The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-14
H, ]. MCCOY IS SURPRISED.
Denies the Charge That Poorly
Dressed Young Men Are
UnWelCome.
Young Mems Christian Association
Prohibits Wrestling and
SparrIng.

"This institution is the apple of my
eye" said ]. II. Mccoy, secretary of the
San Francisco Young Mems Christian
Association, yesterday. 1.-THE building is
my ideal of what such place should be,
and the association itself is approaching
my ideal"
Mr.. Mccoy was commenting upon the
criticisms made upon the association by
certain members of the Congregational
Monday Clu5 at its last meeting. He said:
am surprised at the position taken by the
club or some of its members, when their weekly
meetings are held here through our courtesy.
They are not City pastors, many OF them, and
don't know how they can be entirely familiar
with the institution and its methods. AS for
Mr.. Tubb, called his attention TO the injustice
of his criticisms made during my absence in
May, and the paper is an outgroWth OF that con-
versation.
do not know why Mr.. Cruzan is disposed to
criticize the management. He is a personal
friend OF mine, and q gentleman whom
esteem.
/ do not suppose it is wise to pay any atten-
ton to the discussion. No doubt the directors
would object to such a course. But 1t is not the
pleasantest thing in the world to hear untrue
statements of an institution TO which we have
given our best efforts for fourteen years, and
which we pulled out of the slough of despond.
1t is not true that the churches of the City
do not contribute hearty support to the insti-
hone there is an air of responsibility about
the place. We want 1t to prevail. AS for
s'magnifcence," see nothing suggestive OF it.
We don't wear swallow-tail coats here The
claim that q poorly dressed young man is not
welcome here is as ridiculous as II is false. 1t
is a strict rule of the institution and one
strictly adhered to- that any young man who
is of good moral character, 1t matters not how
he may be dressed, shall be treated with the
utmost courtesy. If man comes here rank
with the fumes of whisky he is not admitted.
/ see we are charged with training prize
fighters. The speaker doesn't know, evidently,
the gymnasium. Even tumbling is rarely per-
mitted, and that only on public occasions
Physical culture in a general sense but in no
specific direction is encouraged.
Nearly every sect and vocation are repre-
sented in our membership. Fully one-third of
the young men are mechanics. There are
seyenty-five Catholics and fifty Jews enrolled.
The charge of discrimination is unjust and
absurd. There are business men, managers,
statesmen, bank clerks and representatives of
almost every reputable vocation in the associa-
ton, and, as said, large proportion are
artisans.
| contend that the class of young men that
most needs their ministrations are neglected
by the churches. The young men who are
getting fair salaries and have refined tastes
are not in the province of the Salvation Army
and the prison reform workers. me churches
do not reach them. The association does its
most effective work among that class.
Mr.. Mccoy stated that it was through no
mismanagement that the ASSOCIATION is
struggling with the heavy debt of $3.50, 900.
In common with business firms of the City
its property had deprecated in value, and
he placed the amount of such loss at S75,-
600. 1.-THE payment of our debt will be
practically an endowment" said Mr.. Nc
Coy, ''for when that is paid the institution
will be self-supporting.