Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-04
RICHMOND Y. NJ. G. A.
The Purposes OF THIS Decentralization
Efforts 90 Secure Building Fund.


The Purposes OF THIS Orgnnizafion-Their
Efforts to Secure Building Fund.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton Of Richmond have bought lot
upon which they propose to erect a
building wherein they can conduct a
broader work than in the narrow quar-
tiers they now occupy. No general can
vass among the citizens for subscrip-
tions has as yet been undertaken.
Without such an effort something over
100000 has been subscribed. No bet
ter evidence than this is needed to prove
that the citizens are interested in the
work Of the Association and their eff
forts to secure building and home OF
their own. 1t occurs to the writer that
they may be interested in few items
concerning Association work in general.
The first Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION was organized in London
June Q, 1874, suggested by George
Williams, a young clerk in a large
mercantile establishment. Mr.. Will
liams enjoys the pleasure OF knowing
that to-day these organizations are
planted in almost every commercial
centre Of the globe, there being a total
number Of 2,93l. Nearly one third of
this number are in America. That the
work has developed here more rapidly
than in other lands is owing to the fact
that its directors have more carefully
studied the needs of young men and
adjusted the methods adapted to their
necessities. Their social, intellectual,
and physical requirements are given
more attention, due also to the thorough
ness of organization as applied to local,
State, and international committees !;
the procuring of buildings Of their own
adapted to the work in hand (there are
now eighty-two), and the high appre-
citation with which the rank and file OF
the associations place upon the conven-
tons, whether they come under the
name of district. State, or inter-
national.
Thirty-three States and provinces have
organized committees to supervise the
work in their respective districts and to
arrange for their own annual gather
ings. The international Committee is
composed of thirty-three gentlemen, re-
presenting the different sections Of the
country, among them being William E.
Dodge, Morris X. Jessup, Z. b. Mon
roe, Cornelius Vanderbilt, james
Stokes, and Cephas Brainerd, Of New
York d. W. McWilliams, of Brook.
lyn; James Mccormick, Harrisburg
William p. Munford, Richmond; Au-
gustine T. Smythe, Charleston james
W. Harle, Atlanta; and Joseph liar.
die, Selma. The committee en-
ploys ten travelling secretaries
to assist local and State organizations
They call and arrange for the lnterna.
tional Conventions. The first Conven-
ton ever held in America was at Buf
falo in 1854. Twenty-eight delegates
represented sixteen Associations. The
twentieth International Convention was
held in Richmond in 1875 $40 dele.
gates represented l56 Associations
The twenty-sixth international Con.
vention was held in May Of this year
at Atlanta. On the adjournment Of
this Convention it was found that du.
ring its sessions the people of Atlantis
had become deeply affected religiously,
and in behalf Of the Association a
movement was at once inaugurated
for the securing of building
for the local Association. Among
those most deeply interested were gen.
tlemen connected with the Atlanta
Constitution. That paper warmly adj
yocated the Association work, and
greatly aided the building project by
publishing daily list of subscribers
and by receiving pledges at its office
Sixty thousand dollars was the amount
originally sought for, but so ready
were the people to respond that theil
plans were enlarged and the amount
increased to $4,000, which was all
pledged within three weeks.
On May 18th the Constitution pub.
lished the following editorial leader
:" 1t may be fairly said that the pro.
ceedings Of the Convention Of the Young
Mems Christian Association have beer
in the nature of revelation to the peo'
pie of Atlanta. They have disclosed 4
breadth, comprehension, earnestness
and compactness of Christian work o.
which the general public had no ade
quate idea. The beauty Of this work i:
that it is neither narrow nor creed
bound, but is as wide as the limits O
Christianity itself. Its aim is to built
up no sect, but simply to do good. 81
sincere, so practical, and so all
embracing is the spirit pervading
the Associations and transmitted
to the Convention that even careles.
observers must be thankful to know
that there is back Of the governmental
machinery, behind the turmoil of bust
ness and the whirl of society, so pow
erful an organization working for thu
elevation and purifying of the people
If there were no view but the tempora
one, and if the good this Association il
doing were limited by its effect on tn,
day and generation in which i
works, we should even then account
it the most beneficent social fore,
of which we know. w,
thank the delegates to this Conven
ton for the amazing disclosures they
have made to our people of the scope
and accomplishment Of the Association
which they represent. The disclosures
carry with them lesson that will sinh
into the hearts Of our people, and viii
not soon be forgotten" W.