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the eastern part of the conference since its beginning in 1948. In 1963 the Oaklawn Psychiatric Center at Elkhart, Indiana, was dedicated, and the Ohio churches have supported and patronized this center. The centers serve a clientele that is chiefly from outside the Mennonite Church. Their staffs of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and social workers, however, are available to ministers and laity of the supporting churches.

Youth Programs

Ohio Mennonite churches in the last several decades have had a splendid record of activities for young people. For some years literary societies in many of the congregations were an important type of youth activity. In 1932 the various literary societies formed a statewide organization meeting at the Dalton High School. Orris Yoder was elected as the first president.''

During the 1930's Young People's Institutes were held in various places, the first being held at the Beech Church in Stark County.'" Leaders in this movement were I. W. Royer, O. N. Johns, and P. L. Frey. For some years YPI's were held at the Beech Church and also at Walnut Creek in Holmes County. From 1940 to 1947 a campsite at Sebring was the location for these institutes as well as Camp Zion located eight miles south of Canton.

Today the youth of the Ohio and Eastern Mennonite Conference are nearly all a part of the churchwide Mennonite Youth Fellowship. Most of the congregations have their own organization of this movement which stresses Christian faith, practice, and fellowship.

The MYF's are more than merely gatherings of young people for social occasions. They engage in promoting the work of the church by distributing literature, making community surveys, visiting hospitals, helping to repair churches, and a host of other projects.

The youth program is integrated into the church by making it a part of the Ohio Mennonite Christian Workers' Conference. Two cabinets of young people are elected to carry on the work under conference sponsors. One cabinet serves the fellowships in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. The other cabinet serves the eastern Pennsylvania area. Conventions, workshops, and work camps as well as local meetings promote the goals of the Youth Fellowship. A news medium, The Ohio and Eastern Voice of Youth Fellowship,