Under Mr. Morse's leadership the staff of the International Committee had increased from two executive secretaries in 1869 to 93 on the borne field and 175 on the foreign field in 1915. The budget of the committee had grown from $2,345 in 1869 to $354.000 for supervision of the home field and $433,000 for the foreign field. The North American type of association work for the whole man had largely through the influence of the International Committee spread to Europe and widely through the colleges and cities of Asia. Africa and South America.
Membership fees range from $2 to $25 per year in addition to receipts from dormitories, restaurants, educational classes and many other features. The income of the North American associations for the year ending 30 April 1917, exclusive of receipts from contributions and endowments, was $13,071,609—this amount was paid by the young men. The receipts from. contributions were $2,140,114 and from endow ment $•25,561. The accompanying illustration gives an idea of the growth of the omaniration.
Period IV. 1914 to 1919. The World War The leading spirit during this period has been Dr. John R. Mon, who was trans ferred in 1915 from the secretaryship of the foreign department to the general secretary ship of the International Committee.
The important features of the past five been (1) the great activity of the home work in the rural field, in industry and among boys; (2) the rapid development in the foreign field; (3) the great work for the pris oners of war, both in allied countries and in the empires; and (4) and surpassing all these the transcendent work for the of America, France, Italy and Russia carried on by the .1merican associations and for British and Canadian troops carried on by the British and Canadian associations. The work for war prisoners was peculiarly the task of the American associations prior to the American declaration of war against Germany in April 1917. No other country was free to undertake this service. By May 1016 there were over 4,000,000 men in the prisoner-of-war camps of Europe (Report International Convention, 1916, page 91). These men were in enclosures con taining from a few thousand to 40,000 persons, who were practically without occupation. Through the efforts of Dr. Mott and a num ber of American secretaries detailed from the foreign field, permission was secured from the various belligerent governments and a most beneficent service inaugurated for this vast body of prisoners. The policy was to erect in each camp an inexpensive hut or service build ing, organize a camp association, establish eclu cauomd classes, athletics and games, furnish a reading room, supply writing material, in augurate shows and entertainments and carry on religious meetings and Bible classes. In
co-operation with the Red Cross, food kitchens were established and supplied, the sick men nursed and clothing and other necessaries pro vided. During the first 17 months of the war $300,000 was raised in the United States for this work and the following year $1,167.322 were raised and expended for work in Europe among both prisoners and soldiers. This Christian service to the prisoners saved men from starving, restored morale, awakened new hope and often educated men for a new sphere in civil life.
On the Mexican border in the summer of 1916 there were a total of 150,000 American troops called into service under conditions, not only full of discomforts and hardships, but full of menace to moral character. The Army and Navy Department was quick to respond to this Thirty-eight temporary buildings were erected. Tents were used at six additional points and special motor equipments devised with moving picture machines, graphophones and other features. There were 350 secretaries, clergymen and business men employed in this service. Free stationery was provided for the writing of 5.000.000 letters home. Recreational and educational facilities were promoted by trained leaders. For this work during eight months $308,000 was raised. At the entertain ments there were present nearly 3.0(X)P00 audi tors; a welt-planned religious program was carried out and over 13,000 soldiers decided to live the Christian life. The chairman of the Army and Navy Department of the Interna tional Committee was William Sloane of New York and the executive secretary John S. Tichenor. This work on the Mexican border prepared the way for the unsurpassed service among American troops during the World War — the climax of the work of the Young Men's Christian Associations. Upon the dec laration of war in April 1Q17 the International Committee immediately offered the services of all the Young Men's Christian Associations of America to the government, and this offer was cordially accepted by President On '10 April Dr. Mott called a conference of association leaders to meet at Garden City, L. 1. He outlined plans for the establishment of a National War Work Council of 100, which should be appointed by the International Com mittee, carry on all work for the American soldiers and make reports to the International Committee. Dr. Mott asked that the associa tions raise $3,000,000 to sustain this work until 31 Dec. 1917.