The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-07
YOUTH TO SERVE IN WAR
SAFETY OF NATION IS WITH THEM,
SAYS GOVERNOR MOUNT.
FOrty-Third Anniversary of the Y. Nj.
G. A.--EffOrts to Secure q
New Building.

The forty-third anniversary of the found
ing of the Y. NJ c. A. of this city was OBJ
served by special services last night at the
First Presbyterian Church The principal
speaker of the evening was Governor
Mount. The Governor has been confined to
his house for several days on account of an
attack of influenza, but he was able to full
fill the promise he had made to the asso-
citation officers, and so delivered his address.
He spoke of the ambitions of youth and the
need of training characters in the proper
direction. There is nothing like environ
ment to mold the man, and where pitfalls
exist to catch the unwary there should also
be such institutions as the Y. M. G. A. to
diffuse good influences. The Governor in
cidentally touched upon the war agitation,
and said something that fired the patriotic
feeling of the large audience. Said he:
Now at this time when there is so much
activity in national affairs and war with
Spain seems a probability, we are all earn
estly praying to God to avert such cala am
fight in the defense of the honor of his
country will be the young man. Every mail
20 the Governors Office brings with 1t offers
of services from the old veteran, but their
loyalty has been amply demonstrated, they
have already passed through one dreadful
carnage for their country's cause and 1T
could not be expected of them that they
should again shoulder the musket and
march away to war. The safety OF the Ma
ton rests now on the young men and its
future destiny must be borne upon their
shoulders.
CLEAN HEARTS IN THE WAR.
The Governor then spoke Of the value of
intoxicating in the minds of the youth that
proper spirit of love of country and graft
tude for it's founders and defenders of the
past. A good clean heart was an assurance
of good citizenship in war as well as in
peace, and patriotism is one of the fruits
of Y. NJ c. A. work.
The Governor further said that the neces-
sity to-day for the Y. M. c. "A. is greater
cial conditions evidenced by the drifting. of
the population to the cities enforceS this
view. In 1890 one-thirtieth of the population
over 5000 population; in 1890 the cities con
tanned one-third of the population. The pop
ulation of the cities has increased eighty
six times, while that of the country has
increased only twelve times. Another up-
favorable fact to be noted is that the for
eign population is nearly all in the cities.
This concentration of population has result
ed in the rapid growth of evil influences,
and while the churches have also grown
they have not kept pace with the growth
ization as that Of the Y. M. C. A. In such
an association young men from the country
are given social and educational advantag es
and are surrounded by Christian influences.
The churches do great work, and also the
Christian Endeavor societies and the boys
brigades, but the doors of the churches are
closed a great part of the time, while the
places of evil and temptation are never
closed. How important 1t then is TO encour-
age and upbuild an institution that is con-
stantly open and giving to all who will &C.
cept the benefit of good surroundings.
There are 10000 men in the reforma-
tories and prisons OF the country whose av-
erage age is twenty-four years." said the
Governor. You see the Adversary is after
the young men,"
THE RAILROAD Y. M. c. A.
Continuing he said: 1.-THE railroad de-
partment of the 7. M. C. A. work is to be
specially commended. I do not know when
1 attended a meeting that impressed me
more than one 1 attended recently in the
Big -Four shops. The general superintend
ent of the road, J. Q. Van Wrinkle told me
on that occasion that the railroad company
fostered the Railroad Y. NJ. c. A. not al
together because of unselfsh motives. He
said that every dollar the company eX
pended upon 1t came back many times to
the company in the more reliable service
obtained from the employees: The increase
of rapid transit facilities and the multiple
ity of trains had made 1t absolutely essen
tial to have temperate, upright men. So Il
is in every department of hfe-there is
| everywhere a demand for Christian men
| for men who can say no when the con
| science says no, and who can say yes wher
| conscience says yes. Thus it is to the in
| terest of every business man to help uplif
| the young man, and way to do this is tt
| assist the Y. NJ. G. A. in it's hand-to-han(
| and heart-to-heart work.
j. A. Hildreth, secretary of the Y. M. G.
| A, read to the meeting a condensed state.
ment of the annual report of the associa.
| ton made last January for the year 1897
| He spoke particularly of the educationa
| and labor employment departments Of the
| institution, and said that a new equipment
| for the association was greatly needed. The
| present building was erected when the city
| was only about half its present size, anC
| there is a necessity for larger quarters fol
this great Christian club in this era Of
| club life. "Other clubs, whose Influences
| have been far from beneficial, have excelleC
us in attractive equipment" said Mr.. Hill
dreth.
Caleb S. Denny, president of the associa
| ton, who presided at the meeting, CLOSED
! the evening with few remarks in which h(
| called the attention of the audience to the
hoped to sell it's present edifice and cree
a new structure that would be a credit &c
the city. He said that the present loca-
ton was not only poor one, but was a
very bad one. In fact said he, it would be-
hard to find a location in the business Sec
ton that could be worse. 1t is the prayer.
full desire of the present management that
the association be better housed. The value
of the present property is about $90,100 and
If that sum is obtained it will go far to-
ward erecting a modern, wel-euupped
provide an income from rentals that will
defray the running expenses.
Burglars i'm Three Localities.
Burglars entered the residence of William