The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-31

INTEREST OF THE ASSOCl ~ T1ON-Ef-
| FORTS TO RAISE MEANS TO RELIEVE THE
ASSOCIATION OF DEBT AND SECURE A
FUND TO ERECT 4 BUILDING. ENLARGE
/ TIE LIBRARY, AND FOR PERMANENT
| ENDOWMENT.
Mr., J. ID. X. SIeight, president OF the
Young Mems Christian Association, in be-
hall OF the Board of Directors, has issued
the following appeal to the friends OF the
| Association in an effort to raise funds to
pay their debt, erect building, enlarge the
library, and secure permanent endow-
ment: =
Bv recent publications in the Dispatch
and other OF the city papers the public has
been informed that the Directors OF the
Young Mems Christian Association have
determined to take steps at once to raise the
means not only to relieve the Association
OF debt, but to secure, II possible, Il fund
sufficient to erect Il building, enlarge the
! library and reading-room, and for perma-
ncnt endowment. In pursuance OF this
purpose OF the Directory, one OF their own
number, fully accredited by the respect and
confidence OF this whole community, has
been appointed to act for them in bringing
| this important subject before the people OF
| Richmond and other communities and per-
sons in this State, and, il need be, to seek
aid outside the bounds Of Virginia.
| IT cannot be necessary to multiply words
| in urging the importance Of maintaining
among Us and increasing
| THE EFFICIENCY OF TIE ORGANIZATION,
in behalf OF which the Directory make this
appeal It's primary obiect-thc reason
sine 1,t0 non for all such oreaniZations-iS
that the young men thus banding them
selves together may have the encourage
mcnt and aid OF mutual sympathy in all
that concerns their moral and religious adj
yanccmcnt: and that thcv may, by united
effort, the better extend their influence for
good over others OF their own class. From
this central purpose all the rest grows. The
| Association, it is true, has never been con-
| fined in its membership to young men; for,
| in pursuing the objects OF their union. the
Younger members have ever felt their need
| OF the wise cOunsclS and earnest coUpcra-
ton OF their elders. And this feeling las
been cordially responded to. In the nrSt
organization, and at all times since, many
old and middlc-agcd men have been
members OF the Association, earnestly
sympathiZing in its purposes. and givln"
| their ready and active aid in its councils
rolls. and are among its most valued MEM
berS, the younger members feeling that
they could i'll dispense with the aid and
comfort OF association with them. Doubt
less in their connection with the organize
ton these older members find pleasure and
advantage to themselves, but their leading
object is to give their counsel and help to the
Young men, and for the benefit OF young
men. In the discharge OF this duty and i'll
the good results seen and hoped for they
find their chief reward. And just here 1t
may be well TO remark that in all other re-
spects. and especially in reference to the
denominational divisions among Chris
tians, the Association has been formed
and carried on in a thoroughly catho-
lie spirit. One promise made when
the organization was first advocated was
that it would promote in the members
themselves, and tend to promote in the COM
muntv, great enlargement OF Christian
kindness and cooperation among brethren
OF different denominations. This promise,
according to the experience and observation
of those long connected with the ASsocia-
| ton, has been already notably fulfilled,
though leaving much still to be hoped for
from greater activity and more extended
work. But this subject we can only glance
at. Ii dwclt upon in proportion to its i'm
portancc much space would be required.
Many parts OF
THE MACHINERY OF THE ASSOCIATION
NAV appear to be connected only indirectly
with its main design, and some parts may ut
| first seem to have no relation to it. But this
seeming vagueness Of purpose will disap-
pear under clearer view OF what is neccS-
sary for the full efficiency OF the organiZa-
| ton. Under such Il view, Tor example. 1t
will be seen that the rooms ought not only
| to be convenient for the uses OF the A>>o-
citation on more grave and formal occasions.
| but should also be made rs pleasant as pos
| sible in aspect and arrangements. so is to
attract the members and visitors at other
fines. Such attractions render more Seduc-
tive the resorts OF idlenesS and vice in this
and all other cities: and to counteract the
| influence OF such agents of evil and bring
orr Young men within reach Of influences
for good, IS motive high enough to rem
der it boundcn duty OF the Association
to use such means OF attraction to their own
rooms for the efficient discharge OF which
duty, the Directors are convinced, build
| ing OF its own isInow the pressing need
| Both for Improvement and recreation, 4
good collection OF books, magazines, and
| new Is IL hol e'i'tNii'S
| BILE. In other words, every Christian AsSo-
citation has excellent Use, il not absolute
need, for 4 good library and readins-room.
| Bv the burning VI their library and other
property at the close OF the war, and from
other adverse circumstances since, this de-
partment OF the Associations work Is now
conducted on q very meagre scale, ana needs
liberal and large aid to bring it into proper
condition, 1t is also very desirable that
during the fall and winter months regular
series OF popular and instructive lectures
should be maintained, even though ut times
the receipts from these may be less than the
money paid out.
THESE THINGS CANNOT Re HAD WITHOUT EX-
PENsE:
| but they must be had, and must be cfhclcnt-
" maintained. or the proper work or the
Association will be very impcrfcctIy done.
| But besides the influence OF such attrac-
tions in aid OF the direct objects OF the AS
Sociation, there are special compenSatlons
for the necessary expenditures upon them.
Without attempting TO estimate the full en-
tent and value o. this compenSatnS return,
it may simply be noted. as one evident con-
sequence, that the organization Itself must
grow with what it thus 3eedo on. these
accommodations, rs has been lntlmated, VIII
be very strong attractions for outsiders, ana
others being thus induced to become NELL
bers, their annual subscriptions will help
much in restoring to the treasury what Is
drawn out for such expenses. But tnls
,,,ooo.. oo,,,o+ ,,o an unless il is fairly COM