The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-01-20
Thursday, = January 20, 1870.
A Christian Association for Young Men.

growth and evident Improvement, why can
We have those institutions and: organizations
which characterize. town and add to its
moral character We have Temperance So
cieties Building Associations, Moral Lectures
sometimes, Masonic Halls, >Amusements- oc-
casionally and the ladies have Of late started
Calculating Library. Why can't we have
. Young Mans Christian Association r In
almost every city and town North and South
there is an association of this kind. Surely
Stanton is large enough and her young men
ought to be willing to give their aid in such
q work. Look at New York, because the
great city of America she ought to certain
extent be an example-her association" was
too small and with the energy of the people
they have just now completed magnificent
building on the corner Of Twenty Third
Street. and Fourth Avenue. Surely We will
not let the Yankees be ahead of US in good
works. We extract the following from the
Herald Of Nov. Both: ~
:, "The objects of the association, are, in the
: frst place, to offer safe and attractive resort
to the thousands of untried youhg men who
come as strangers to the city, with limited
means, who are crowded into uncomfortable,
cherries boarding houses, and exposed to
great TEN ptations second, to amalgamate
this great class with those of like age who
are residents of the city, SO that they may be
benefited by each others requirements and
companionship and lastly, SO educate and ele-
vate all these young men that their force aud
enthusiasm may be turned into the channels
of morality, bcnevolence and Christian ac-
tivity To this end, the association embraces
not only church members. but all whom it
can reach and the dues and fees, amounting
altogether to FIVE dollars year adding only
ten cents per week to board), are made SO
moderate that none need be excluded. By
eenfuing the direction to men connected with
churches, sufficiently restraining influence
is attained. AS years pass by, andthose who
come as poor boys to this city and forming
their fellowship and sympathy here, take
their places in its prominent trades and bust
ness, the true importance of the labors
of the association will be appreciated
The Committee say that Large expense has
been incurred in the erection of this building
but it must be remembered that in securing
the objects it has in view it comes into direct
competition with the theatres, the gambling
houses, the barrooms aud other places Of
even worse character, which spare no effort
and hesitate at no expenditure in attracting
the thousands Of young mon who find them.
selves in this great city without homes, fami
ly influences or restraints 1t is needless te
say that the character and training. of this
very class are of incalculablc Importance te
the well being of the city. If, while thci1
habits are yet Uniformed they can be brough,
under Christian and manly influences, the
money is we'll spent, as the entire cost of the
building does not equal that Of any Of tt;
theatres"
Az matter Of course we do not expect in
50 small town to begin on a grand scale
or even to approach New York in her Insti.
tuition, but We do think one might be started
here in a small way an I'd, in course of time, ri
val that of our neighbors. We copy below a
general description from the Herald:
"The building occupies lot eighty six feet
. nine inches on Fourth avenue, by one hun.
dred and seventy five feet on East Twenty
third street. The main entrance and stair
way are in the centre of tho Twenty third
street front At the head of the main stone
stairs, to the right, is tho great hall, with
comfortable chairs for 1900 persons, SO ar.
ranged that each seat has a direct view of the
platform. 1t is thoroughly ventilated by
fues running under the floor, connected with
large ventilating shafts heated by steam coils
On the right are three committee and dress
ing rooms, and on the left a grand organ
This organ with grand piano, have been
presented to the association by the musical
committee from the proceeds of concerts Civ.
en- under their direction. The hall will be
used for lectures on practical and scientific
subjects, under the care of the lecture com.
mittee, and for popular concerts, as we'll as
for the pu bic religious meetings of the asso
citation. When not used by the society ii
will be rented for various purposes, and sup:
ply great need in this section Of the city
On the left of the main stairs is the reception
room, to be used as conversation room, and
for the Office of the association. Opening
from this is the reading room, supplied with
all the best newspapers and magazines Of this
country and Europe. On the same floor are
three parlors, to be used for conversation, ia
formal meetings and committee work, and
to be made attractive as evening resorts also
o hat and wash room. There is also room,
over the entrance hall for the secretary, who
is the executive officer of the association
A short stairway from the reception room
leads down to the gymnasium large we'll
ventilated room, carefully fitted with the most
perfect apparatus, where regular classes for
instruction will be established. On the low