Springfield College - Massasoit Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

Page 19 text:

The MASSASOIT is day, State and City offices, Railroad Branch, New Rochelle Association, and West Side Neighborhood House; Wednesday, visit to Morris High School with Dr. Gulick, thence to East Hall and Columbia Gymnasium with Dr. Meylan. The final event was a much needed plunge in the swim- ming tank of the university gymnasium. Many amusing incidents occurred to give spice and variety to the occasion. Only passing reference must be made to the Grand Central baggage episode, where sixteen stalwart youths stood ready to revenge our beloved president against the injustice of the railroad baggage man; to the persistence of some of our number to voyage to “Dreamland in the midst of important conferences; and to the incessant and delightful tones of the leader ' s whistle, to bring the delinquent into line. One lasting impression was the fact that men, not machinery or equip- ment, are the real vital factors in the successful Association ; and because of this our responsibility as leaders in a modern movement is tremendous.

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14 The MASSASOIT ♦ largest and most successful branches of the Young Men ' s Christian Asso- ciation in New York and other cities, two of the largest universities, and many boys’ clubs, social settlements and similar institutions are visited. An opportunity is thus afforded to meet the leaders in the field of Asso- ciation effort, also those in the field of physical education in our schools and colleges. The trip this year has of course been the most successful in the his- tory of the school. Leaving Springfield on the morning of Thursday, March 1 ( , an enthusiastic, gay party of eighteen youths under the paternal care of Dr. Doggett, the contrast was very evident, as parties of one, two or three weary, haggard students slowly wended their way back to the dormitory. The first point visited was the beautiful and modern plant of the New Haven Association. Here, after a few hours of “condensed education” and dinner, we visited Dwight 1 1 all and the gymnasium at Yale University. Making a short stop at Bridgeport, we finally reached New York Union Depot at nine o’clock, and after a few hours spent in friendly argument with railroad and hotel officials, were finally lodged in our temporary resting place. From the Ashland House as headquarters we made many sallies upon the unsuspecting - Associations and secretaries, and in every case were treated with that kindness and courtesy which is synonymous with the name of Association leadership. A brief outline of our tour is all that space will allow us to present. Thursdav, our time was occupied with three hours of traveling and the visits to New Haven and Bridgeport Associations and to Yale University; Friday, the West Side Branch, Eighty-sixth Street Branch and Avenue ■‘.V’ Boys Club; Saturday, Brooklyn Central, where we were the guests of the Brooklyn secretaries for luncheon, the Navy Association, and the St. George’s Church, followed by a visit to the institutional department of the church, and in the afternoon attended the West Side men’s meeting Young Men’s Institute, and Bowery Branch: Sunday, morning service at and the famous address on “The Landless Man to the Manless Land; Mondaw the Twenty-third Street Branch, Foreign and College offices, International Committee, and the “grand finale” being the annual banquet given to the Senior Class by the Metropolitan Alumni Association; Tues-

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16 The MASSASOIT Recent progress Contributed by I . I . Doggett, pb.D., president of the School C l IIS year is the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Training School. Glancing back over these twenty years, it must be said that they have been marked by steady upward growth. There is a larger life, and a more stimulating atmosphere about the Training School than ever before. The problem of training leaders for Christian work, except for the ministry, was in many respects a new one, and this institution has rendered important service to the cause of education in working out a course of study and training that is calculated to fit students for religious leadership among young men, and develop their administrative talent. The scheme of work here is remote from the old monastic idea of education. It aims to make leaders who can respond to the environment of the twentieth cen- tury. It does not seek to teach students a certain set of theological opinions, but to make men who will think and grow. ' file development of the physical department has been a unique con- tribution. We have done much to make the physical directorship an office in the modern church with a similar function and much the same dignity as the medical missionary. As the theological student studies divinity, here the student studies humanity. Among the recent developments have been courses of study for work among boys. All students now study boy life, the boy nature, and to a considerable extent methods of work among boys. Another recent development has been the furnishing of men for the playground and summer camp movement. In most cases, these are not as vet permanent positions, but last year thirteen of our undergraduates were occupied in this manner for the summer. These courses of study at the Training School are built upon a recognition of the demands of modern