William R. Treml, “‘Mom’s’ Help For Ragged Tramp Leads Son To Dedicate His Life To Others,” Richmond Palladium Item, March 15, 1953, p. 14 – Transcript || Annotation || Archive
“Mom’s” Help For Ragged Tramp Leads Son To Dedicate His Life To Others
By William B. Treml
The depression days of the 1930’s were disheartening to everyone.
But they were especially discouraging for a ragged, bearded tramp who found himself near a Lynn family’s home in the gathering dusk of an early spring day.
A young boy saw the lingering tramp and approached him. The ragged stranger would not raise his eyes as the boy questioned him about his home and what he was doing in Lynn.
Finally the tattered knight of the road muttered:
“I don’t have a friends in this world. I’m ready to give up.”
The boy, barely through his first year of school, looked at the tired beaten old man and said firmly:
“What do you mean, mister? God’s your friend and I’m your friend. And mom will help you get a job!”
“(sic!) And “Mom,” Mrs. Lynetta Jones, did just that. Mrs. Jones, who now lives at 1130 1/2 East Main street, recalled that the man went to work in a Lynn factory.
That event of the rejuvenation of a man who had lost hope marked a milestone in James Jones’ life. His love for humanity and his desire to help the unfortunate was eventually to lead him to the ministry.
Children To Benefit
Today, as a 21-year-old student pastor at Somerset Methodist church in Indianapolis, Jim Jones still has the longing to help those in need. This time children are receiving his aid and benefiting from his efforts.
He has launched a campaign among the children of both Catholic and Protestant faiths to build a recreation center for children in Indianapolis’ south side area. Although the center is being sponsored by the Methodist church it will be open to children of all faiths.
Since October of 1952, the Rev. Mr. Jones, assisted by four Catholic and four Protestant children, has gathered over $1,300 toward the project by soliciting in a house-to-house campaign.
The young minister’s plans call for a building costing $20,000 which will include a basketball court, table tennis facilities, shuffleboard, volleyball and kitchen equipment. The center will be run by a board of directors composed of all interested neighborhood dominations.
As a foundation for his all-faith youth center, the Rev. Mr. Jones has established a church program at Somerset almost unheard of under the strict rules of doctrine outlined by most religious sects.
In his program Jones preaches no doctrine but simply points out moral lessons taken from the Bible. His inter-community church has become acceptable to all denominations and the knowledge that no group is discriminated against has aided greatly in winning new members.
Graduated With Honors
Jim attended high school in Lynn but was graduated from Richmond senior high school with honors in 1949. During school he worked as an orderly at Reid Memorial hospital and once considered entering the field of medicine.
Undecided, but knowing his life’s work much include helping other people either spiritually or physically, Jones entered Indiana university. Finally in April, 1952, almost one year ago, he decided. It would be the ministry.
Two months later he accepted a position to conduct Sunday services at Somerset Methodist church. To help support his wife, the former Marceline Mae Baldwin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter R. Baldwin, 216 North West I street, and their adopted 10-year-old daughter, the Rev. Mr. Jones works nights at a factory.
He attends the Indiana university extension in Indianapolis and takes a correspondence course to obtain a standing in the Methodist conference.
The Rev. Mr. Jones expects to be graduated from Indiana university extension in 1954 and then to continue his studies at the Garrett Bible Institute in Evanston, Ill. Whenever he accepts a parish after his educational training he hopes to continue his programs of help exclusive of his church to those who need it.
He still remembers the despondent tramp who got new hope and a new start from the determined little boy who trusted so firmly in God as a friend many years ago.