The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-31
Copies Hal Been Distributed
Throughout the Country and Were
Read by Associations Secretaries.
HELP FOR FALLEN BROTHERS
MUST BE LINKED WITH SELF-HELP
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
Charity Is often Harmful i'm It's After
Efect-Hard Hearts and Soft
Heads-SeIf-Respect Needful.

NEW YORK, Dec. Ex-Governor Roose-
welt spoke this afternoon at Carnegie Hall
before audience of young men that
completely filed the house. 1t was a mass
meeting arranged by the Y. NJ. c. A. Of
the city, but it was somewhat unique in
the fact that the chief speaker was in
way addressing more than hundred other
audiences throughout the country. 1t had
been arranged so that copies Of Governor
Roosevelts address had been secured in
advance. and sent to secretaries of associa-
tions throughout the country and Ii Was
said that the address was read aloud at
more than one hundred other meetings at
the same hour.
William Z. Dodge presided and among
those on the platform were Gen. D. o.
Howard, Gen. John r. Brooke and various
officers from the harbor forts and the navy
yard. There were also more than hum
dred blue jackets and soldiers present, most
of whom are members of the army and
navy branch of the association. The New
York festival chorus had elevated seats on
the platform and, conducted by Morgan,
the director. rendered musical selections.
Mr.. Dodge spoke briefly on the history of
the Y. NJ. c. A. and then eulogized Colonel
Roosevelt In the various capacities in
which he is known to the public. The
Vice President-elect was received with
prolonged applause He spoke as follows:
1T Is peculiar pleasure to me to come
before you to-day TO greet you and TO bear
testimony to the great good that has been
done by these young mems and young
women's Christian associations throug hout
the United States and the Dominion of
to recognize the law of combination. This
Is true of many phases in our industrial
life, and 1t is equally true of the world of
philanthropic effort. Nowhere Is 1t or will
IL ever De possible to supplant individual
effort and individual initiative, but in ad-
dition TO this there must be work in COM
bination. More and more this is recog-
nfzed as true not only in charitable work
proper, but in that best form of philan-
thropic endeavor where we do good to our
selves by all Joining together to do good
to one another. This is exactly wnar rs
done in your associations.
ut seems to ME that there are several
reasons why you are entitled to especial
the betterment of our American social sys-
tenn First and foremost, your organiza-
tion recognizes the vital need of brother
hood, the most vital of all our needs here
in this great continent. The existence of
Young Mems or Young Woman's Chris
tian Association Is certain proof that some
people at least recognize in practical shape
the identity of aspiration and interest both
in things material and In things higher,
which with us must be widespread through
the masses of the people If the national
life is to attain full development This
spirit of brotherhood recognizes of
necessity both the need of self-help and
also the need of helping others in the only
good-that is. of helping them to help
themselves. Every man Of us needs such
help at some time, and each of us should
be glad to stretch out his hand to a
brother who stumbles But while every
man needs at times to be lifted up when
he stumbles, no man can afford to let him.
self be carried, and 1t is worth no mans
while to try thus to carry some one else.
The man who lies down, who will not try
to walk has become a mere cumberer of
the earth's surface.
These associations of yours try to make
men self-helpfll and to help them when
they are self-helpful. They do not try
merely to carry them, to benefit them for
the moment at the cost of their future un-
doing. This means that all in any way
connected with them not merely retain, bu,
increase their self-respect. Any man who
takes part In the work of such an organiza-
tion IL benefited to some extent and benefits
the community to some extent. of course
always with the provisO that the organi-
zation is well managed and is run on a bus
fness basis, as well as with a philanthropiC
purpose.
OUR OWN BEST HELPERS.
1.-The feeling of brotherhood is necessarily
as remote from a patronizing spirit on the
one hand from spirit of envy and
malice on the other. The best work for oul
uplifting must be done by ourselves, and
yet with brotherly kindness for our neigh.
Dor. In such work. and in the kind o1
work, therefore. done by the Young Mems
Christian Associations, we all stand on the
self-respecting basis of mutual benefit
and common effort. All of us who take par,
both receive and confer benefits. This /:
true of the founder and giver, and Ii /.
no less true of every man who takes ad
vantage OF what the founder and giyel
have done. This brotherhood makes II:
all realize how much we have In common
and how much we can do when we worp
la common. l doubt IL Ii is possible Il
overestimate the good done by the mere
fact of association with common interes
and for a common end and when the com
mon interest is high and the common ent
peculiarly worthy the good done is, o
course, many times increased.
Besides developing this sense of brother
hood the feeling which breeds respect, both
for ones self and for others, your asso
cia tions have a peculiar value in showine
what can be done by acting in combina-
ton without aid from the state. While or
| the one hand IL has become evident thai
under the conditions OF modern life We
cannot allow an unlimited idividualisn
which may work harm to the community
IL is no less evident that the sphere of the
States action should be extended vcry
cautiously, and so far possible onI,
where it will not crush out healthy in
dividual initiative. Voluntary action BIZ in
dividuals in the form of associations oi
any kind for mutual betterment or mutua
| advantage often offer way TO avoid alike
the danger OF state control and the dan
gers OF excessive individualism. This /:
| particularly true of efforts for that mos
| important OF all forms of betterment
moral betterment-the moral bettermen
which usually brings material bettermen
| I'm its train.
ut II only in this way by all of "a.
| working together In a spirit of brother
| hood. by each doing his part for the bet
terment of himself and OF others, that 1t |.