Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-22
THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS OLD.
The Young Mems Christian Association
OF This City.

The Young Mems Christian Association
OF This City.
TTs AxHrvKRsARY APPROPRIATELY CELEBRATED
IN THE FrRsT BAPTIST CHURCH LAST NraHr-
AN IMMENSE AUDIENCE AND AN INTERESTING
PRooRAM-ELooUExr ADDRESSES.
The Young Mems Christian Association was
thirty-eight years old yesterday. That event
was celebrated by q great meeting which was
held last evening in the First Baptist Church,
at the corner Of 10th and o streets.
The seating capacity Of that spa
cious auditorium did not prove
to be sufficient to accommodate all those who
thronged into the doors and the ushers were
obliged to place chairs in the aisles. Even
with this extra provision there was not enough
seats and all the available standing
room was occupied. Apparently all
the thousand and more members were present
besides quite a contingent of their friends and
well wishers While no doubt the desire to
hear the distinguished Brooklyn divine, Rev.
DR.. Cuyler, who was the speaker of the even
ing, helped to swell the crowd. yet the associa-
ton with its large membership represents
constituency in this city of growing importance,
and al occasion o! this kind brings together a
representative gathering of those interested
directly and indirectly in the objects OF the
organization. Postmaster General Wanamaker
was IN the audience and so was ex-Justice
William Strong and many others prominent in
the social, business and professional circles
of the city. The program was worthy of
the occasion and the audience. There were no
dry details or dry speechea Everything said
and done was to the point and inspired with
the energy and push which marks tie career of
the association under the able direction of the
president, Mr. William B. Gurley.
AN INTERESTING PROGRAM.
After the corps of ushers had succeeded in
finding seats for the great throng rs far rs the
space permitted an organ solo was rendered
by Prof. A. W. Meyer. Then quartettc con-
sisting of Mrs Perkins. Mrs E. D. Rheem
C. Z. Rice and p. s. Foster sang, which was
followed by a rendition on the organ by Prof.
Meyer of Plegel's hymn. Messrs W. s. Young
and F. L. Reeside sang duet and 7. 5. Foster
II colo. selection from the Bible was
read by Rev. DR.. &. A. S:akely. the pastor Of
the church. and prayer was offered by President
Gurley. Mrs. Perkins sang n solo and then Mr.
Gurley, before Introducing Rev. Dr.. BARTLETT
gave an Interesting statement, which showed
the wonderful spread of the \ Dung Mems Chris
tian Association i'll this country. There are
now many thousands of members connected
with the various associations throughout the
country and their property is valued at millions
OF dollars.
REV. DIR. BARTLETT's ADDRESS.
Rev. DR.. Bartlett, the eloquent pastor of the
New York Avenue Church. then made one Of
those happy little addresses fer which he is
noted. lie said that the Young Mems
Christian Association had passed the ex-
perimental stage and occupied now a
well defined position in the community. 1t is
now understood and accepted i'll the place it
has chosen and so effectively fills, flo pointed
out a. one OF the practical results of this Or
ganzation that it had diagnosed the Young
men, 1t has discovered that the young man
has body and has made provision
for the development of the muscles
by making gymnasium part of
its equipment. The old idea that Christian
was Synonymous with a narrow chest and a
pale face has been dispelled. Good blood and
strong muscles are found to be not incom-
patible with Christianity. Then the speaker
sald that the association had discovered
that the young man was of intel
lectual nature, and SO it has supplied classes
for instruction and reading room. In this
way young man Is able to develop his physi-
cal nature and secure fair intellectual train
ing by availing himself OF tho advantages Of
fered by the association. IL further provides
for his social nature by entertainments and re-
ceptions. All this, tho speaker said. led uatur.
ally up to the prime motive for establishing an
association of this kind, namely: The training
OF young men for their work III the world.
THE INFLUENCE YoUSG MEN EXERT.
He paid an eloquent tribute to the power and
influence welded by young men in the world,
and said that the problem of how they
could exert this influence with the best re-
suits had been solved By the Young Mems
Christian Association. He commended the
unsectarian character of this organization. and
said that however conscientious and rightly
men were in regard to their own particular
religious sect, Jet the real work of the
Christian religion in this world could not
be done until the essentials of re-
h9ion were made prominent and Christ
was presented as the only source of salvation
The speaker then referred to the printed stats
tics on the program which showed the work
done by the association during the past wear.
He spoke of tho membership. which now num-
bers ,052 and the increase during the year of
1853. He referred to the financial condition
which showed that the receipts exceeded the
expenses and that the indebtedness had de-
creased
THE ASSOCIATION AUXILIARY TO THE CHURCH,
He thought that it was a subject Of congrat-
ulation that such an organization existed in
this city, and said that the ministers believed
it to be an auxiliary of the churches. He
spoke OF this city as center which drew
young men from all parts of the country and
said that the membership, large as it is, was
not fair representation Of the number Of
young men in this city. Amid the heartiest
applause he suggested the plan Of calling upon
the young men in each OF the states to con-
tribute to a fund to be used in building
hero at the capital a structure which would
be the best possible for the use of Young
Mems Christian Association, 80 that here a
suitable home could be furnished for the thou
sands of young men that come from every state
in the Union. In closing DIR. Bartlett paid an
eloquent tribute to DR.. Cuyler, whom. lie said,
had preached more eloquent sermons, written
better newspaper articles and delivered better
platform lectures than any man now living.
REV. DIR. CUYLERs TALK.
A wave Of greeting ran over the audience as
the familiar figure Of DR.. Cuyler came to the
front Of the platform. The applause soon
swelled to . hearty ovation, and the distin-
euished preacher bowed his acknowledgements.
Then he began to talk in his inimitable styIe.
He was eloquent and witty, and his telling
points evoked laughter and applause.
At the outset DR.. Cuyler made a pleasant
reference to this city. He said that he was
always pleased to come to the most beautiful
city on the American continent. After COM
city with the beautiful. smooth streets of this
city the speaker confessed to q willingness to
even live in the White House in order
to be Washingtonian. He then gave general
sketch Of the founding of the Young Mems
Christian Association by George Williams of
London forty years ago and said that there
were several reasons why he approved of the
objects Of the association.
AHoME AND HAND-sHAKE
II gave q home and hand-shake to Young
men who came rs strangers to q city. He
thought that there was good deal Of Chris