The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-29
RAlLROADY. NC. A. WORK
GENERAL HARRISON PREsIDEs At
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
Words of Wisdom and kfnd1iness
from the Former President
Statistical Information.

anniversary in the gymnasium hall Oh the
" Nj. c. A building on Illinois street yes
terday afternoon at $3.50 o'clock. The meet
ing was presided over by General Ben
jamin Harrison, and was full OF interest
Every seat In the hall was occupied and
the principal part of the attendance was
supplied by railroad men. Quite number
of women were in the audience.
On the platform with General Harrison
sat Caleb s. Denny. president Of the Y. M
c. A.; c. ]. Hicks. international secretary
of the Railroad Y. NJ. C. A; George L.
Howser general secretary. George a
Sites, chairman, and DIR. B. A. Brown.
treasurer of the committee on management
of the Brightwood department Y. NJ G. A;
Rev. II. ]. Black, pastor M. Z. Church. OK
Brightwood; A. A. Zion, superintendent IN
dianapolis Union Railway Company, and
Rev. f. w. Murray, pastor of the Peoples
formerly Brightwood) Congregational
Church. The programme showed rare wis
dom of arrangement, being made up OF
musical numbers. reports of committees,
scriptural readings and addresses In appro-
pirate order of sequence. The exercises
were opened by Mr.. Denny, who in brief
speech presented General Harrison, the
presiding officer.
GEN. HARRISONS REMARKS.
In taking charge of the meeting. General
Harrison spoke as follows:
ST suppose the special work among rail-
road men did not have its origin in any
opinion that railroad men were in greater
need Of the comforting and Strengthening
influence of the gospel of Christ than other
men. Every mans need is so extreme In
that respect that we cannot make comparf-
sons. Perhaps rather It had it's origin in
the fact that those who were managing
these things thought that to get hold of
railroad men would be to occupy a strong
strategic position in the fight for good
morals and religion, because you are
stirring about much. knowledge in
creases when men go to and fro, and most
of you are going to and fro. The railroads
themselves are getting to understand that
mechanical skill is not hurt any il 1t is
backed up by good moral character-in-
deed, they are beginning to make some
quirements in that direction looking ex-
clusively to the business side OF railroad
management, not because they are Chris
tians, but because railroad property is
safer in the hands of men who are re-
sponsible. fancy that a man who believes
that he will not only be applauded by the
president of the road, but will have the APP
plause of the King of the Universe-the
Lord Colds not less apt to stay in front
when collision Is imminent. A man who
receives the religious idea that he may
that to do things well and conscientious
ly. scrupulously, Is pleasing not only to the
boss of the shop, but to God-is a little
more apt TO be scrupulous and honest and
careful and brave than If he did not believe
these things. So that there can be no
doubt that the old idea that railroad men
must necessarily be rough men is very
much like that about the 'roustabouts
and mates on the old steamboats-when it
was thought that steamboat men could not
manage 'roustabouts' without an immense
amount of profanity.
The idea that railroad men must be
rough is giving way. 1t is not necessary.
If you are picking out brave man now
you can't say: Always take the man that
swears the most. There used to be
thought of that kind in connection with
soldiersz-that soldier must be rough.
boisterous, swearing, drinking man. But
General Howard and others took that no.
ton out of the minds of men. 1t is the
conscientious, God-fearing soldier that will
stay the longest in hot place. Now, we
are here this afternoon to listen to an adj
dress by one who has been long and init
mately connected with the work of this
association. / not here to make a
speech, but only to express by my pres
ence and these few words my interest in
this work and to assume formal direction
OF the exercises of the afternoon. We will
open these exercises by singing that stir
Name
INTERESTING MATTERS.
The invocation was offered by George T.
Howser. general secretary of the State Y.
M. c. A. Miss Ida Sweenie then rendered
In superb manner the song Come Unto
Me-" after which the scriptural lesson was
read by Rev. II. j. Black Prayer was Of
| fered by Rev. Z. w. Murray. In the alb
sence of the quartet that was down on
the programme for a number Miss Sweenie
very graciously sang another solo, Zone
| Sweetly Solemn Thought" 1t is not likely
| that Miss Sweenies exquisitely clear,
| sweet soprano has ever been in better form
| than yesterday. George A. Sites, chair
man of the Brightwood committee on man.
agement. read an encouraging report of
| the work among railroad men I'm that place
| during the past year, and o. the present
condition of the department. Interesting
| figures concerning educational and relig-
! ious work done were given, also concerning
the restaurant managed by the Brightwood
branch. The membership was shown tc
nave increased from lsl TO 262 during tho
year. thus reaching the maximum mem
bership OF the departments history. The
| treasurer, Rev. B. A. Brown. submitted q
report which indicated excellent financial
management. Both of these reports have
been neatly printed in the form of a folder
| which is accessible any one who desire.
| TO examine the figures.
| The meeting was closed with the princi
| pal address. made by G. j. Hicks, interna.
| tional secretary of the Railroad Depart
| ment. Y. NJ. C.. A Mr.. Hicks spoke ex
temporaneously and I'm very interesting
manner of the rapid spread Of the railroad
| Y. Nj. G. A. work He said that at the
present time there are in this country IS
associations, with a membership of 1000
| railroad men. His statement that the rail
| roads of the United States have contrib
| uted over $780, 600 in the past year 10 tn,
| support of these associations created grea
| enthusiasm. Mr.. Hicks talked entertain
| fngly and forcibly OF the great conferenc.
| of railroad Y. NJ. &. A. workers held II
| Philadelphia recently. saying that Their,
| were l.400 delegates from all parts of thi
| country, and others from Germany an,
| Russia, the latter sent to the conference b,
their governments in order to Investigate
| and report upon the Christian work tina
is being done In America among the rail
| road men. Mr. Hicks cited many incident
| and facts 10 demonstrate the extraordinary
| merit of the work. One of these was tn,
| association started about year ago
| Texarkana, Tex, despite the discouragin,
| assurance given by high railroad officials
| that such enterprise could not possibl,
succeed in that city. The speaker declare,
that $1,000 building has been erected
| and that n membership of about 250-pai.
| up-secured. or the $1,000 raised for tn
building $1,000 was obtained from the rail
| road men themselves and - 900 contribute,
by the companies. Mr.. Hicks was listene,
to with attention throughout his entir
| address. Local men who prominent Fl