The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-19
HOME FOB HOMELESS BOYS
Inauguration of a Movement to Provide
Them Refuge aud Employ ent
Public Meeting at the Tabernacle Church Last
EVENING". V. McGilliards Work
Messrs. Day, Blake and Charlton.


addresses in connection with the AGITATION
of means to extend the Christian hand to
the homeless boy. As might be expected
there were q large number of mothers In
the audience. The Christian Endeavor and
Epworth League societies were also repre-
sented, the meeting being under tho aus
pieces Of the Christian Endeavor local union.
Mr.. Scion l.. Goode. president of the union.
was therefore chairman of the meeting.
After an organ voluntary and q hymn.
Mr.. Goode read q part of St
Mathew, XIV, and Rev. DR.. Rondthaler
offered prayer. Mr.. Goode then stated the
object of the meeting, illustrating the need
of such a home by one or two incidents In
the life of the street gamin.
Mr.. Martin V. McGilllsrd. whose heart
has been thoroughly enlisted in this work.
was called moon to tell what has been done.
He had been impressed by the necessity OF
the movement. he said. by watching the
boys on the street. The purpose is
not only to furnish q home for
boys. but to include IN employment
bureau. After consultation with Messrs.
Elan. Ritter. Conner. Cornelius. Dugdale
and others, he visited, he said. the Chicago
home. 1t is situated at present, he said.
in q wretched building. but as half q
million dollars has been promised the
home. it will soon be in better quarters.
The best home of the kind. he said, is In
Baltimore. He spoke of the good for time
and eternity that can be done, and in.
stanced the fact that the present Governor
in q Western State was reared In the boys
home In New York. He impressed the duty
of agitation and organization npon the
business men of the city. The plan, as out
lined By the COMMITTEES, he said, is to or
porated. having. q membership fee for
adults of s.. for those under TWEEN.
ty-one years, of g.. and q life membership
fee of S25. So much faith, he said. had
an institution that the refusal of . build
ing on Delaware street had been secured.
The Christian Endeavor societies and
Epworth Leagues had signifed . willing
Mr.. McGilliard's talk was OF . stirring
kind, and readily won the sympathy OF all
in the audience.
Mr.. Morris: a young man who is . mem
Der of the Meridian-street Church Society
of Christian EndesvOr, and who, with sew
eral others, has started q work among boys.
was the next TO speak. He had become
interested in this branch of Christian
of the l.. NJ. c. A. Having visited the
pork-house districr. one Sunday afternoon.
to give special invitation to such az
he might meet TO attend the meet
ings. he bad met q crowd of boys.
of very dirty, unkempt appearance.
and with language OF the same character.
Four or five responded and accompanied
him to the association building. There.
on the third floor, the boys were enter
tanned as well as might be by singing Cos
pei ny IN reading the Bible. and talks.
The boys came back the next Sunday. and
though at times very unconventional In de-
pertinent were held In control. The third
Sunday witnessed an increase IN their num-
Der. aud when iJ became noised among the
boys that they were given their eats" as
the gamIn patois has ii, the numbers
continued to grow. The organization was
called the Boys Era Club" Occasionally
the wild spirits would break out of control
and there would almost be q riot. Many
of the lads brought revolvers and pistols
with them. and by various ruses they were
generally induced to give the weapons no.
MIR. Morris said he had q collection of the
Weapons which had been given to him by
the boys. 1t came q time when the club
had it's first social. Candy. popcorn and
music were on the programme. There were
eral tghts in the effort TO take them from
one another. The club was compelled
to leave the association building,
and it's promoters fitted u a
room OH Virginia avenue. Here it
fiourished. and the numbers increased.
The boys were kept entertained by games.
Mr.. Morris said that hearing one exclaim,
That's my jack" he turned and found q
deck OF cards had been substituted for the
game of iagOmache, which had been given
w n NOS Oho ~ tAOsss
would acknowledge the ownership of the
deck until q threat was made to cOnfiscste
1t. when one of the gamins seized IL and
left. Mr. Morris continued in an entertain
ing way to relate incidents and describe
scenss which often provoked q smile among
the hearers. His remarks left no room to
doubt that there Is an ample field for the
projected home.
Mr.. Gilman, of tho Roberts Park Ep-
worth League, who was associated with
Mr.. Morris in this work, was the next
speaker. He told of being called to that
first third-tloor meeting IN the Y. M. G.. A.
Building to play the organ. and described
some incidents In the experience Of the
club which resembled bloodless riots. The
meetings had continued with varying suc-
cess all last winter, until the advent OF
spring. and then the youthful membersh had
lone as many q wiser and older believer
had done-Iet his religion take q holiday.
lie believed, however. he said, that much
good had been done.
The meeting had by this time been thor
oughly unified IN its sympathies with the
street walf and street gamin, and tho,-
oughly appreciated Mr.. Andrew Smiths
tenor solo, Where Is My Boy Tonight '
Mr.. L. e.. Day followed in o very practical
and interesting talk. in which he declared
that il il time for indianapolis to initiate
the beneiicent example of other cities and
provide something for homeless boys. A
/ street gamin who should die in this city
and go to heaven, would not
be able TO give the city. ne
to say that 1t has hne homes, and a great
deal of wealth. and even a great deal of
Christianity, but that the homeless boy %
u sharer OF its comforts. is not I'm IL"
The grandest thing" said Mr.. Day, that
God gives rs Is the opportunity to DO
something for somebody else.o He sdvo-
Gated the movement. and urged that 1t be
established on n broad and enduring basis.
Mr.. John q. Blake received u round OF
applause after rising TO speak. The re-
mark of the chairman, that no man In In.
diana has done more TO bless the boys and
IL better loved by them, had the ap-
prevail OF the audience. Mr. Blake modest
ly disclaimed having much OF pertinence
to say on the subject. He fsvors. he said,
thing that will help the boys. Review
ing a former effort IN this city 10 establish
a newsboys' home. u. said IL failed because
it was not started right The plan ought
TO be O broad and solid ore. with good
financial support. "One night" said Mr..
Blake, las one OF the boys. after his bath.
covered himself up snug In a warm straw
! bed before a blazing CRATE of coal. he said
to me-: MI. Blake, this do beat she hotel de
box car, don't itf Mr.. Blake said that IN
Gods balances the value of n human soul
outweighs all the wealth of the world, and
that these street waits have souls as bright
as the fnlrest TO be saved.
Mr.. L. j. Charlton. of the Reform School
for Bows, Was called on. Owing To the
lafeness of the h0ur he spoke briefly. but
made a strong plea for the pItiabie little
fellows. Tie had found that of the number
In the Reform School. l69 had been news.
boys and boof-blncks. and about 80 per
cent. had grown up homeless. He said he
<nvorad a loW forh,GAtpv hova IN aoll