West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-07-30
Christian Work among Railroad
Men.

The work of the Young Mems
Christian Association among the
railroad men of this continent is
one that deserves the warm sympa-
thy and cordial cooperation of the
whole community. Our attention
has been drawn anew to,it by the
recent visit to Toronto of Edwin D.
Ingersoll, the Railway Secretary
of the International Committee,
who delivered an admirable adj
dress at public meeting of Chris
tian workers in Shaftesbury Hall,
in that city. 1t was no new thing
to have reading rooms and similar
appliances for railway men. Many
com panies organized and main
tanned such at their own expense.
Nor was it a novelty to endeavor
to reach this class of men, hold
special services, even in depots,
and seek to provide for their spirit
ual wants. But to combine all
these in the most practical form
and make it the special work of
special men who organized and SUI
pervised it, proved the Inaugural
ton of what was practically new
work, and dates from 1872, in the
city of Cleveland. While the spir-
itual good of,the men is the high
est object, never lost sight of, it is
pursued concurrently.w and by
means of every method and appli-
ance which can benefit the men
in any respect, physically, intel
lectually, and socially, as we'll as
spiritually. The nature of the
work will be best understood by
reference to the report. Here is an
extract from one on "the physical
department of the work :"
To benefit the men physically,
we have reading rooms made as at
tractive as possible. Men while
off duty, seeking physical rest or
recreation, find these places are
just the things they need, and
many Of these Associations through
this fundamentally have brought
many of the employees under the
influence of the Gospel of Christ.
We also have a wash-room and
bathroom for the use of men COM
ing off trains covered with dust
and dirt. Men sick and injured
need physical care. Many are far
away from home. The general
secretary visits them in the hospi-
tails or in their boarding-houses,
often carrying them welcome COM
forts, etc. To benefit the men
physically, instruction is given on
first aid to the injured. Many lives
have been lost, not only Of employ
es, but Of passengers, the men not
knowing just what to do when an
accident occurred. This wise in
struction saves many lives. Dur
ing the severe storms of the win
ter, coffee is provided in many
points, and free distribution made
of the same.
There are social entertainments,
and various innocent recreations,
study is encouraged, lectures and
talks arranged upon the infnity OF
subjects connected with the work,
steam, electricity, the use Of met
ais, the duties of employees, the re-
lations of capital and labor, the
laws relating to railways, a hun
dred topics, scientific, economic, lie.
gal and social. The sick are visit
ed, religious services are provided
tracts and wholesome literature are
circulated, personal visitation Of
cabooses, locomotives, signal sta
tions, ETC., etc., is Systematically
carried on. Buildings with read
ing rooms, wash rooms and dining
rooms are erected. The coffee
house idea is here engrafted upon
the ordinary Y. M. G. A. building
There is, for example, one in Chi
cago, which cost $4,000 dollars, and
contains large reading room (used
also for meetings., lunch room and
kitchen, bath and wash rooms
office, parlor, hospital and several
lodging rooms, and is furnished tc
the railroad branch of the Chicago
Association by the c. B. & O. R. R
company, at a nominal rent, only
| q fraction of tho "a Sh contri hution