Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-11

In other ways much has been dono-em-
ployment has been found for 3; lOC nave been
temporarily assisted, and boarding-houses have
been found for 10.
In connection with tho religious work done
hero, II is gratifying 10 refer 10 the Wonderiul
Success OF the religious work done by the hal!'
road Branch OF this ASSOCIATION. This depart
men, OF our work was organized ABOUT tWo
years ago, aud whilst the work Is supported OK
clusiyely by the railroads and the lnombers OF
the brehch. It IA carried on unGor IN. auspices
OF this. "a the central association, W th mem.
Der Of our board as president OF the Board oi
Management OF the Railroad Branch.
This work is for men connected with tbe RAN
road, express, and telegraph service, whose oc,
cgpatiCn denies.thom the religious advantages OF
othorA II has been in charge OF Mr.. Il. T.
hcha0ls. general secretary OF the hallroa1
Branch, and during the past two years, or siuce
It's organization, iG7 have professed conversion
nnd l5s have joined tho churches OF Richmond
and Manchester. Truly has Gods aDundan'
blessing been upon His work.
FIyANcIAL.
Financially this has been year OF great pros
perity with our association.
At our last annual mesting our total indebt
edness was over $4,000 In April, 1920. oui
La1ies' Auxiliary Society came % our relief
and turned over 10 our treasurer s., ,52j from the
proceeds OF n bazaar held in this hail In adj
tiOn 10 this We have had subscribed By friends o
our work 10 reduce our debt about $500, which
will shortly DO collected. THIS VIII enable US tt
duce the mortgago-then our only debt-to Sll'
Geo. a substantial reduction of f9.000 OF our deb
during tho year. Besides this we have trescoed
the walls of our building at cost OK about soJO
our Income from our membership Is about
$1,000. or about enough 20 pay the current ex
penses Of tho association, leaving balance nov
In hand OF tl0I
EDUCATIONAL.
We have classes in bookkeeping, penman
ship, and stenoRraphy free to all members o.
the association. Also, free circulating library
tthe only one in our city OF about 5OOO volumes
which received In the past year about 100 new
books, purchased aud donated by oar Ladies'
Auxiliary Society.
Wo have also provided q course OF lectures
and instructive entertainments Tree TO mem
bers two each month, from October to Msy, in-
elusive.
We have also a literary and debs'
ting society, which has boon lea
ture OF much interest 20 our young men,
Mems Christien Association - fast winning q
State reputation. The force OF tls arguments
and ei0Guence has been felt BY kindred societies
In friendly contests, not only In sister city, bu
also in tho halls OF learning aud renoWh-a NC
less institution than Richmond College, ouI
ctty's PRIDE And, encouraged by their success
am told that our Randolph Literary and Deoe
ting Society is now about 10 entor contest Win
tho jefferson Society Of the University OF VIZ
VINO can tell but that wo may devoiop here
Patrick Henry, or a Clay, or Daniel, whose
voice may some day DO lifted In laundering olo
ouenco In the cause Of his country; or. higne
stiIl, be hoard from the pulpit in the cause o.
his Master7
THE LATE SECRETARY.
And now como 10 tho sad part Of my report
II IA the loss Of our beloved secretary, hr, i. u
wilkinson, by the hand OF death on the 20 rt
timo His loss was blow 70 our work, ana M
place will be hard 10 fll. he had been Ia th'
affshf
brought 10 II full conservation 10 the cause h'
espOused, aud with his quiet earnes'ness an,
zeal was fast strengthening the WORK mere III al
i;s departments
Supervised ~ our state secretary our Worh i
now IN charge of Mr.. James Atkinson, our as
sisiant secretary. who is dischhrgtng his duties
with most commendable fidelity.
