Even before the Spanish War began steps had been taken to inaugurate a work among the seamen of the navy, and after the war a build ing was equipped for seamen at the Brooklyn navy yard. This department has developed rapidly, and at the present time there is an organized movement among the seamen of the wavy which is full of promise. Through the munificence of Mrs. Helen Gould Shepard and Mrs. Russell Sage, an attractively equipped building has been erected for the Naval Asso ciation near the navy yard in Brooklyn, at a cost of $1,100,000. Work is now being done at seven other home ports and also in the Philippine Islands There were 77 secretaries in the army and navy associations of the United States at the outbreak of the war.
For many years the work of the associations was limited to young men between 16 to 17 years of age and upward. It is an interesting i sociological development that, in the prosecuting of its work for young men, the association has been led to give its attention to work among boys. Careful study led to the conviction that effort ought to begin at the age when the boy is becoming a man — at the dawn of adolescence. There are almost as many boys in cities between the ages of 12 and 17 as there are young men. The first boys' department was organized at Salem in 1869, but it is only in recent years that a determined effort has been made to organize commercial young men. Afterward associations were organized for students and later for rail road men. The city associations in recent years have been attracting large numbers of skilled mechanics to their membership, and to-day in Eastern associations 35 per cent of the mem bers belong to this class. An industrial asso ciation existed in 1897 in connection with the Johnson Steel Plant at Lorain, Ohio, and an association building at a cost of $25,000 was erected for the use of the workingmen. Similar associations were established at Proctor, Vt.; Wilmerding, Pa.; Stampo, Ark ; Douglas, a work among boys. In 1890 there were four secretaries giving their time to this department. This number had increased in 1903 to 107. It is now 545.
In 1903 there were 46000 members in boys' departments. This number had increased by 1917 to 152,600. The work is carried on at 985 different points. The most unique feature of this department is what is known as the boys' camp, which was first developed by the Young Men's Christian Association, and is already a large factor in Christian work. In 1903 214 summer camps were conducted by the American associations.
One of the most important developments of recent years has been the extension of the as sociation among men engaged in industrial pur suits. The associations were originally for Alaska, and Cananea, Mexico. An extensive work was undertaken among the coal miners in Pennsylvania and the lumber men in a num ber of States. The Colorado Fuel and Iron Company and their employees combined to establish a series of associations among the workmen at the different plants of the COM pany similar to the railroad Young Men's Chris tian Associations. It was the experience of the railroad and industrial associations which pre pared the way for the unparalleled service ren dered to the armies during the World War.
The distinctive industrial department is un der the direction of Charles R. Towson of the International Committee, who has 11 associates. There are 117,000 industrial workers who arc association members. In 70 cities m:1 in dustrial secretaries are employed. are 134 association buildings erected especially for men in industry at a cost of $4,717,000. In 1917 the companies contributed $417,000 toward current expenses and the employees paid an equal amount in membership fees.
The industrial revolution which attracted the young men to the city, and so created the basis for the Young Men's Christian Association, has to a large extent depleted the rural districts of young men. At the same time it still remains true that a majority of your men arc found in the country. There are 8,000,000 young men in the country districts of the United States and Canada. For many years an effort was made to discover some method of carrying on association work among these men. \That is known as county work has proved so suc cessful that in 19 different States there are now county organizations, the most extensive work being carried on in Michigan where 32 county secretaries are employed in /6 counties. The plan of work is a county committee, which employes a traveling secretary who will super vise and stimulate Christian work among the young men in the county, organizing Bible classes, men's meetings, in many cases estab lishing reading-rooms, social parlors, sometimes educational classes, and in some instances organizing clubs for athletics of various kinds. County conventions are held, deputation Sun days and a carefully systematized effort is made through the entire county. There are now 150 secretaries employed in county work.