ABSTRACT
The American Young Men's Christian Association began its work with Russian workers, students, and soldiers in 1900. YMCA leaders, known as secretaries, labored to maintain the permission and goodwill of the imperial family. The political connections of the YMCA to the U.S. government contributed to its closure on Soviet territory by the government in October 1918. YMCA secretaries, reflective writers in the reports and letters about experiences. Edward T. Heald worked with soldiers and filled leadership roles from 1916-19. James Stokes, founder of the Mayak, demonstrated little sympathy for socialism in general, he showed no interest in Russian politics unless it hindered his plans. The first YMCA mission in Ukraine began in August, 1915, when Secretary John Day instituted 'religious-morale' work among the German and Austrian prisoners of war held at Darnytsia, near Kiev. Soviet presses published a wide variety of political criticism of the YMCA and its partner organizations in books and periodicals such as Antireligioznik, Bezbozhnik, and Voprosii istorii.
