The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-12
BUSINESS MEN INTERESTED.
The Y. NJ. c. AS Project Laid Before the
Members of the Board of Trade.
The Advantages that the City May Derive
from Providing Suitable Place of En-
..ertainmeht for Its Young Men.

After the grain call at the Board Of Trade,
yesterday noon, was over, the president of the
board, John H. Holiday, called the gentlemen
to order. He said that they had been invited to
hear statement with reasons for the erecting Of
a Young Mems Christian Association building
the present building being totally inadequate.
1t is proposed to prepare place that will be at
tractive to young men, draw them in from the
street. and give them place where they may go
in the evening. Weinsnre against loss by fire, and
protect our property in other directions. Why
not take measures to protect our young men7
Why not provide some safeguard for the morals
of the community By building up the morals
Of young men we may escape having defalca-
TONS perhaps see before me some who have
suffered from such things.
Charles w. Smith was then introduced by the
president He said;
"In 80 far as the work of the Association is of
strictly Christian or religious character, it
appeals peculiarly to the churches and other
religious organizations Of the city. And so, FIRST
of ALL the nature of their call has been fully ex-
planned before the congregations of the various
churches. But. in so far as its work tends
to make young men better business men and
better fitted for the performance Of their duties
as employees, all business men. and especially all
employers OF young men, are directly interested
in the success of its labors So that, in the few
moments / shall detain you, shall address my
self to the consideration of the proposed work
of the Association, far it tends in the direc
ton already suggested.
lowing to the situation and condition Of affairs
in this city. the work heretofore performed by
the Association here has not been Of the charac-
ter which was originally intended as the primary
object of the Association.
up to this time in this city its work has been
more that of an evangelization society. conduct
ing religious meetings at hospitals. prisons and
other such places | mean no criticism upon
such labors, for doubtless they have accom-
plished some good in all such places, and in some
comfort Nor ought they to be the object of
criticism at your hands, as they have been rem
dered without expense to any one. But the pri-
mary object of the association was not to reach
the unfortunate and criminal classes Of the COM
munity, but was intended for the benefit of the
young men themselves and this end was in
tended to be accomplished by banding the young
men together In such associations and under
such surroundings as were calculated to develop
virtuous honest and capable young men. The
idea of the Association has ever been to develop
the entire man-physical mental and moral.
1t is desired and intended to accomplish this
end in this city by direct, practical means. The
Association owns real estate of the estimated
value OF $35, 600 without an incumbrance there
on, and is out of debt The building now on the
premises has become 80 dilapidated as to be
scarcely habitable and will produce a very small
income. It is desired to erect building at
cost of $35, 900. This building will contain upon
the ground floor rooms for rent. which will pro-
duce considerable income; the upper floor will
contain hall for assembly purposes. gymna-
stun, bathroom, rooms for games and proper
amusements, and a reading room to be kept
supplied with the current periodicals and litera-
ture Upon an estimate made it is believed
that when erected the income from the rental of
rooms, the sale of tickets to the bath rooms and
gymnasium will be sufficient to meet all the de.
mauds of the Association, and maintain its ope-
rations. So that if the building is once complet-
ed without any debt resting upon 1T. thencefor
ward the Association will be self-sustaining
"Then the question recurs would the result
thus obtained justify an appeal to you, business
men, for aid in the enterprise? Now l address
you mainly as employers of young men. In the
first place, from mere considerations of human
ity, and out of common courtesy, ordinarily en-
ployers feel an interest in the welfare of their
employes-physical, mental and moral. 1t is no
uncommon thing for employers occasionally to
invite young men in their employ to their homes.
and especially so when the young men have not
homes in the city. Such courtesies are ordinar-
lily well repaid by the young men and are certain
to be repaid if the recipient have o proper APP
probation of the kindness But there are times
when such course is not open to the employer.
such invitations until You discover enough of
the character of the employe to know whether
such an invitation would be justified. In such
situation it is matter of at least some value
You can invite the young men,
where you know their surroundings will be
good and the influences be healthful. But be-
yond this mere matter OF courtesy, and now
looking only to your welfare, take it every en-
ployer Of young men has direct interest in the
hab IF
services, some of which, at least are of an init
mate and important nature. / take it every en-
ployer, it matters not what his own religious
views are, or whether he have any would prefer
would prefer to have such employee come to his
work in the morning with a clear brain and
steady hand. Now, Go not maintain that the
establishment OF such resort for young men as
have indicated would result in all young men
preferrng it to other places of amusement, where
they would be surrounded by influences less
heathful, but dosay the tendency would be in the
right direction, and that with little care the
partof employers very many young men who come
to the city from the smaller country towns. or who
have no homes in the city, could be led to spend
their evenings in the reading rooms of the Asso-
citation, or in the gymnasium, or the rooms de-
voted to games, under healthful influences, who
otherwise might be led to spend their time in re-
sorts of questionable character, eventually end
ing in excesses of every kind If this can be
accomplished, you at once recognize that your
employees will be better fitted for the succeeding
days work, laying aside all questions of moral
character or mental improvement. And think,
further, that you will concede that such a result
would tend much toward integrity and upright
ness in the employee. / am quite sure every one Of
you would prefer an employe coming to his work
after an evening SO spent rather than from the
saloon. the Zoo. or a brothel. Beyond this, it is
desired TO establish here as has been success
fully done in other cities. night classes for
the practical business education of young
men who are so employed in The day as to
be unable to devote daylight to the accomplish
ment of such purposes. Thus in Boston more
than twelve hundred young men attend classes
for improvement in writing, arithmetic, book
keeping aid other kindred subjects. The more
intelligent your employe the more valuable is he
to you. 1t seems that such an opportunity for
selfimprovement would encourage young men
to make endeavors in this direction, who, with
out it, would perhaps never undertake them.