The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-11-30
THE OPENING RECEPTION
OF THE YOUSG MEMS CHRIS,
hIAN ASSOCIATION.

The objects of the Organization
Outlined by Secretary Andersen
A Brilliant Success in Ever,
Particular.
If one can Judge Of the future success q
the Young Mems Christian Association
by the success Its reception last night
then is its future brilliant and assured
The reception given to the public wa
.h"roughly appreciated and the guest
'llicd the rooms to overlooking. TIN
audience was RECALLED with speeches
songs, a gymastic exhibition; and last
bur not least refreshments, which wer
furnished by the ladies.
Mr.. Collins, after a brief but heart,
and cordial address of welcome, an
nounced the first thing on the program
which was song by ladies trio, com
posed of Miss White, Mrs. Collins anC
Mrs. Rawls. After the applause, whicl
this song had elected, had died away
Capt. Patton arose and addressed tn,
audience in pithy and pregnant speech
He prctaced his talk by a few humor
GUS remarks on the instability of his pc
Sition, as he was standing on a chair
lie said, You must not view me with q
critics eye it | fall below a Dcmosthcnc.
or a Cicero, and then proceeded to state
the question he proposed to discuss
Docs this Association promote the pros
pcrity OF thecommunity?" After having
named over the prominent men Of busl.
ness who mad advanced ASheville's pros.
pcrlty in former times, he showed that
the qualities, which had made them in-
strumrEtal i'll raising Ashevile to its
present rank aud standing were thost
which would bc tOstrrrd and cherished
bY the work ot this society, and that it
would bc productive in raising up mel
10 wor'mly fill their places. He wound
up with a plea for further libcrulty to
this new institution, saying: "Thc la
| dies generosity has furnished this parlor
| ) 900 more is needed to complete tn,
remaining rooms and as s. 800 is re
qmrcd jor the current expenses of the
cnGrG year, we must raise between
50, 900 and 81 900 from the gentlemen,
who no doubt will he only too glad to
follow in the path which our ladies have
81 broadly laid out for them. "
A mau quartette, composed of the
Mcssrs. Collins, MIR. Bsscll, and Mr.
Price, chen sang the comic glee, "Who
was George Washington :" and as the
tenors asked this momcntous question i'll
Il sad and pathetic tone, the bases SOL
emily replied, to the intense enjoyment
OF the audience, "The-iather- er-ot-our-coun-
try" in 4 slow deliberate tone, as if they
felt the responsibility OF their position,
as the arbitcrs of long mooted qucs-
ton.
Mr. Andersen, the secretary of the Y.
NJ. {. A., outlined the object and purpose
of the Association and its beginning and
growth, III the following words:
"When first came to Ashcville a few
months ago, was a stranger in the
land, but can never forget the cordial
way in which the people OF Ashcvilc re
ccived me. The Association no doubt
arose first from the meetings Of a few OF
us young men during the summer at
stated intervals, for the study of the
Bible and the holding of services among
ourselves. But it is not my office to
make speeches, but to make announce
mcnts. And SO will begin with our
parlorS. We are now in rented rooms,
but these purlorS, which have been 50
taStciuly furnished by our ladies, are the
most attractive that | have ever seen.
They will always be open to our mem
beers from Il III. to Top. III. during the
week. Here we have Il reading room,
with all the periodicals and games of
various kinds, such US checkers, chess,
\ '
athletic members will give instructions
during the week in he use of the various
gymnasliC appliances and give the mem
bcrS drill in calisthcnicS. Also iii the adj
joining rooms we will have baths and
lockers where those WHO wish to work
in the gymnasium can keep their suits.
We hope t. not only produce Christian,
but a muscular Christian. Then there is
the lecture room on the floor above
across the hail from the gymnasium.
where lectures, entertainments, concerts,
etc, will be held. In time also educa-
tional classes will be formed and l hope
some afternoon in the week can be set
aside for the ladies, when they can have
the exclusive use of the gymnasium and
take gymnaStic exercises under the guild
anCe OF n competent inStruCtress. The
ladies dressing room will be for boys ex-
CluSivelv, where thcv can have their
games, their books and periodicals, and
hold their Riblc class and usr it also for
their gymnasium where they can be put
through a regular systematic course of
training. We hope to keep every man
employed i'll active work who joins us.
First, we want a list OF prices of rooms
in the various boarding houses, and their
standing, SO that stranger can come to
us and see at a glance where he can get
what he desires Then there is the church
committee who shall encourage our
young men to attend the church and our
own devotional exercises This must be