The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-14
A GYMNASIUM INSTRUCTOR.
Practical Working Of The Young Mems
Christian Association.
EMPLOYMENT SECURED FOR YOUNG MEN.
Richmond Behind Many other Cities-Atten-
ton 20 Physical Culture-The Athletic
Association and Boat Club.

ter September lst the membership lee sI"h
be raised 10 81 per year, including the priVi-
lece of the gymnasium. This acton mas oeeh
deemed wiae in view Of the fact that the al
vantaees afforded TO the members IN every d.
raction fully Justify an increase Of the annual
dues The board are DESTROYS OF Offering hrst-
class attractions in the line OF entertainments
educational classes, etc. The services OF the
very best officers have been secured regardless
Of expense. the only motive being the WISH Ol
making the work Of the association as enec-
tive as possible. 1
II is evident. however that these Increased
expenses had TO be met in some way In
view of the fact that every man is Wiling 10
pay for the value Of the goods he receives the
membership fee was raised with the STANDARD
Of the association. While there Is no lnteh-
ton Of making the institution seH-supportlpg'
an increase OF the payments made 10y tne
members were considered % be very apt 10
raise the value of the association IN their es-
timation General contributions TOT ueTay-
ing the expenses of the ASSOCIATION WIN %
raised from time 10 time, as has been oohe III
the past IL is well-knOwn fact that an III,
dividual thinks more Of an article, PROVIDED
il suits mis- fancy the more he has 20 pay t oI
IL and for similar reasons IL is deemed ID the
best interest of Young Mems CHRISTIAN AsSo-
Citations not 10 make them seH-suppoiV'44 ~,
but to call on the residents Of community lnac
where such association IS III eAlsIeuCo OOO"-
sionally for a contribution.
STATE CONVENTIONS.
Experience has shown that the annual state
conventions Of the Young Mems Christian
Association are always Of special dement, 10
The cities where these gatherings are heu'
Quite a number Of people who have Deen IN
aware OF the immense amount OF good nroueut
ON these organizations had by attending the
nnouH0 q
became warm supporters OF the association
work. s,,.
Among the associations of the State Of Viz
ginia the one in this city at present pays 10 us
officers the smallest salaries IN proportion.
The city of Lynchburg leads the list ny pay
ing Il 800 10 the general secretary, whie the
gymnasium instructor receives elOOO anu me
assistant instructor 5000 per year. Ihese
salaries are considerably higher than those
paid 10 the officials of the Richmond asSo-
citation. Then again the contributions 10 lhe
building of the Richmond association have
not been nearly as liberal as elsewhere. Inc
building at Sixth and Main streets was erected
at a cost Of SAC, 900 and of this amount ST.
600 still remain unpaid, the annual interest OF
which sum takes up good portion OF the IN
come Of the organization.
Reference to the year book OF the Young
Mems Christian Association In the United
States and Canada shows that in the years
1889 and 1890 a number of new association
buildings have been erected with greater lib
eraity on the part of the citizens OF the
respective communities.
OF OTHER CITIES.
In June, 1882 the association building OF
Cornell University at lthica n. y, was
erected at a cost of $4,000 The ASSOCIATION
building dedicated in the same year at Utica,
N. Y, cost 800, 900, while the population OF
the CITY was only $4,000. Fort Wayne. Ind,
erected building for $4,000, its population
being 10000. Atlanta. Ga. spent 1000 Tor
an association building with population, OF
$4,000. The 10000 inhabitants of Omaha,
Neb. spent $4,000 for similar purpose.
Wheeling, W, Va, has a building costing ting
$4,000, with a population Of $4,000.
Nashville, Tenn, prides herself on a
S54 900 building with population
of $4,000. That association pays the general
secretary 81 800 per year and the gymnasium
instructor $1,000. New Britain, Conn,
erected an association building at a cost OF
$4,000 with a population of 10000 Cedar
Rapids, Ia, has a building costing $4,000,
while Der population is only 10000. Rock
ford. Ill. paid s32, 900 for an association build
ing with a population of 5000. Mount
Vernon, N. Y, spent $4,000 for building
with population of $1,000. Hamilton, ont
put up q building for $4,000, population
AZ 600.
The close observer will at once admit that
since March Is. 1891, the time when Mr.. Alex
ander Candlsh took charge of the association
in this city, quite a number of vast improve
ments have been made Among the new TEA
lures introduced the employment depart
ment occupies prominent position. ms Is
one of the agencies by which the ASSOCIATION
seeks to reach young men spiritually as well
as tempOrarily and the securing of positions
for young men reacts to the great benefit of
the association generally. From a financial
standpoint no other line Of ASSOCIATION work
4 tF.t n TQTr
as that of aiding young men IN securing en-
ployment. A secretary who intends TO APP
proach a man on the question OF giving to-
ward association support certainly has
strong argumentin favor Of the practical char
acter OF the work when he can say 10 the
business man that several of his most valued
employees were obtained through the employ
ment department of the association. No class
of men more fully appreciate applied Chris
tianity than business men.
THE MAN OF TOMORROW.
If it is to be believed that the youth Of to-
day is the man of tomorrow great benefit may
be expected 10 result from the employment
work in the future. While tho old men who
stand at the helm of the association at pres
eut must, in the course of time. step aside and
make room for other men who will pilot the
work. it is of the greatest importance to look
well into the characters of young men who
are to be placed in good business houses. for,
if young men coming 70 the association are
rightly impressed th9v in their turn will i'm
press their fellow-employes and ultimately
attain 10 positions of honor IN the business
houses of their cities.
In the meantime their appreciation Of the
practical work of the association securing
them employment may be great, though
their circumstances may forbid them making
it manifest, yet the time will come when
these same young men will not only hold
honorable positions in business circles, but
they will hold Offices IN churches of all de
nominations. Thus through the employment
department the association will be benefited
socially, financially and best of all, spirit
ually.
Another very important feature in the as
ISOLATION work is the physical culture OF
young men as il is brought on in the gymna-
stun. II is an open secret that since the time
when Professor Cornelius left this association
10 accept similar call IN Nashville, Tenn,
not sufficient attention has been paid to that
branch of the work For the sake of economy
II became necessary TO dispense with the SER
vices of professional man who would give
his whole time 10 the work. At the last meet
Ing of the board of directors it WAS de-
cided TO secure the very best man who could
be gotten TO take charge of the gymnasium,
and on September LIST Professor Howard f.
Smith will take charge of his new position.
During the coming winter the physical de-
partment of the association will 10 doubt re-
ceive great boom. IL is we'll known fact
that the development Of the bodies of young
men IS just as important as their mental and
spiritual culture.