, 13 chocolate factories, three candy factories and three jam factories. All of this canteen service was undertaken unexpectedly and carried on in addition to the regular work for the men physical, social, intellectual and religious.
The •V' was operating in March 1919 in France 587 buildings erected by the association, 5% leased buildings and 782 tents and army buildings. *These buildings were used as cen tres where the men could congregate, write letters, read magazines, books and papers, play games, visit and feel relieved of a certain amount of the restraint necessary to army life.' (Perkins). In them were conducted concerts, moving picture shows, all sorts of en tertainments and religious services. The build ings were open to all welfare organizations. Religious services were conducted by Protest ants, Catholics, Jews and all other religious organizations, regardless of creeds.
A large number of well-trained athletes led in athletic games and in boxing and wrestling. Athletic supplies were given without charge to the soldiers. These included 575,000 base balls. 140,000 hats, 65,000 fielders' gloves, 85000 indoor baseballs and 75,000 footballs. 'this work was in charge of Dr. James H. McCurdy of Springfield. The entertainments of various kinds were multitudinous and often of the highest quality. A number of theatres were in different parts of France. In March 1919 there were 93 American troupes, playing in different parts of France, which gave 4,350 performances in a single month.
In one year 220 French entertainers and 702 American were employed. From August 1917 to April 1919 in France 90,000 •movie° shows were given to audiences aggregating 50,000,000 (Perkins).
Writing home was a great opportunity to the men; sheets of writing paper with the necessary envelopes and 16,000,000 postal cards were distributed to the soldiers.*
At 25 leave areas holiday opportunities, in cluding athletics and entertainments, and sight seeing were freely provided; also large hotels and recreation grounds at various centres in France, England, Italy and later in Germany.
An educational system was developed under the leadership of 600 college professors and school teachers. This was expanded rapidly after the fighting ceased. Up to April 1919, remittances from 323,432 soldiers were sent home through the association, amounting to $19,542,000.
Many prominent clergymen in addition to irlf" secretaries and business men led in the religious work. The religious program was carried on at all the centres. Instruction in sex-hygiene was given by a staff of 40 lec turers under the direction of Dr. Frank N. Seerley of Springfield, Mass. The general re ligious work was under the supervision of President Henry Churchill King of Oberlin.
A devoted body of workers enrolling a total 11,229 was sent overseas for this service. In April 1919 there were 5,693 men and 2,657 women on the association staff in France. A most self-sacrificing service was rendered by these workers, not only in the training areas but on every front in exposed positions in the face of danger and hardships. There were 215 casualties among association workers al though they were non-combatants. Nine work ers were killed by shell-fire while on duty, 29 were seriously gassed or wounded and 31 died in the service from exposure and over-work. (Mott. Association Men, January 1919).
Whether the Young Men's Christian Asso ciation has reached its final form no one would be bold enough to affirm. It is remarkable that it should have grouped together such a variety of agencies upon the simple platform of young men advancing the kingdom of Christ among young men. Through the four periods of its history the association has evolved into an in stitution with an enlarged ideal, closely akin to that of the Christian university. It is still animated by the evangelistic, spintual purpose of the original hand of young men who rallied around George Williams 75 years ago. But, while keeping uppermost this ideal, it has en deavored to do, in a popular way, for the multi tudes of young men of our cities what the Christian university, in a more scholarly way, is doing for the young men who are to enter the professions. There is every evidence that the association has only begun its career of use fulness, and that in the future it will become a manifold more important factor than in the past.
BibliolrisPhr — Doggett, L 1, 'Life of Robert R. McBurnev' (1902); id., 'Jubilee Work for Young Men in North America' (1901); id., 'History of the Young Men's Christian Association' (New York 18%) : Hod der-W illiant, Sir Earnest, 'Life of Sir George Williams' (1906); Morse, R. C. 'My Life with Young Men' (1918); id, Fifty Years of (New York 1905); Mott, J. R., 'Strategic Points in the World's Conquest' (1897); Yearbook of the Association (New York).