The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-29
DOING A GOOD WORK.

In appointing John ColdweI to the
position of religious work secretary of
the railway Young Mems Christian
sociations along all the Gould lines, Miss
Helen Gould has given an impetus to
a most deserving cause. Mr.. Coldwel
will come to Topeka, April 1, to take
his station here. After that he will go
to work as an evangelist, travelling
from one of the points supporting an
association to another, holding revival
services eleven consecutive days and
evenings, and enlivening particularly
the spiritual branch of this worldwide
organization.
OF late there seems to have been a
struggle going on for supremacy be-
tween the Y. NJ. c. A and the reading
rooms conducted on a plan to help the
men without aiming distinctly to touch
their spiritual natures. Without par
ticipating in such controversy, be it
said that both are doing a great work
among the great body of men who keep
the railroads of this country going with
Drawn and brains. But the Y. NJ. c. A.
has been systematically organized and
conducted, its usefulness has become so
general that it has been befriended by
most of the railroad men of the cOun-
try. Wherever railroad associations are
located those directly interested in 1T
are given the freedom of the company's
shops and offices to talk to the men
and to work among them during idle
parts of the day much they de-
sire. Thus the railroads find as an in
vestment that they can, as they do.
afford to assist such an enterprise for
helping their employees. 1t makes bet
ter men for the road and the shops by
cultivating sobriety, morality and
grading up their intelligence.
A glance at some figures which the
jubilee year book of the institution con-
tains will suffice to show some results
of its work. In the first place the rail-
road associations of the country num-
Der 161, reporting a membership in the
666 baths taken, 10, 432 visits to sick and
injured. In Ill of these there are Ii
braries containing 1855 volumes.
The reports of shop meetings and BIZ
BILE study which have been found of
much help TO those so inclined. were
numerous in aggregating the entire rec
ords. Besides this another valuable
feature is the educational work which is
conducted during the winter months. At
the Topeka. association scores of men
who toll all day in the shops have found
profit in the practical course which op-
ened under auspices of the national or
ganization. Next week these students
will be given final examinations and it
they pass will be given certificates if
they have completed the course, and if
not will be entitled to pursue their
studies another year.
With buildings valued at something
more than $1,1O0, 600, the associations are
in better financial conditions than they
have been for long time-perhaps than
they ever were. Yet this is one of their
greatest needs. to secure the money
with which to carry on the work. 1t is
understood that Miss Gould has put
aside several thousand dollars for en-
coura ging the spiritual branch, and it
is we'll known what she has expended
for the institution in other ways. The
railroad Y. NJ. c. a. is exerting its ut
most strength for the betterment of the
men employed by the transportation
companies of this great railroad coun-