Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-14
NEEDS STEADY HELP.
THE ASSOCIATIONS WORK RE-
rARpED ny LACK OF MEANS.
The Directors Lay the Facts BEFORE
the People of Richmond ana hp-
r.ar for Their Hearty and Liberal
Cooperation.

The following appeal explains itself. ana
should be given heed by the good peop'e
OF Richmond:
The Board OF Directors OF the Young
Mems Christian Association recognize ina.
they are but the servants or the peopie
I'm the conduct of the institution over
which they are called to preside. and Tor
which they are responsible; and having
reached a point in the history OF Inc
association where they are at loss "
know how TO proceed have determ'heu
TO bring the matter before the peop'e'
and ask for advice and instruction.
We are not unmlndfu of the generous
response made to our appeal about year
ago, when over $4,000 was subscribed 10
lift the debt Of the association. we nave
been faithful to that trust, and nave
applied the money as collected 10 the
LIQUIDATION Of that debt. When all 'tne
subscriptions made and running through
a period Of three years shall have Deen
paid there will still be due OF the oid
debt 5000 This Is secured by MORTGAGE
on our building. and does not enter INTO
our present embarrassment
THE PRESENT NEED.
Many OF our friends who contrlputeu
last year to the debt seem unable 10 UNI
derstand how we can possibly need as
sistance again. and in so short time.
The situation is easily explained. "hat
you then gave was for the specihc pun
nose of freeing us OF debt. No part OF IL
has ever been used to meet our current eN-
f,ncn fc
cient to meet our expenses. Our annual
expenses amount TO about $1,000; our re-
ceIpts are only about $i,O0-so that there
IL an annual deficit of about $500 And
this sum represents about our amman
shortage ever since We have occupied our
new building. The large debt or S20Wo
which our friends were called upon 10
raise, was in part these Accommodations OF
the annual deficits.
Some of the very friends who contributed
so largely to pay the $1,000 debt did us
serious injury unwittingly by discon-
tlnung their annual sustaining member
ship-fee. which was vital TO our support.
Now, what have We? Only about a year
has elapsed since all the floating debt or
the association was paid, and we find
ourselves confronted with debt Of $2,2O0,
being little less than the average an
nual shortage. After careful considera-
ton, We have determined TO provide FOR
this out of the sale of the lot In rear
OF our association building which Is prac-
tically OF no use TO us. SO that, with the
exception Of the debt of 5000 secured by
mortgage on the building, we may say
we are out of debt, and prepared TO enter
upon the work of another year. Shall
We do so? Can We do so. when We know
that there will be a shortage of about
s., 800 at the end of the year? We think
we would, under existing circumstances,
be morally guilty.
NOW, FOR THE FUTURE.
In the effort to maintain the organiza-
ton and provide for It's support in the
past the directors have left nothing I'M
done. Many a protracted session of the
board has been held after the midnight
hour. when others were peacefully Sleep
Ing, considering this vital question. Com
mittees have been formed. and the city
districted and thoroughly canvassed with
out success; and when all has failed, the
directors have put their hands into their
own pockets and generously paid the In
debtedness. True. they found ample COM
pensation in the consciousness OF having
done this for the Masters cause. But this
cannot always last. They come now TO
the people of Richmond, and ask for in
structions as TO the future.
1t Is your instituton-shall II be con-
tlnued? II Richmond can support with
out effort 300 bar-rooms, is it expecting
TO much. or asking too much Of the
thousands Of Christians in our midst, 10
take care OF one Young Mems Christian
Association? We propose 10 hold mass
meeting at the Association Hall on Sun
day. the 2lst instant and We ask that all
friends OF the association be- present.
Upon the action Of that meeting depends
the future usefulness Of our association.
We need $3.50 In addition to our present
income TO keep the work up TO its present
standard. We are not extravagant. FIX
pendtures are closely watched, and every
thing Systematically done. If We decrease
expenditures In any direction we curtail
the usefulness of the association TO that
extent We must have an association
commensurate with our city, VIII We
be content with less?