The YMCA
Among the various methods used to convert Indians into civilized white citizens at the Carlisle Indian School was “Christianizing” the Indian students by instilling traditional Christian values into all students in the program. A good deal of the student’s religious training was spent attempting to give the students an understanding of the Bible’s stories and messages and to emphasize the value of virtue to the students. Many students seemingly took these messages and values to heart and changed their lives to live in accordance with the Christian values they had learned at the Indian School. Some students took part in the Indian School Young Man’s Christian Association (YMCA) during their time in Carlisle. At around the same time of the Indian School’s inception, the YMCA at Dickinson College was slowly starting to expand and cater to the spiritual needs and desires of Dickinson students.
