In religious education the chief emphasis has been upon Bible classes, but there is an increasing diversity of program which is evolving into a department of religious educa tion. In more progressive associations like the 2341 street branch in New York City, there are classes in 'Christianity and Modern Thought' led by the secretary. Burt B. Farnsworth, courses in Church history, life problems, sex hygiene and social service.
In spite of the depletion of attendance of young men at colleges and universities during the World War, most gratifying reports come from student associations. In 1917 there were 27,000 students in classes in religious education. These were chiefly in Bible classes, but nearly 3,000 were in mission study classes and 4,000 were in classes studying 'North American Problems.' An important phase of the religions work of the association is the interest in foreign mis sions which it has aroused among young men. The student volunteer movement, which is an outgrowth of the student department, is the chief missionary agency in the colleges of this country. It annually secures a large number of students to volunteer for foreign missionary service. At one time as many as 4,000 students have been enrolled as volunteers in all colleges. In the men's colleges in 1917 the number was 1,237. More recently the effort has been broadened to include all religions callings, home as well as foreign. In 1917 there were reported 281) undergraduates as preparing for the sec retaryship of the Y. M. C. A. and 3,066 for the ministry.
The latest period of association history has been marked by a great extension in the work for different classes of young men. In August 1995 the World's Student Christian Federation of under-graduates of all lands was established. This is now the largest organization among undergraduates in the world. In the United States and Canada the movement has been extended to professional schools, theological seminaries and other institutions of learning. There are now 791 college associations upon this continent, enrolling 51,117 student members. American student associations own buildings valued at There are now 137 student secretaries devoting their whole time to this work.
The work for railroad men has become one of the most remarkable features of Christian endeavor. Railroad corporations which control
three-fourths of the railroad mileage on this continent contribute from the corporation funds large amounts toward the current expenses of the railroad associations. There are 122 build ings, valued at 117,422,000, occupied by these .associations with a membership of 94.000 rail road men, There are 550 secretaries engaged in this department.
Since 1879 the International Committee has employed a secretary to develop the work among colored young men. The work among colored young men was greatly stimulated by the offer of Julius Rosenwald of Chicago, a wealthy business man of Jewish race, to give $25,000 toward the erection of a building for a colored Young Men's Christian Association to any community which would raise $75,000 addi tional. This offer was continued for a period of five years, during which some 12 colored association buildings were erected. There are now 150 associations of colored young melt, with 17,600 members, with 77 employed officer., with property valued at $1,716,000. Thc secre tary of the International Committee for this department is Jesse E. Moorland. There are to-day 86 Indian associations, with 815 mem bers, under the direction of a traveling sc-cre tary, who is a native American Indian.
Lamely as an outgrowth of the work for students in other lands, the Amenean Inter national Committee was invited by missionaries in India to inaugurate a work among young men in non-Christian lands. This work has always been carried on in subordiration to the church and as a supplementary work where missions have already been developed. There are now 118 secretaries of the American Inter national Committee in India, Ceylon, Japan, China, Brazil, and other force gn lands.
The Policy on the foreign 6eld is to develop self-governing and self-supporting local as sociations and national committees. In coun tries outside of the United States, Canada and Europe there are 292 associations with 58,231 members, occupyingty valued at $700,000. In these associations are 462 employed officers, four-fifths of whom are natives. In thepromotion of this work in 1910 ex-Presi dentl‘11fiam Howard Taft invited a conference at the White House, attended by about 100 leading Christian laymen, which resulted in securing 12,000,000 for the foreign work.