Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-31

young women have deepened and de
veloped under this influence.
1.-THE committee on invitation has
worked ardently, and it is good to
see new faces each Sunday afternoon
in response to the invitations sent out
week by week. By actual count the
committee has issued and distributed
over 10000 invitations the past year.
1t has also spent S. for postal cards
used for weekly church notices and
contributed So toward a printing press
with which they hope to be able to do
a much greater work the coming year.
ut is the purpose Of the devotional
committee to hold a noon meeting each
Thursday In the parlors of the asso-
citation to which women are invited for
a few moments of spiritual refresh
teachings from Gods word. The mem.
sible for the meetings each week and
en- of the city is desired.
Employment.
Perhaps more strange women apply
at the association office for assistance
than many of Jul t~ownspeople realize.
Scarcely a day passes without it's n
or more applications Of this kind.
When we can be Of help We are very
glad to give it, but how often are we
unable to do more than disappoint the
applicant. How Ottumwa needs a
good, safe boarding home to which
young women may be directed.
If more of the good people of our
n{fVy vunrn 1rffnl1- {ntN~Ne&NI In tha ar
sonal welfare Of individual lives and
would manifest this interest in a prac.
tical way, infinitely more might be I'M.
dertaken and accomplished for all, in
the name Of Him for whom we stand.
1T Is an honor to my city to have a
Y. ". G. A. Ottumwa is specially
honored in its being n of the very
few smaller cities supporting such an
institution, and in its being the only
city in the state, at present, having its
own building. But the possession Of
a building, equipped as ours, means
that there must be real activity to
meet all the requirements of a larger
work and of a growing, waiting work.
Financial.
Financially, our association stands
favorably among sister associations.
But we are embarrassed tonight by an
Indebtedness which hampers us
greatly and makes progress along GER
tain lines impossible at the present
time. We do want to lift this crushing
load and be able to look the world
square In the face once more. But
when u indebtedness is cancelled,
we shall still need more money, and
we expect to need more and more
each year. Not to do SO would mean
a standing still, and there is need of
branching out and coping honestly and
h%onorably with u opportunities.
"In past years generous subscribers
have aided in a way that has been fully
appreciated. We recognize the fact
that our city has many other worthy
objects needing your support, and ask
ing it Of you. But we wish to say that
we shall still rely upon you for the
support you can give us; and we solicit
your help, not as charity, but because
we believe you to be staunch. true
friends Of this work,
"There should be in or city, and
we feel that there are, He thousand
OF more women who, might contribute
$1.00 a year each, toward the support
Of u association, thus entering their
names on our membership roll and
befriendlng the work for the young
women who need it so much.
Then, we should like to ask too
for many more sustaining member
ships of $500 each, per year. We are
glad to state that this roll has been
added to within the last year. May we
ask for your name, dear friend, in or.
der that you may have the special
blessing that shall come to you?
Preventive, Not Reformatory Work.
ours is a preventive not a reforma-
tory work, and what better investment
can n make than that which will
help to save souls from death? Do
not O who are in good homes, sur
rounded by the best of uplifting in
fuences, some time s forget that in our
city of Ottumwa, there are hundreds
of unprotected young women? And
many homes only in name?
Are you doing your whole duty when
you help support your church, and one
or more of our other excellent public
institutions? No woman has done her
whole duty until she has done all she
can where she is needed. We are
only an arm of the church. We can not
do the work of the church, no more
can the church do our work. We
want to help the church in every way
that we can and the church can help
us to help her when she does he1
whole duty by us.
"Have you sometimes heard the
question asked, is the Y. w. G. A
needed in Ottumwa?' All, have you
ever asked that question yourself
Have you answered it satisfactorily tc
your better self? Should there not be
one building in our city open every
day and evening, which stand for the
spiritual, intellectual, social and phgsi
cal development of Il young women;
will any man or woman say no?