The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-01
7. NJ. C. A.

The business meeting Of the Newber-
ry y. NJ. C. A, Tuesday night in their
rooms, was a thorough and practical
one. Mr.. H. o. Williams, of Virginia,
State Secretary of the Y. NJ. c. A, in
clear, convincing way, showed the
things necessary to be done for sue
cessful conduct of an association in a
town of this size-in brief about as fol-
lows, as to the practical details:
l. Comfortable, cosy and attractive
rooms, reading room, a hall and re-
ception room or parlor.
,. Good lectures on practical subjects,
business talks by business men, talks on
health, etc.
; 3. Night classes in penmanship,
bookkeeping, shorthand, telegraphy,
etc.
4. 4 General or Executive Secretary,
a man trained for the work, and
filled with piety, push, perseverance
and practicalness.
5. And a great many of gymnastic
appliances that can be- used in small
hall, the exercises to be under an in
structor, that is by degrees and with
regular gradations.
The association saw that the key note
Of the whole situation was the employ
ment of a trained General Secretary,
and proceeded to work to see if it was
practical to get him, to devote his
whole time and energies to the thor
ough and practical. carrying on of the
work. The association did this in
way that showed they meant business
by raising over half the amount re-
quired for the year out Of the 80 or 10
persons present, and they will increase
this amount from other members Of the
association not present, and they feel
assured that the community, who have
not given cent towards the carrying
out of the work, will readily raise the
remainder.
There can be no doubt Of the neees-
sity of a General Secretary here, and
the Iyoung men feel it and are deter
mined to raise the funds necessary.
They are striking at the root of the
matter and mean business, seeing their
mistakes in the past.
For some time the interest in the
Young Mems Christian Association
and its work has not been so great as it
ought to be in town like Newberry;
and this lack of interest has been oc-
casioned by series Of circumstances.
Suffice to name of the number: in
definite knowledge Of the work: poor
facilities to work with willingness to
let any one do the work who would,
and little faith on the part Of those
who should have big faith in that work
which has for its end the improvement
of the morals Of young men. The late
convention of the Associations of the
State created large enthusiasm in the
community, but the interest was not
settled IN actual work on the part of all
as it should have been.
The past week, however, the State
Secretary, Mr.. Williams, came to the
assistance of the organization, and he
held several meetings and conferences.
The work has been more clearly de-
fined and the weakened forces brought
closer together. The objects of the Or
ganization are now more clearly under
stood bya larger part the membership,
and they have decided now to 60 to work
with will. This was fully demon
strated at the meeting of the Associa-
ton held on Tuesday night, when,
after presentation of the work, and
the Importance Of united effort, being
made under the leadership Of one
trained for the work, who should give
his entire time to planning and putting
every department at its Legitimate line
of work, the young men decided to
place the organization in shape to do the
fourfold work of the Young Mems
| Christian Association and to raise
$500 for that purpose. In few minutes
$500 was pledged by the members and
friends present, and was largely given
by the young men. A committee on
canvass was appointed to call upon the
business men of Newberry for the re-
naming $400.
The question may arise, "What is the
purpose of this fund.-" In a word, it
is to provide a home for young men
who are on the street at night, and for
the stranger who is here without q
home. It is to provide for the young
men attractions of a social nature that
have moral tendency, intellectual
benefits, such as lectures, evening
classes, literary attractions and a
literary society, a reading room and a
library, a place equipped for physical
development, and to employ one as
above stated, to develop the work in
this place, giving especial effort to the
the spiritual end to be attained.
Will this work be placed upon such
a basis? 1t now depends upon the
business men to answer. We believe
that the efforts Of the young men will
now be larger, being supplemented by
the fathers and friends, and that in a
short time the Young Mems Christian
Association of Newberry will be placed
in a position to do a work on a line
with 72O like organizations in our land.
An Unprecedented Offer.
I hereby announce to the people OF
Newberry that I have made arrange
ments to 60 into business in New York
CITY, and will have to sell out nv stock