A Good Leader Necessary 133 



to perfect the organization of the county association, 

 any interested person within the limits of the county 

 must make the start. Devotion to the cause, 

 persistence, and unfailing enthusiasm are perhaps 

 the best personal equipment for the local beginner 

 of this new work. His first concern should be that 

 of gathering a committee of men like himself from 

 different parts of the county. Doubtless these will 

 form themselves into a sort of brotherhood commit- 

 tee. After such temporary organization, the next 

 important step is that of securing an able county 

 leader. 



1. Choose a good leader. Now, the success of 

 the movement is to depend very largely upon the 

 character of the leader to be chosen. If the right 

 man be selected, no matter how hard the con- 

 ditions, he will be able finally to bring system and 

 order and spiritual progress out of it all. The 

 important characteristics of the ideal leader of 

 country boys are comparatively few. First of all, 

 he must, of course, be moved by a sense of devotion 

 to the cause of Christianity the up-building 

 of the characters, especially the spiritual natures, 

 of young men. He should be a man who has been 

 trained in a good college, if possible a graduate, with 

 experience in the Y.M.C.A. and other like or- 

 ganizations. He should have had some special 

 training in such subjects as psychology, sociology, 

 and economics, and should be fairly well versed in 



