New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-02

those who have given the subject careful study have
reached the conclusion that only small percentage
of the young men in Ncw-lorl today are In the
Church under direct religious Influences.
The Rev. W. r. Harshiw, the pastor Of the First
Union Prcsb, terrain Church. in East Eighty sxth-st,
has been giving special attention 10 the young men
in his neghbOrhood, AMI has succeeded In making
many OF them feel that they need the Church and that
the Church needs them The following figures were
given by him recently 10 show the facts which every
Christian worker should know The Christian Asso-
citation people assert that only per cent Of the
young OF this country members Of cvangcl
ical churches; 20 per cent attend church occa
sionGlly 80 per cent never found ut
any church service. From Fity.scventh ST. to One
hundrcdhst.. east OF Ffihave. the population oil
~ 600 IS said 10 contain 10000 young men between
the ages OF eighteen AND thrtyfvc. OF this number
it is Mr.. Harshaw's belief that not 5000 are found
regularly within the evangelical churches Of the
district.
In contrast with that vlcw.' said Mr.. Ilarshaw,
while the Churchs hold on tbs class Is slight the
devils grip Is strong. Our jalls, prisons. penIten
taries crowded with young men. The state
pentcntiary In Joliet. H., at one time Ind 1,40o
inmates, and 011 were under thirty. The same yeir
the State pcnitenaries Of Texas had 2s30 Inmates.
ana a,oo7 were under thirty. In one year SIC men
we're admitted to Ohio prison, and jO2 were under
thirty. In sing Sing the same year there were 1.5oo
Inmates and LII were under thirty. These are
actual facts. Now put Two facts together and what
have your Five per cent OF the young men OF this
country members Of evangelical churches; 40
per cent OF the inmates Of our Jails ana pchl'
enilarcs are fiom the same class. Who or what Is
TO blame for these conditions! Whether II be the
fault OF the Church the fault Of the devil do not
now attempt TO decide.
"what can be done to meet the need OF this par
cunr class The work OF reaching and holding
Young men must take Into account the peculiar con-
Giions of many OF the class. The stores, factories.
niicrs and counting rooms are crowded full OF young
men that have come from the country districts OF
our land or from across the water. ihey are
III. choice men OF the communities whence they have
come They are worth saving. OF these the majority
homeless salaries are small expenses are cSmpar.
lively heavy. have in my study now an application
for the services OF young man OF good education
What Is the muncent salary hs and Yo baye
the salary upon which many young men are forced TO
such a man cannot get boarding In "a hall,
room at less than 50 week. He has ~. -
left to pay for clothes. washing extras Up IN INA,
prays Lead us not into temptation Down he goes
into the street. driven by the heat OF summer or we
sIdewak rntl he Is surrounded by temptations. on
almost every corner stands the brlilantlv hsn.eu.
.pcndldly furnished saloon. 1t will furnish every
young man light heat companionship-the three
things for which the heart OF young man Graves
where else he find the same Without 9 H. smnns
The Christian Associations will furnish him these;
ought a T y ' to meet the needs Of young
Inirrpose her protecting powers between them ana
t"mio1 work Hni nv experience in this grea,
city has convinced mo that the ASSOCIATION Is hot anu
,.s 'I beev" the church herself inside Inc legi
mate lines Of her own work. must take npiu oi .s
Ic no conflict between the two organizations The
Church ought to throw open her doors seven anys IN
the week THE cr T a 3Hnrch ought to employ an
assistant whose special work shouli be among y1ung
pfya hpr WDrk
furn. light heat 9Sm COMPANY af tPc c 70
II have spoken OF these young men as homeless,
II 50. then they need home. No organization OF
Church or Association work such a; ALREADY w shs
such Young men need is to be brought in touch with
Turn. earnest Christian life and power inside .ne
vlishcd the work Is not done II Christian pastors
could only interest their CONGREGATIONS tna n0s S
S could be- S!t done for them. ..,rna,. IN ,ns
Il have made some slight experiments IN inns
Innr men Of my own congregation series OF re-
ceptions for young men have been aT r ,
S w%s in a tas S "" pulpit me
solicitation Of young NEIL The nvita,'n was p pcHSI,
aFSes OF pSss wGS wsrs nSes VIZ" Fly
men responded. More than half the hummer per S Mrrs
Nth music song address Refreshments. dnr pI nan
into personal contact mac s win w Dr'I IN went away
declaring that they had cnoyed themselves Immensely
Is the further rcs" r Many srv H " snc sQ sha
avrnInc. The pastor meets them on the street ana
,rar craet him with a smile. bond OF union has
been formed by which some Of the number T %oI nas
lcs. be drawn into the Church. me pApei,' ham
interest cd some Of the people. Homes nav" Drn
opened up and offered for such purpose dvn Is i, f"
long n line that can be made OF immense behenl 10
Tho class I'm which all 50 deeply interested iouig
mon one thing Is certain. the pastors must tah w
load I'm This matter. We can interest me poop" III
,nything in which ourselves are deeply interesed;
Tho Church of Christ. the good OF the worlu ne
wrapped up in the young men, ana somehow Tie
church must reach and save"