The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-11

the report of the board of directors was in
Guided all of the essential facts of the re-
ports OF the different officers of the insti-
tuition. 1t embraced the five departments OF
the ssociation-physical, economic, social,
intellectual and spiritual. The directory
paid high compliment to the present phys
ical director, and expressed the opinion that
hands.
The economic department was instituted
only last November, but has already shown
good results. Its purpose is to assist young
men to positions and TO help them by en-
couraging manly persistence in seeking
work and in economic management The
employment department has had seventy
applications. not counting unworthy per-
sons who have applied. 1t has found en-
ployment for many of those applying.
In the intellectual department there are
regular classes of instruction. A six months
course is offered and is now in progress in
bookkeeping, arithmetic, penmanship, spell
ing shorthand reporting, German, AL
zebra, geometry, architectural and mechan-
1cal drawing. One hundred and twenty-five
persons are enrolled in these classes. There
are also the reading rooms and the lecture
courses in this department In the realm of
the spiritual, the directory reported that it
had sought to meet its opportunities by
means of Sunday gospel addresses, talks and
lectures to men, Saturday night services
tor both men and boys and by shop meet
ings. The total attendance at the mems
meetings was increased one-third over 1896,
reaching $500, while the Bible class attend
ance reached 81, an increase of 20 per cent.
over last year.
The report showed that the association
had on Dec. 81 633 senior members and l31
Junior members, and constituency of 200
contributors, showing an actual decrease of
ia in the membership from 1896. The num-
Der of contributors, however, shows an in
crease, and the revenue from this source
Is greater. The expense Of maintaining the
association during 1897 was $S,S4336, an in
crease of $475, caused chiefly by the increase
in the number and in the efficiency of the
classes in the educational department
In conclusion the directors said: There
Is a very marked and growing demand on
the part of the membership for better fa-
cilities. We are not surprised at this, for
similar organizations in this city, planned
on the club idea. are all improving their
building or moving into new ones, and public
buildings are constantly elevating the taste
and demand in this direction. The sur
roundings of our present building are GER
tainly detrimental to our usefulness. The
facilities are not such as to give the asso-
citation the power of attraction The limited
quarters forbid further expansion. We have
reached the limit of possibilities until new
and very much larger building is provided
This year ought to see a good beginning
toward such a building as would accommo-
with the very best practicable equipment
We are glad to observe a growing dispo-
sition among indianapolis people to see that
our philanthropic enterprises are properly
provided for. We trust and believe that the
Young Men Christian Association is among
those most worthy of recognition. and that
it will at no very distant day be provided
for in a manner worthy of its high purpose
and usefulness.