In other lands, while war, ecclesiastical con ditions and general conservatism retarded the growth of the association, a marked develop ment had taken place. Every three years con s entions of the associations of all lands were held in different European cities. To these the American associations since 1872 have regularly sent representatives. During the early 70's, Mr. Moody made his evangelistic campaigns in the Eritish Isles, and did a great deal to stimulate the work of the Young Men's Christian Associa tion in securing money for buildings, in arous Ina spiritual zeal and in calling the attention of the Church to this important work. In 1878 some 40 representatives of the American asso ciations attended the world's convention, which met at Geneva, Switzerland Up to that time there had been no established headquarters for the world's work. General affairs had been ad ministered from London through Mr. W. E. Shipton, the secretary of the London associa tion It was chiefly through the influence of the French and American delegates that the Geneva convention voted to organize the work of the associations in all lands under an advisory coin tr.itter, which should have a quorum located at (;cneva. Switzerland. Col. Charles Fermaud, an officer in the Swiss army, and a man with t right business prospects in Geneva, consented to give up his calling and accept the position of general secretary of this committee. By the car 1F7'8, with the establishment of the world's comouttee, the Young Men's Christian Associa tions of the world may be said to have devel oped their ideal of work for young men.
Period III, 1978 to 1913. Period of Ex pansion.— Expansion has been the striking characteristic of the period from 1878 to 1913. The association ideal of a four-fold work for the whole man had been developed by the American associations under Robert R. McBur ney of New York City. This ideal has been promoted throughout America under the super vision of the Committee. The American type of work for young men in this period of expansion was now to be promoted throughout the world largely by the efforts of the American International Committee.
In North America the associations between 1878 and 1913 increased in membership six-fold, from 99,000 to nearly 600,000 members; in value of propcny 38-fold, from $2,300,000 to the number of buildings 13-fold, from 56 to 770; the cost of current operation 36-fold, from $376,000 per year to $13,725,000.
The three factors which have most pro foundly influenced the association movement. during this period, have been (1) the securing of property, (2) of trained secretaries and di rectors who give their whole time to this serv ice, and (3) the development of State and Inter national committees of supervision. The carry ing on of an all-round work for young men — physical, social. intellectual and spiritual—de manded not only experienced and able men to conduct the work but commodious and prop erly adapted structures in which it could be housed.
The • discoverer and demonstrators of the secretaryship was Robert It McBurney. who
was secretary of the New York City association from 1862 until his death in 1808. l'nder his leadership, this office was developed and the number of employed men increased. Of all the agencies the association movement has brought forth, the most vital is the sccretariatc. To this may be attributed its permanence and con tinued power. There are now nearly 5,000 men devoting themselves to this service as a life worker twice this number were enlisted for war work among the Allied troops. The pre-eminence of the American is chiefly due to this policy of employing salaried officers. About five-sixths of the secretariee employed by the associations of aU lands are in the United States and Canada.
Not only have men been employed for su pervisory work, but since 1870 there has been art increasing demand for Christian voung men to devote their lives to service iu the associa tion as physical directors. Seven hundred and fifty-eight such mcu arc now employed. To the Christian physical director, the oung Men's Christian Association owes the development of the physical department, which aims to give young men physical training and r vigorous bodily development. but also to de velop character. This department has proved a great attraction to young men. In 1896 the Year I3ook reports '2,672 men as using the physical department of the association. In 1918 there were 242.000 enrolled in gymnasium classes, of whom 118,000 were boys Much of the progress of this department has been due to the leadership of Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick, who became instructor of physical training at the Association Training School at Spnngfiekl in 1886. in which position he continued until 1900. In 1888 he was also appointed secretary of the International Committee for the physical department, in which office he served until the spring of 1903. He was succeeded at the Springfield school by Dr. James H. McCurdy and on the International Committee by Dr. George J. Fisher. The Young Men's Christian Association is doing the most extensive work in physical training of any agency in the country. It is also interesting that more than 40 per cent of the physical directors in acad emies and colleges have been furnished by the association. The physical department has proved not only a means for physical well-being, which is much needed under modern city conditions. but also a means of leading young men into lives of personal purity.
In 1878 there were 8 international and 12 State secretaries and 94 secretaries in local associations. At the present time (1919) there are 704 county, State and international em ployed officers engaged in supervisory work, 30 instructors in the training colleges, 3,245 men serving city associations, 550 with railroad asso ciations, 139 with student associations, 78 with associations for colored young men, 77 with army and navy associations and 113 in other forms of service. There are a total of 4,936 salaried officers employed by the associations of North America.