Young Italy
a movement toward forming a republic in Italy, about 1834, as "Young Europe." See MAZZINI, G. led by Mazzini. There were similar associations in other countries, called "Young France," "Young Germany," "Young Poland," etc., the whole known YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASmen in the different cities, demanding a profession of Christianity in their 1, and spiritual associate members, and working by social, mental , SOCIATIONS, organizations of young men in the different cities, demanding a profession of Christianity in their associate members, and working by methods in harmony with Christianity for the physical, so improvement of their members, and of young men in general. An organization called Young Men's Christian Association, was first formed in London, Eng- land, by George Williams in 1844. The movement extended to the United States and Canada in December, 1851, when so- Y. M. C. ASSOCIATIONS cieties were formed at Montreal and Boston, Mass. About 24 associations were added during the next two years, and during the next 10 years the number reached 200. At the first convention, held in Buffalo, N. Y., June 7, 1854, a confederation was formed with a central committee, and a yearly convention. This form of affiliation continued till the Civil War. During the war the United States Christian Commission, formed in New York, November, 1861, sent 5,000 Christian helpers to the field and the hospitals, and distributed over $5,000,000 in money and stores. Guided by the experience gained at this period, the reorganized movement grew rapidly after the war on the following lines: The evangelical test of active membership, a definite and comprehensive plan of work, the ownership of well-adapted buildings, the employment of trained and paid officers, a committee of supervision for each State or Province, with a central committee for general oversight, systematic effort directed to special classes of men (e. g., merchants' clerks, college students, railroad men, German speakers, colored men, Indians, lumbermen, sailors, soldiers, etc.), and great prominence given to the Bible and personal work. A typical Young Men's Association building contains a reception room, reading room, library, parlor, recreation room, offices, class rooms, lecture and entertainment room, gymnasium, including bowling alley, bath and dressing rooms, rooms for boys, kitchen, and janitor's den. Religious and moral instruction, work in behalf of personal purity, temperance, etc., instruction in various branches of knowledge, practical and theoretical, social gatherings, entertainments and games, an employment bureau, boarding house register, savings fund, medical club, and visitation of the sick, are features.
The association took a notable part in war work during the World War, both in the United States and France, and in other countries. In the spring of 1919, when this work reached its culminating point, there were nearly 1,000 establishments in the United States, and nearly 3,000 with the American Expeditionary Forces overseas and fully 2,000 among the army of the Allies and in prison camps, or in all over 6,000 centers. This made it necessary to enlist a staff of about 20,000 secretaries at home and overseas. The association distributed over 5,500,000 copies of the New Testament, the Bible, and other scripture portions, and at least
20,000,000 copies of religious pamphlets and booklets. 45 periodicals were published and over 400,- 000 sheets of letter paper and almost YOUNGSTOWN half as many envelopes were given away to the American soldiers overseas. The post exchanges for the A. E. F. were administered by the Y. M. C. A., and the operations were carried on on a vast scale. During 1919 over 11,000 men and women were sent to Europe to assist in the conduct of the work. The entertainment of the A. E. F. was in the hands of the Y. M. C. A., and there were at one time 95 entertainment troupes in France, furnishing about 4,350 performances a month. Educational facilities were provided for the troops abroad, including university courses at Beaune. Elementary courses were conducted in the United States, as well as high school and agricultural courses. The Y. M. C. A. carried on work in every part of the world affected by the war. See RELIEF, WAR. There were in 1919 557,782 782 men and 181,656 boys enrolled in membership. There were 2,077 fully enrolled associations, and the property in funds amounted to nearly $125,000,000. The income for the year amounted to almost $30,000,000.