The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-04

Il IHE a4OUN6aA1ENsssS r. IAN aS6VVlA'
T1oN-WHAT They ABE DOING AND WHAT
THET PRoposB 10 Do. At q meeting OF the
Directory or the Young Mems Christian
| IAssociation held night before last the fol-
lowing interesting statement OF the affairs
/ of the Association was submitted by the
president, j.. d. h Slefght, Esq.
| The impression seems to prevail in the
eommuDitythat the Young Mems Christian
Association OF Richmond is myth, and
That it is not worthy OF the support or
prayers Of the people; that 1t Is doing no.
thing whatever TO advance the cause OF re-
ligion or for the WelfareSof the young men
OF our city. tss'z5 s.. 80.
The real reasons for this opinion are ,lp-
known to us. E sls true that all our work
has been greatly crippled because Of this
Lack OF sympathy from our citizens. True
that our library and reading-rooms are not
replenished as often as desirable, because
we have mo money aud true that we have
been unable to keep l,p regular course OF
lectures, because they have never been sus-
tanned. f i5as !.
A recent effort was made among our sub
>stantial citizens and businessmen to raise
means to pay off our debt (ahout $1,000,
which bas been acctlmulating for some
years) and to; give us the necessary funds
for carrying on our work, but the entire
sum given us was about $3.50. And now
the question comes distinctly before us
Are these accusations true Has our As
sociation but ga name to live" or is 1t
doing something in Richmond? Our libra
ry now contains some $500 volumes; our
rooms are pleasant, accessible, and open
from a. M. tos8 2. NJ. every day; while
the average nuT1Der Of visitors to the rooms
is about l,4Qj per month, or 0UeT fifty each
day, and over 500 volumes are issued each
month. The Association, through its Com
mittee on Religious Exercises (J. W. Lock
wood chairman), holds from three TO ytire
religious services eUery aoeek. 1t is also in
full cooperation with the Christian ladies in
thc soup-house, the night-school for poor
ooys, and the Sabbath-afternoo services at
the soup-house. We have also recently un-
dertaken systematic visitation OF the entire
city for the purpose OF supplying the Bible
to every destitute person in Richmond, the
Virginia Bible Society kindly furnishing
the necessary books. .a1
All during the winter we have been reg
ularly aiding the deserving poor through
the hands OF the president, assisted bya
few friends; and many suffering and des-
titute one has been warmed and fed through
this ministration.
In view OF these facts we still appeal to
the generous hearts Of our people for aid.
We greatly need money. We need also the
services of our young men. Will they not
respond and rally to the work? we require
volunteers to push with vigor the Bible
distribution in every part OF our city at
once. We want volunteers to act as teach
ers in the Sabbath school at the peniten-
tiary, conducted by Brother Munford every
Sabbath afternoon; and we now invite and
1rqe our young men to 'freport for duty y
at once to Mr.. Howard, at the rooms, or to
the president, 1901 Main street.
The Directory resolved 10 call public
meeting to consider the interests Of the AS
sociation on Monday night, March 11th.
An interesting time may be expected