The herald., 1895-03-10
GROWTH
AND EFFECTIVE WORK
OF THE YOUNG
WOMEN'S
CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
OF LOS ANGELES

Cnr1Stlan Association III lIOS AHSeleo udo
beenlittle less than phenomenal.
Although work was done toward the
forming of such an organization in 1892,
it was not until the summer of 1898 that
it was formally organized and established.
From a board of managers at that time,
the local membership has steadily in
creased until now it numbers nearly 700.
The work of the association is protect
i've and preventive, rather than one of re-
form or rescue. 1t aims to bestow upon
every young woman who comes under It's
influence that state and condition OF
mind which will act as safeguard
against all manner of social and moral
temptations. 1t is not charitable organ
ization in the cant acceptation of the
term for it deals almost entirely with
self-respecting girls.
The object of the association is along
the lines of the usual association work,
and is four-fold, in that it stands for the
improvement OF the mental, social, phys
ical and spiritual condition of young
women; for the character building of its
members, which must result in the build
ing up of society in every respect.
Any young woman who is over IA years
of age and a member in good standing OF
Protestant Evangelical Church, may be-
come an active member of the association
by payment of an annual fee of $1.00; as
sociate membership requires the same age
limitation good moral character, and the
same annual fee; any person who contrib
utes toward the support of the work not
less than $500 annually may become
sustaining member; and life membership
L 80
at any one time; while an honorary men,
Der is one in good standing in an Evan
gelical church, who may be elected by the
association without payment of any fees.
Members paying the dollar fee are
privileged to attend the association socials
or lectures and to the special rates of the
educational classes Associate members
are entitled to all privileges of the associ
alton, except voting and holding office.
Active members are expected to attend
business and religious meetings, extend
the work by increasing membership, and
assist in raising funds and securing the
interest and cooperation of the people of
the city; also to seek out young women,
introduce them to the privileges of the
association and secure their attendance at
church and the religious meetings and in
all possible ways become personally help
full to them
The officers and board OF directors of
the association are:
Mrs 2. D Mathuss, president.
DR.. Rose Talbot Billiard, first vice-presidedt.
Miss Emma F. Rider, second vce-president.
Miss Cora L. latham, secretary.
Mrs. W. c. Patterson. treasurer
Miss Clara P. Hull, Financial secretary.
Miss A. a. Keyser. Miss Mary L. Haynes
Mrs. J. NJ. C. Marble, Miss NJ q. Thompson,
Mrs. r. J. Forsyth, Mrs W. B. Herriott
Miss Male Bennett, Miss Jennie A. Bristol,
Miss Anna B. Clark, Miss Jessie L. Bates
Mrs. s. E. Sweet, Mrs. G. W. White,
MRS S. V. Landt Mrs. NJ. s. Johnston,
Mrs NJ. a. Ferguson, Miss II, B. Freeman,
Mrs. L. A. Rose, Miss Jessie Chambers,
Mrs NJ Ella Clute, Mrs. Leonard Me rrilL
Mrs. T. D. Burks
Miss Clara Yale Morse. general secretary.
Miss PetrenaS S. Platt assistant.
From this board of managers and
directors are made up committees on
finance, membership, religious work.
noon rest, rooms, educational, physical
culture, library, entertainment and recep-
ton, invitation and music, all of which
in various ways work Tor the general good
and advancement of the association and
the accomplishment of its aim.
: The first home of the y. W. C. A, was
a suite of rooms in the Croker building
ON Broadway, which were rented Septem-
Der 1st, 1893, and occupied for only short
time because the membership grew so
rapidly that larger quarters were found to
be a necessity In February, 1894, six
rooms in the Schumacher block on North
Spring street were secured, and such has
been its steady advancement that these
are now found to be insufficient in size for
the needs of the association.
They are overlooking with young life
from early morning until night, and
while those who carry Oh the work are
more than gratited in the widespread re-
Spouse made by Los Angeles young
women, yet they deplore the fact there is
no department but that suffers for lack of
suitable room in the present location, and |
the social life particularly is restricted
Two departments of the work are self |
supporting; the educational is made so by |
the charge of small tuition fee to the
members of the various classes and the |
lunch by the uniform price of five cents |
for each dish served.
The educational branch is an important |
one. There are classes in Spanish, Ger
man, vocal and instrumental music |
phisi culture, English literature and |
history, mathematics, art and dress max !
ing, each of which classes are presided |
over and directed by competent teacher.
Rowing, cycling and outing clubs under |
efficient leaders are also open to members. |
The lunch department, under the man |
agement of Miss Margaret Henderson, |
opened almost Immediately after the as
ISOLATION moved into its present home, |
and a quiet, homelike, neatly laid |
table with pleasant surroundings is en-
joyed and appreciated by the many mem
bers who enjoy its advantages. In addi-
ton to the lunch room, where the bust
ness girl may take her own lunch if she |
chooses, is quiet rest room, in which, |
away from all disturbance, the tired
worker may read and rest from the ten
sion OF her mornings labors, and be the |
better fitted for her duties during the re-
mander of the day. The lunch room is
also always open to those obliged to stay
down town Saturday evenings.
In addition to the classes for mental and
physical development of the mem bers,