Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-11-15
THE FIRST MEETING
IN THE NEW Y, NJ. c. A. BUILDING.

LARGE AUDIENCE OF MEN AND BOYS
ONLY-TEN THANKFUL SPEECHES,
PRAYERS, SINGING AND DOXOLOGIEs.
The first meeting which was held in
the handsome auditorium of the new Y.
M. G. A. building on Main street, Sunday
evening, was q good 'send off, The large
and comfortable room was crowded. Before
the meeting began every seat was taken,
and a number of the convenient folding
chairs were then brought in and put in the
aisles. They were soon occupied and the
large folding doors connecting the parlor
adjoining, were then thrown open and a
number of the late Corners were accommo-
dated; so that all were comfortably seated.
The large audience was composed entirely
OF men and boys.
Since the close of the Bazaar the walls of
the room have been handsomely papered in
Guiding the alcove and pretty arch above
the platform, this attractive finishing
touch being the gift of Capt. Hugh NJ. Nc
Ilhany, the Chairman of the Building Com
mitteee. The seats are handsome yeneered
opera chairs, mahogany colored, slightly
inclining, with arm and foot rests, and UNI
brella and hat racks under them, and very
comfortable. The aisles. and platform will
be carpeted with Brussels this week in time
fol the week OF prayer exercises commencing
Sunday. With all these extra touches, with
the handsome pannelled ceiling of dressed
pine, and obscured glass windows Of neat
design, the room WILDE one of the brightest
and prettiest lecture halls in the South, a
credit to the designers and builders and the
pride of the Staunton Association.
President McIlhany having been assigned
the pleasant duty of conducting the first
services held in the new building, after
speaking with emotion of the feelings of
gratitude to God with which he opened
these first services in their new home,
called fol- the singing of the Doxology,
praise God from whom all blessings fow,"
which was sung with much spirit by the.
large audience. Rev. DR.. Mcfarland then
offered an appropriate and feeling thanks
giving prayer.
In response to requests for remarks,
Capt. L. d. Ransom, the first President of
the Association, gave a brief but interest
ing sketch of it's organization fifteen years
ago, and it's progress from a small begin
ming in single upper room to the present
time with the possession of such an elegant
and commodious home. He spoke with
gratitude of the liberal donors to the build
ing fund, and paid a high tribute to the
devotion and self-sacriiceo of the ladies who,
from the very first, had aided so materially
in advancing the interests of the Assocla-
ton, and now by their united efforts had
raised the funds with which they were
about to fill this splendid home with useful
and handsome furniture.
Capt. Ransom was followed by Messrs.
I. G. Morton, Heber Ker, J. J. Prufer, A.
f. Robertson, A. NJ. Howison G. c. Child
A. M. Simpson, Rev. DR.. Mcfarland
and Rev. DR.. Halves, all of whom referred
with thankfulness to the contamination of
their hopes and efforts in at last having a
home for the Association.
Nh. Child in his remarks referred to an
incident at one of the Directory meetings
more than q year ago, when, after it had
been determined to erect a building and
bids had been called for and opened, it was
found that the lowest was some 50 900
more than the total amount of their sub
scrlptlon. An almost insurmountable
seemed to stare them in the face
Then member proposed that they should
look to God for guidance in the difficulty
that confronted them, when Prof. John
Murray was called upon and offered %
prayer which MI. Child said he should
never forget. Sure enough way was
found out of their difficulty and they now
see the realization of their hopes. He
would now, with the consent of the breth-
rem, call again upon Mr.. Murray to lead i'm
a prayer of thankfulness to God for what
ne had done for them.
The chairman repeating the request of
Nh. Child, MI. Murray then offered very
impressive prayer.
After more singing, President McIlhany
made the concluding address, in which he
upon the young men that this
was their building, erected especially for
mem, ana that they must always feel pei
.ectly free to come to it and they would
always be warmly welcomed. There would
1e no distinctions here, the poor man and
he laboring man just from his work, the
'ailroad man just out of his smoky engine
IL smutty car, would be just as welcome as
he professional man, the tradesman and
he rich. And he hoped the young men
would come and crowd their Sunday even
ng meetings. They should always find seats
nd if the seats were all occupied, rather
han they should go away he would get
own and they might sit ON him. Q4aughter.N
rs to the old grey headed fellows they
night squeeze in the best way they could.
He thanked the ''Kahle boys'' for their
ull attendance and complimented them
ighly upon their respectful attention and
ecorus behavior, and cordially invited