The New Student's Reference Work/Young Women's Christian Association

Young Women’s Christian Association is an organization which seeks to help young women by providing for their physical, social, mental and spiritual wants. The means used are Bible training-classes, evangelical meetings, personal religious work, libraries and reading-rooms, classes in various studies, musical and literary entertainments, socials and receptions in homelike rooms, helpful companionships and holiday excursions. There is a special department for young women of colleges. In 1891 there were 1,000 associations in Great Britain; 50 on the continent of Europe; 20 in India; 25 in Australia; 225 in America; and in other places, including China and Japan, 175. The total in the world was 1,500. In 1901 America had 74 city and 409 student associations, with a membership of 49,175. There now are associations affiliated with the American committee in 552 colleges and 104 cities, with 24 state organizations. Each state holds an annual convention. The membership of local associations connected with the American committee is 100,252. The international association was formed in 1886. The work is controlled by an international committee of 46 members. Twenty-four states had organized state associations in 1909. The state associations hold conventions yearly, and the international convention meets every two years. The Evangel is a monthly organ of the associations, published at Chicago.