We have O committee now in search OF SUN
able man, and / trust that we shall soon nave .
general secretary who will push forward oul
work. And let me appeal TO you, friends, tol
your continued and Increased support. W.
want eyeryc { zen OF X ehmOnd to feel an inieres
in this Institution. IL IS mere 10 promote lh'
welfare OF the young men OF our Guy, Withou
regard 10 creed or c,ase. Their spiritual wei
fare, in our feeble way, IS our chief purpose
but even though some OF our friends shoult
have no creed and take but little interest IL
things religious, still do We ask their support a
citizens for the sake Of tho young men
APPEAL FoR AID.
From All parts OF our State, ani especially
from the country districts, young Iaen are com
ing 70 our city 10 begin heir business lie. lti
n critical period with them. It Is probable ina
the first year OF thoir life here will indicate 4
not determine their future. IL VIII determine
whether ihey are 70 grow 70 De useiui cluLou'
ana add 70 our oity's welfare or De tnro"h D.
error aud immortality burden upon our CITY
sunnori. Therefore, We appeal 20 all 10 aid u
IA our efferts g make Of these young men, ah'
the young men who nre growing up In oul
midst. at least good citizens. heIp Us y,
your support 10 give them by our gymnasium
strong. hoalthy bodies: help US by you
support 10 give them by our library and educa
tlonal clssses, cultivated minds; help us by You
support to bring them together lnere IN soclh
intercourse and innocent games and amnse
mems: help Us by your support 10 mako tnl
piecs so attractive 10 tho young men OF our cltl
that they will not be led into evil by the aura
tiOns Of vice. We must meet ATTRACTION WIN AZ
traction. We cannot do this without Ihe lloera
support OF our people. We nave no ehuO" tnSn gu
fund and no revenue from rental OF et0res Dc
meath as many associations have. we are sDsc
lutely dependent upon the support oil our Owl
citzena
Captain Frank Cunningham sang. will
such pathos the solo Il have friend
that he was loudlv encored, and had TO re
appear upon the platform. when he sanG
with equal sweetness would hy."
SOMETHING NEW TO SAY.
Rev. DR.. w. V. Tudor. the new pastor o
Broad Street Methodist church, then de
livered a strong address in the interest ant
for the perpetuation Of the Young Men
Christian Association, which he considered
a twin instrument for good with that o
the Church of God. In the commence
ment he said his address should not De
rehash of old association addresses, Ou
something new, although he might b.
charged with not taking hopetu
view of the situation or status, o.
the association. He showed how ther'
was a summit of greatness and turning
point in the history of most institutions
and by way of illustration stated that tn'
old city of Antwerp was once the CON
mercial market of the world, ana tn
wealth of the universe was emptleu lnl'
her Ian. and she had more than quartz
of a million of inhabitants within her cor
poration; but now what was her position
as q market, notwithstanding her lorme
commercial supremacy!
Now, look at her decline. With the graS
growing in her streets and market:piace
she is almost in q hopeless state OF deca
dence. The Young Mems Christian Asso
citation had been great and was sum useiul
but he was not certain but that 1T had ar
rived at a crisis in its history, turning
point which meant decadence; ana ina
what it had gained in culture IT had lost II
power, and that the novelty OF them ha'
worn off. and while many OF them ha'
large buildings they had small prayer
meetings.
WORDS OF WARNING.
Continuing. DIR. Tudor said; he might b,
considered O prophet of evil IN the posi-
bic crisis of this association, but he wante'
to impress up the people the idea OF az
prehensfon and fear for ITS further III
and usefulness, and that the crisis mus
be tided over before 1t was too late, whel
we would miss it by the experiences OF II
loss. Vigilance, be said, is the price o
liberty. and we can only save tho aSsocia
ton by faith and vigilance. Victor bug
had said that this was en- age or women
but he thought II was an age OF younl
men, and he had faith in them and be
lieyed in them, and thought the Your
Mems Christian Association was the inst
tuition to save them from the clubs, whicl
boded them no good.
OFFICERS FoR THE YEAR.
The president of the association the