The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-17
SIX Months In the Eistory Of the Y. d. c.
A. of Newberry.

worthy OF 1uenIlOuj duu VIII pass "'NA
many incidents of minor Importance
andonly mention those things which
to omit would be an injustice 70 the
Association, as we'll as to the noble men
and women who have helped US in this
work.
First, let US look at the condition OF
our Association as it appeared to
stranger on the first of July: From the
street could be seen broken and dirty
windows, decorated with faded calico
curtains that once were red. A card
hung inside the glass door with the in
seription, "walk in;;" but the door was
locked! The inside presented a spec
tacle scarcely less gloomy and repelling
chairs, ;ables, books, magazines, and
dust, were scattered in confusion all
over the room; which was now ooly
opened for the one weekly meeting.
The floor was hare, the walls naked,
stained, and scratched.
AS carpenter is judged by his tools,
so our Association work at that time
can be fairly estimated to have been in
the sameshiftless aod neglected condi-
ton as the rooms. Its constituvio was
not in such shape as to admit it to
representation at the State Inter
National Conventions, and very
meagle and unprom sing were the lines
of work into which it had embarked.
But Will turn from this gloomy scene
to one which we trust will be more
pleasing: Our Board of Managers early
felt the need of having some place as a
recognized home for the Association.
The Libracy and Rooms Committee
were authorized to co, operate with he
General Secretary in repairing and fit
ting up our rooms: and soon what had
been as gloomy and uninviting a place
as could be found, was changed, under
little judicious expenditure of labor
and means, into one of the most attrac'
tive places of resort for young men to be
found in our city.
The place was neatly covered with
mating; the walls and ceiling were
freshly panied and kalsomined; news
papers and magazines were placed Oh
file; add, in short, everything within
the very limited means of the Associa
ton was done to render the rooms cozy
and to give our visitols an lat home
feeling.
During November Gn which montt
only record was kept, the average
number of visitors daily was l6. II
December, while no record was kept
we believe the attendance was equally
as large.
Within the past six months, forty
fouf Gospel Meetings for men only have
been held, wiiha total attendance o
65l.
Seven social gatherings and mass
meetings have been held in the room:
with ooe exception) with an appropri
ate average attendance of so. Thes'
meetings have been for the purpose o
bringing our members in.o closer socia
relations TO each other, a. d in acquaint
ing and interesting the public with ou
work. Music, readings, recitations
lectures, addresses, committee reports
etc., have been used to render then
pleasantand instructive.
About two months ago several Of ou
young men met in the rooms and dis
cussed the advisability of starting
Gymnasium in connection with ou
Association work. AS result of thi
subsequent effort on the part of thes
young men, the Gymnasium was regu
larlv opened by New Years day, an
now has an equipment valued at Sic
and membership of 81; and has classe
four days each week, in which instruc
ton is given by the General Secretary
with an average attendance of six; bu
this number is growing rapidly.
We believe that the Gymnasium il
our Association is a decided addition t
it's usefulness, and that it is destined t
be the most effectual medium througl
which the young men Of our town cal
be reached and benefited.
At a recent meeting of the Board Q
Managers committee was appointed
to lake some action in regard 70 secur
ing an organ for the Association. w
are glad to learn that there has beer
purchased splendid instrument
which will be in the rooms in Yer,
short while.
There are many other instances tina
could be cited which would shoV
marked progress and increased useful
ness, but space will not permit of more
feel that increased popularity an(
uSGUGuCu COIll1uOuCC lAC oOil4NlShI S'A
dence, in this conservative community
of true merit.
Our success is not due alone to tn
faithful work of few, but to the sym
pathy and hearty cooperation on tn
part of the community at large in al
our undertakings. For the the gratui
tious use of the rooms we now occupy
we feel deeply grateful. The ladies 10
the community have very general.
aided our work financially, and have
lent their talent toward making ou
social gatherings more pleasant and at
tractive.
From week to week there have beer
published in each of our newspaper
notices of our meetings and other mat
tiers Of interest to our members, which
have been almost Indispensable; anc
our warmest thanks are rendered th'
editors for their kind favors.
Our young mems meetings have beer