The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-09
FIFTEEN GOOD YEARS
Work of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association.
ANNIVERSARY NEXT MONTH.
ufstorx o. tire Founding and Growth OF
tho Organixation--Its Present
Flourishing Condition.

The yonng Mems Christian Association
.s.s;. citv is preparing for celebration
=. c.,,.ernber Ia and IA Of the fifteenth an
~ Of the founding of the local
s..,cb On the first day, Sunday, there
~, ,,-ohablv be mass-meeting. attended
-. ...oc;ation workers from all parts of
~ ..a,s On the Monday following the
snnnal nesting Of the association will be
held. -
.ss,rlsr and helpful organization was pre-
s.,.d vyeral years ago by the secretary,
Es q Carter. According TO that author
- rho FIRST movement was at public
,n.st;nr June %. 1876, at the house of Mrs.
Mavuard. on the corner of Commercial
and Main streets After some debate on
The advisability of organization, and the
test of membership, the meeting adj
fourned. Several other conferences we--
held. and finally, on August 7, 1876, the
Young Mems Christian association Of
Seattle was organized, with Mr.. Dexter
Horton as its first president.
On the last day of January of the follow
ing year the association Laced hall in
the upper part of building on the corner
Of Front and Madi,on st -. This build
ing has since been destroyed by the fire.
change was made from these quarters
when on the first day of June in 1879, the
association united with the Bethel Asso-
citation in renting and furnishing hall
near the wharf, on Mill street, now Yesler
avenue. Exactly two months later fire
broke out in the Yesler mill, and the hall
fosf nj
of its furniture, except an organ, which T.
Coulter rescued with great effort aud per-
sonal risk.
The association then went back to its old
hall and stayed there until May 1881. At
that time the association removed to the
Squire block on Commercial stre-t--also
destroyed by the fire. There reading
room was opened and public meetings were
held. In the fall of the same year coffee
house vas started in connection with the
reading-room. After the association had
remained there for about two years, Mr..
J. NJ. Colman offered at very low rental
set OF rooms over grocery store on the
corner of Front and Marion streets. The
offer was accepted.
Not much energy was shown in the con-
duct Of the organization until May, 1884,
when G. ID. Davis, then assistant secretary
&C Portland. accepted call to be general
secretary here. He found the work at
loose ends. What had been everybody's
business was nobody's business. Nothing
definite was being done for the young men
and there was a general opinion that the
association was little more than fifth
wheel for the churches. During Mr..
Davis term of office the association
gained strength and purpose, and ladies'
auxiliary was organized and did good
work
In February, 1885, he resigned his charge
to go into the ministry From that time
the association was without general Sec
rotary until April 6, 1886. when Mr.. G.. Car
ter, at that time one of the workers in the
Victoria association, received and accepted
call to take the place. Since then the
association has made rapid and steady
progress. Mr.. Carter's liberality of spirit,
his knowledge of men and his tact have
made the association popular among all
classes; while his energy and enterprise
have kept the organization up to high
pitch of efficiency.
Soon after Mr.. Carter came the rooms
then occupied became too small, and
search Wa made for more commodious
quarters. Judge w. ID. Wood and others
interested themselves to procure rooms
that should be suitable for the increased
needs of the association; also q place
where gymnasium might be fitted up.
Such a place was found in building
owned by Mr.. Amos Brown, at the corner
Of Front and Spring streets. Mr.. Brown
favored the association with lease for
three years, at very low rental, and the
new quarters were occupied in October,
lsS6. After a reading-room, room for
games. library, par!or, chapel and lee
ture hall, gymnasium and three bath
rooms had been fitted up the membership
increased rapidly. In October, 1887. a
more definite work was begun for Young
men. The gospel service, which pre-
viousiy had been for both sexes, was made
for men only.
Again the rooms became too small for
the 500 young men who were members.
and in April, 1883, a movement was set on
foot, headed by DR.. Z. C. Kilbourne and
others To secure permanent home for the
association. After the matter had been
carefully canvassed, it was decided to
have the young men buy lot and TO call
upon the business men for the money for
The building. The present site, on the
vest side of Front street, between Union
and Pike, was secured at cost of $4,000.
Apablic dinner was called for the Young
men at the old Occidental hotel. After the
meal 5000 of the money needed for the
site was pledged. and the whole ST.. 900
was subscribed within forty-eight hours.
Work was soon begun, and on April II.
INV the rear portion of the building was
completed so that il could be occupied. In
TINS part are the gymnasium. auditorium
and reading-room. This summer the two
stores in the front OF the building have
been walled in. They will be rooted over
and finished at once, so that they NAV be
rented. Thus far S22,0 has been spent
on me new quarters, which have been
iehosred SO attractive that the daily aver
ase attendance for the year is 200. The
,s sss ., the building will be finished at some
ns association has branch at Ballard,
.,s.a, ue Young men do work in the hos
- any s lails every Sunday. There is no
,. 'o,o eiue'eni association in the North |
Tts 1ut general work among young men.
5000 year. "'e "'N'
W. Z. A. Convention,
From