The Detroit times., 1911-01-30
BOYS BUREAU IS
URGED BY FOSTER
Institution Needed for Throwing
Good Influences About Youths Com
ing To City, Says Y. M. c. A. Worker

To get into immediate touch with
the youth coming to Detroit from the
small towns and the country, Eugene
b. Foster, secretary OF the boys de-
partment Of the Detroit Y. M. c. A.,
told the Baptist Ministers conference.
in the weekly meeting, Monday morn
Ing, that IL was absolutely necessary
that an office be created and filled by
a man whose whole attention should
be given to knowing the name, destin-
alton and purpose OF every youth ar.
irving In Detroit by boat, train or troll
ley.
The Y. M. c. A. does work of this
kind, but II Is not far-reaching enough.
and 1t is far too large problem for
US to cope with under our present
secretarial working force" said Mr.
Foster. Church facilities for this
purpose are entirely impracticable az
at present organized. II Is all very
well to get hold of boys and young
men who eventually call upon pas
tor or church member with creden-
tials from home-that sort of boy Is
already well fortified against the
temptations of city life. II is the boy
who comes to the city without any
definite work, any definite place To
stay, that We need to meet at the
depot, and get into immediate touch
with, that he may be saved from the
pitfalls that beset his every step.
II have had plan In mind for a
long time that believe can be work
ed out In practical way. II is to
get In touch with these boys through
correspondence, or, In other words, on
the mail order plan, using much the
came methods as q business house
uses In its mail order department.
The Detroit end of II however, re-
quires the undivided attention and SER
Vices OF a capable man, and would
like to see the churches Of the city
provide such q man and stand back
OF him. He should not be what is
known az a religious secretary, but
rather a social secretary and pur-
sue his work along undenominational
lines. II you pastors could see the
necessity for action in coping with
this problem of What becomes Of the
young man who comes to the city
from the country? as l see II through
my work in the boys department and
in the boys employment agency,
which the association has been con.
Quoting the past year and a half, you
take some positive step in the mat
ter"
Mr.. Foster was bombarded with
questions by the pastors, several OF
whom told what organizations or
guilds in their own churches were DO
Ing regularly along this line. to all
Of which Secretary Foster replied:
Make 1t an organized, systematic ef-
fort, general and not denominational.
In scope The conference finally
voted to have a committee consisting
OF the Rev. Maurice P. Fixes, the Rev.
F. B. Cutler and the Rev. f. T. Gal
pin take the matter under advisement
and then consult with the Y. M. c. A.
board of directors and executive sec.
retaries with regard to creating such
an office under Y. M. G. A. organiza-
ton.
The Rev. G. e. Conley, who IL
temporarily supplying the Clinton-ave.
Baptist church, sent up a heartfelt
cry for help for the services of some
one who can speak Roumanian, that
10 men Of that nationality who at
tend service In his church may be
reached with the gospel spoken In
their own tongue.
1T was more inspiring than hui
morous sight, Sunday evening, to see
those Is men all sitting together In
the two front pews trying to sing and
to take part In our service without
knowing anything Of the English
language" Mr.. Conley told his broth
er pastors. IF these people want 20
become Baptists we ought to make
every effort to bring them into the
fold. II there is anyone In this whole
city who can help us in this work, will
he not. in Gods name, come for.
ward?"