The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-06
Al. NJ. c. A. BUILDING.
Reception to W. c. Douglass. and Conference
ON Association Work for the City.

A number of gentlemen, twenty-five or thirty,
met at the residence of Mr.. T. C. Day, $40 North
Meridian street. last night, in a reception given
to Mr. w. G. Douglass, of Boston, and to talk
over with him the needs of the work Of the Y.
NJ G. Association in Indianapolis. Among those
present were Rev. NJ. L. Haines, pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church, Mr.. j. F. Wallick,
Mr.. j. G. Kingsbury, Mr.. D. F. Swain,
Mr.. c. E. Coffin, Mr.. c. F. Sayles, Mr.. w. G.
Griffith, Mr.. c. T. Whitsett Mr. Charles D.
Meigs jr, Secretary Palmer, and others more
or less prominent in connection with church and
association work. Mr. Douglass gave very in
esting sketch of Young Mems Christian Associa-
tons, what the organization was intended to be,
the relations it should sustain to the public,
to the church and to the young men of any
given city. A real association is not charity
organization; it is not substitute Cor the
church; it is not missionary
agency to the neglected; it is not
primarily Sabbath school, nor a
gospel service; it is not an asylum for tramps,
the indolent or the vicious. 1t is and should be
none of these things A real, healthfuI, we'll
equipped Y. Nj. O. Association is an organization
and place where self-respecting we'll to'do,
ambitious, honorable young man can find such
society as will be agreeable, such recreation as
VIII De healthful, such surroundings as will be
helpful and such influences as will be beneficial
to his physical mental and spiritual life. Such an
ASSOCIATION cannot do its work in building that
is not attractive, and cheerful. and well-equip-
ped. Young men will not ally themselves with
anything that is decayed or decaying. They will
be repealed at the sight of building rotting
down, dirty unteuable, dsgraceful; and that is
the condition of the building in the city of
Indiana olis
Some figures and facts were given of the asso-
citation work in other cities. In Boston and its
suburbs there are H. 600 young men members of
the association-a veritable army In the central
association there are A. 400 members. More than
1000 are in its gymnasium and over ], 200 are in
its various night classes of which there are
eighteen. devoted to such instruction will be
practically valuable in the business life of young
men. There are parlors where there is music
and society every night. and a readngroo
hlled with the choicest newspapers and periodical
literature. In New York the association is doing
a grand work, and enjoys the confidence and
support OF business men. A. T. Stewart gave it
$4,000 gladly. because it afforded a
p pmn1ov for a tn the young men in his
by the fact that his clerks could find some other
place than q saloon in which to spend their leis-
ure hours. Mr.. Vanderbilt gave it $l0O 900 in his
will, and his son has for years been prominent
in the work. The New York Central railway de-
simply because it pays to provide employees with
the salutary influences of such places of
sort. Mr. William Nibo. proprietor of Niblo's
Garden, made the library of the New York asso-
citation the residuary legatec of his es
tate, and it received $751;, 900 in cash.
In Philadelphia the central building cost
100000 and Mr.. John Wanamaker, the mer
chant, says Philadelphia could better do without
its entire street railway system than its Y. NJ.
c. Association. Eighty-two association buildings
have been built within the past year or two, cost
81 0O0 00O Atlanta has raised $50. 900: Selma,
Alabama, place of only $500 white people, has
raised $l5, 000 Kansas City has raised $780, 900
for building; and so it goes the country over.
Mr.. Douglass believed that Indianapolis could
easily raise the needed $685. 00O if the matter was
placed properly before the public, and the right
agencies employed.
A number of inquiries as to the details of asso-
citation work We're asked, to which Mr.. Douglass
made replies, after which Mr.. Meigs offered a
resolution to the effect that new Y NJ c. A.
building should be built. This called forth
general response short addresses being made by
Rev. Mr.. Haines and others. The vote upon Mr..
Meigs's resolution was unanimous and hearty,
eand, upon the further motion of Mr. David
Swain, Mr.. T. G. Day, the president of the asso
citation was authorized to appoint a committee of
hve, OF which he was to be chairman whose
duty it should be to take such steps as may be
needful to properly organize the movement
Mrs Day served the gentlemen with elegant
refreshments, al fresco, and the remainder of the
evening was spent in pleasant social It was
the spirit and purpose OF the meeting to see that
substantial cOmmodious and thoroughly
equipped home be built upon the present site,
without any further delay, and if the association
has the courage Of its convictions and the faith
of its opportunity, such building will be dedi-
ated next summer