Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/874

* YOTJNG IBELAND. r38 Y. M. C. A. stormy year 184S the British Government grew alarmed, ilitcuel was arrested and deported to Tasmania, whereupon the other leaders of the Young Irelanders set to work with renewed ac- tivity to bring about an uprising. Tlie attempted insurrection, however, failed miserably, and the leaders were all speedily arrested. Jlcagher and O'Brien were sentenced to death, but the sen- tence was counnuted to transportation. The movement therewith quickly collapsed. See Ire- land. YOTJNG ITALY. A society organized by Mazzini (q.v.) in 1831 for the purpose of ef- fecting the liberation of the Italian peninsula from Austrian domination and its union under a republican form of government. As distin- g^iished from the Carbonari (q.v.), the new so- ciety sought to attain its aims by a campaign of agitation and open insurrection rather than by conspiracy. It first became openly active in tiie beginning of 1834, when occurred the abortive invasion of Savoy by Mazzini. Before this, how- ever, the Sardinian Government had obtained full cognizance of the movement through its spies and had entered upon a course of severe repres- sion, a number of the leaders being put to death and others being subjected to imprisonment and exile. The impracticable character of Mazzini made it evident that a successful revolution was impossible, and the society rapidly declined in influence, its place being taken by the more con- servative national movement of which the Sar- dinian monarch was coming to assume the leadership. The society, nevertheless, did great good in quickening the spirit of Italian patriot- ism, and to a very large extent made the work of Victor Emmanuel and Cavour possible. It was the model for a number of revolutionary so- cieties throughout Europe in the stormy period preceding the upheaval of 1848. See Young Europe; Italy. YOtTNG MEN'S CHBISTIAN ASSOCIA- TIONS. Societies of young men composed of an active controlling membership identified with evangelical churches and of a more numerous associate membership not yet connected with the churches. All their work seeks to promote the physical, social, mental, and spiritual welfare of their members. North America. The associations in the United States and Canada have been always atliliated, and in 1902 a promising organiza- tion was added in the City of Mexico. The first associations "on the continent were organized in December. 18.51, at M<mtreal and Boston, both as a result of information received regarding the society organized seven years ear- lier in London. England. Forty more were formed within three years. Their first interna- tional convention was held at BulTalo, N. Y., .June 7, 18.54. A confederation was formed, with a ('entral Committee and an annual convention, which lasicd until the Civil War. The war greatly diminished the membership, and the or- ganizations that survived worked chieHy among soldiers in the field. At a special convention of the Northern aaso<nations. held in New York, November, 1861, the United States Christian Commission was formed. It received the prac- tical sympathy of the Christian public, sent 5000 helpers to camps and hospitals, and distributed over $5,000,000 in money and stores. The asso- ciations in the South did similar army work, but not in a general organized capacity. After the war the association entered upon a period of growth. Leading business men con- sented to serve in olficial positions. Employed officers increased in mnnlier and much more in experience and efficiency. Carefully planned buildings were erected, the indebtedness on ear- lier buildings was canceled, and great impi-ove- nient in equipment was realized. But the chief gain came in the steady advance, through ac- cumulated experience, of all standards of work. A general outline of this growth is shown in the following table : NORTH AMERICA Total number of aaaocia- tions Total membership Numbe/ of railroad associations Membership Number of student associations Membership Employed officers Buildingrs Value of buildings Current expenses of associations Associations reporting gymnasia Associations reporting educational classes. Number of students... Associations reporting Bible classes Associations reporting boys' work 90 15,548 1 117 12 None International secretaries employed Current expenses, inter- national work Members f^tate and pro- vincial committees State and prtivincial secretaries emiiloyed... Current expenses. State and provincial work $60,000 None None $522 None None 1,176 154,921 70 10,900 268 12,7(10 6Ci 116 $4,822,980 $957,02.3 168 282 6.000 430 l.i8 14 $37,848 640 35 $38,959 1,736 350,465 194 62,348 642 38,096 1.9.'i4 4S0 $25,417,605 $3,583,496 545 359 30,143 920 575 44 $150,574 787 75 $179,159 The Work of Each Assocl4tion, The local association has absolute autonomy, except that to affiliate with the international convention there must be constitutional provision restricting ac- tive (voting and office-Iiearing) membership to men in communion with some evangelical Church, A typical association may be thus described: (1) ]Iembership — (a) active, who carry most of the responsibility: (b) associate, young men of good moral character, (2) An incorporated board of directors, the usual officers, and numerous com- mittees. Real est;ite is generally held by a board of trustees. The members of those boards and committees number some 40.000. (3) .s execu- tive officer a salaried secretary, whose chief re- sponsibility is to supervise, organize, and admin- ister, (4) A s])ecially constructed Iiuilding, with reception room, offices, reading room, li- brary, meeting and recreation rooms, educational classrooms, and (piariors for boys' de])ar(ment. Modern liuildings often contain dormitories for yoimg men, which produce revenue and contrib- ute toward the social life, especially when a res- taurant is added. (.5) Organized departments: (a) business — general sujiervision. membership; (b) religiotis — Bible and workers' training