Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-12-04
number OF Colored Y, NJ. G. A. libra.
ries. y
THE r. n. G. A. CAN HE UsEEuL IN
WASHINGTON

THE r. n. G. A. CAN NE UsEEUL IN
WASHINGTON
mo city in the country presents u
better or widder field for useful Y. M.
Q. A. work. among the Coi0red people
than Washington. Here we have more
than 10000 Colored men who have un-
fortunately, but few safe places to go
for innocent I amusement, Hundreds Of
young Colored men are every being
lured away from the habit of decent
living because they are not supplied
with the chance to go where healthy
and innocent amusements are provided
in surroundings that encourage educa-
tion and morality. l cannot.too heart
lily commend the action Of those Col.
ored men who are responsible for
starting this building. When COM
pleted it will be tribute to the ad-
vancement of the Colored race, and
also monument to the Advancement
of the city of Washington. st will be
model for the entire coGrGIy; it will
influence other cities; and itatlords an
excellent opportunity for 10th white
and colored men to join in the work
of upliftinga n class that sorely needs
aid. The Colored man who builds that
which improves and beauties his city
earns the right to the right to the re-
spect of his white neighbor, and bene.
fits himself in double way. hope
that the Colored men will contribute
freely toward this building, aud
hope that their white friends will help
them also. Such building as this
means the improvement in morality,
in christianity, in education, of the
Colored citizens of Washington, and
therefore, it concerns not only the
Colored people Of Washington, but
the white people also. When compile
ted this building will cost 100000,
and no sum Of money could be better
expended, In thirty days the Colored
people of this city pledged Ss5,000 in
order to secure gift Of s95 900 con
tingent on their raising a like sum.
OF this s25 900 pledged by Caiored men
only $4,000 has been paid in, and
right here let me say word to the
Colored men who have pledged sums
and have not redeemed their pledges
No man has right to promise aid to
a cause like this and not keep his
promise. 1t is the duty OF every man
to make his promise good and do 80
at once, and all those wna have not
pledged for cof4 VI tiof sSe aisa ssixe.
wise contribute. Every church, every
fraternal and civic society of the race,
every Colored man of means should
feel the obligation to compile this
building as soon as possible.
NEGROES CONTRIBUTE TOWARD WORK
LET me mention couple Of cases
of which Colored men have contribu. /.
ted large to work of this nature.
"A Colored man born d slave in
Knoxville, Tenn, was so much i'm
pressed the value of the Y, M. G. A.
work among white young men that he
gave piece of property costing about
1000 to the Colored Young Mems
Christian Associtian. He has the hon
or of having gieen the largest gift up
to that time of any individual in the
state of Tennessee, regardless of
color to the Associa ton movement.
"Another Colored man, who was
born on the gold coast of Africa, came
to this country at an early age waf be-
friended by the Philadelphia Y. M. G..
A., and by the use of their library
prepare for the competitive examina-
ton, entered the University of Penn
sylvania after winning the prize, re-
ceived his education, and is to-day =
very successful physician in the city of
Portsmouth, Va, gave $500 to the
building fund of their association a
year ago. He also gave 800 for cur
rent expenses the first year the asso-
citation employed secretary, and says
"The reason l make these gifts is be-
cause I owe all l am to the Young
Mems Christian association.
MANY other cases might be cited
showing how this work appeals to re-
putab Bile Colored men in many sections
of the country. There is possibly
nothing needed worse in all our cities
and towns than we'll organized Young
Mems Christian Associations. 1t pays
far better to support the secretary of
the Y. M, G. A. in a community than
to pay the salary of q policeman.
Homes are made safe and the commu-
nifty is lifted to higher level by lifting
these young men to better ideals Of
life
GAS for the white man, let him re-
member in this as in all other matters
that to do justice to the Colored man
is demanded not only by the interest
of the Colored man but by the interest
Of the white man also. Sooner or
latter ir this community every class Of
citizen will feel the effect of raising or
degradation of any other class. All
men up is much safer motto than
Some men down. and it is to the in
terest of every classs of any cammuni-
ty that the members of every other
class shall feel that industry, sobriety
good behavior the conduct that marks
a man..as being good neighbar and a