Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-11-08
LOCAL.
THE Y. NJ. C. A. TO BE AT HOME NEXT
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

On last Sunday afternoon, the Y nj. 4.
Association finished up its fifteen years of
wandering in the wilderness, and next Sun
day afternoon will enter the long promised
land of it's own beautiful home. 1t is true
that the new building is as yet unfinished,
save with seats for the auditorium, but the
presence of the Association there will, we
hope, quicken public liberality and activity
and thus bring financial prosperity to it
which will hasten the complete equipment
of the new home. The occasion was Ladies
Day, and the Methodist church. where the
meeting was held, was crowded. The SER
vices were conducted by Mr.. Guy Cochran
who read 5he lesson of the day, Which he
interpolated with remarks. The lesson was
founded on ''The young man Absalom -
I'd Samuel, chaps, 1918.
Remarks were also made by General Sec
Rotary Dadmun, Rev. DR.. ID. X. Nc
Farland, and Rev. DR.. II. H. Halves.
A striking feature of the attendance was
the large number of young people present.
just before the close, Mr.. j. j. Shirley
sang the solo of that pathetic song, 'Where
is my boy tonight 20 with such feeling,
that it brought tears to the eyes OF many
people present The chorus was sung by
the audience.
Next Sunday the Association will, for
the first time, hold it's meeting in the au-
ditorium of their fine building. 1t will be
a special Praise and Song Service, con-
Quoted by President H. NJ. McIlhany, and
hot tho ito+in
tended by him to the young men, last Sun
day in the Methodist church, will be remem-
bered and that there will be large crowd
present.
SKETCH OF THE ASSOCIATIONS
HISTORY.
The Staunton Y. M. G. Association,
which has just erected one of the finest Y.
M. G. A. buildings in Virginia, had it's
commencement at a meeting held in Nov
ember, 1874, pursuant to notice given in
the churches, in the lecture-room of the
First Presbyterian church, ''for the pur-
pose of considering the propriety and feast
bility of organizing in this city a Young
Mems Christian Association" A COM
mittee of ten 1.-TWO from each church, was
appointed for the purpose of canvassing the
city and securing the names of such persons
as were willing to become members.
AT an adjourned meeting of the members
of the different churches, assembled in the
lecture-room of the Methodist Episcopal
church on Sunday, November 18th, 1874,
the committee reported that they had OBJ
tanned the names Of about 125 persons, who
were willing to join the Association. The
Committee on Organization reported con-
stitution and plan for the working of the
Association.
On tho 18th of November, another meet
ing was held at the same place, when Capt.
T. d. Ransom was elected President OF the
Association, Chas. Grattan, Secretary, and
the late Thos A. Bledsoe, Treasurer, sup
ported by Board of five Vice-Presidents
and five Directors.
The Association thus successfully Or
ganized found a home on Augusta street,
near Frederick, rendered them free
of charge by Maj. B. T. Bagby, one of the
Directors. A library was soon started by
means of donations of books from various
persons. Several readings and lectures
werehad for the benefit of the Association
the late Dr. Sears being called upon occa-
sionally for lecture, and always listened
to with great interest. During the winter
of 1875 special religious services were held
by Rev. G. M. Howard, the revivalist,
under the auspices and at the expense of
the Association. In December of the same
year, the Second Annual Convention of the
State Associations of Virginia, was held in
this city. During the administration of
Capt. Ransom, considerable additions were
made to the library, from the proceeds of
the ''Old Folks Concert" given to a crowded
house at the D., D. & B. Chapel, and from
the 'Festival of all Nations" which latter
appears to have yielded the sum of $500 net
Capt. Ransom retired from the presidency
of the Association in May, 1876, contrary
to the universal wish of the members. He
was during DR.. FL. s term that that very
amusing and successful entertainment, the
Moot Court ~ was gotten up by the exer-
lions Of Mrs. Tate, (now Mrs. DR.. Richard
son of Richmond). 1t Melted 5000.
In June, 1877, the Association moved into
it's new quarters at the Grange Building, ,
now the City Hail.
The membership of the Association
raised considerably in point of numbers
from year to year-the accessions for 1877
8, reaching the large number of 120. II
this year, 1889, it has reached 200.
Tn foo
ton work was commenced, viz, a "COunt,
Convention" This did not last many year.
owing to the gradual dissolution of a mum
Der of the smaller associations Throughout
the county.
In 1887 the Eleventh Annual Session O
the Y. NJ. G. A. State Convention was helt
here. The interest aroused in the work O
this body was marked, and one result of i
was the formation of the Ladies Auxiliary
an organization which has proved itself al
Invaluable aid to the Association. 1t wa
olga lized Monday, March 18th, 1887, witt
Mrs.. r. M. Guy, President.
In 1888 the services of the present excel
lent General Secretary, E. L. Dadmun
were secured.
In 1888, also, the long mooted project of
Y. M. c. A. Building took definite shap
and the citizens were called on to contribute
The old Lutheran church and it's ground
were bought and the building commenced
1t was finished at the beginning of Fall.
Last month, the Ladies Auxiliary held
Bazaar in the new building, to raise fund
for furnishing it. About 81 700 was raised
Other entertainments to the same end wi