Some time ago it was intimated that the Y. M. C. A. were opening their doors to Roman Catholics, and certainly from the news that was given, it did look that way; but “The Western Watchman,” of February 20, 1913, prints a letter from the secretary of the local branch in Utica, in reply to the question whether Catholics were allowed to vote or hold office in the Y. M. C. A. This secretary said, “Of course you understand the Y. M. C. A. is a Protestant organization. It has never been suggested as being otherwise, but its membership is open to any man of moral character, regardless of creed or11nationality. The Association concedes to every man the right of religious choice. The right to vote and hold office is limited throughout the country to members of evangelical churches. The term ‘evangelical’ is held by some to include the Catholic as well as Protestant churches, but the intent of the constitution, as I understand it, when originally adopted was to avoid any possibility of controversy by limiting the matter of voting and holding office to members of Protestant churches.” This, of course, does not settle the matter, nor is the opinion of this local secretary the opinion of the whole body. The danger is that in these days of utter disregard of constitutions the Y. M. C. A. may be made open, in the fullest sense, to Roman Catholics.
