Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-26
WORK FOR YOUNG MEN.
Dedication Yesterday Of the New Hall Of the
COlored 4, NJ, G.. A.

Colored 4. NJ. &. A.
The fine new hall which the colored Y. NJ. C.
A. has erected in the rear Of their building
1907 18th street, was dedicated yesterday after
noon in the presence of an audience Of the
friends and the well wishers Of the important
work which this organization is carrying on.
The wonderful progress which the association
has made in the eighteen months that it has
been in existence was described in Saturdays
STAR. As is well known, the association went
right into the midst Of the evil which it ia or
ganized in part to combat, and bought q build
Ing that was a notorious resort and ever since
then their influence has gone on widening and
extending. Naturally it became necessary to
enlarge the building. and SO the work Of erect
ing the hall was begun, and it was the compile
ton of this auxiliary of the association that
was celebrated yesterday. Rev. DIR. Crummell,
the rector of st. Luke's Episcopal Church, pre-
sided and made q brief address. in
which he spoke Of the importance
OF interesting young men in active
Christian work. and especially commended the
efforts put forth by association in this field Of
endeavor. Rev. Mr.. Grimke, the pastor of the
Fifteenth Stree: Presbyterian Church, lead in
PRAYER and read the Scriptures. after which an
address was delivered by Rev. DIR. Sunderland
the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church.
The speaker referred to the early days after the
war of the colored race in this city and spoke
Of the progress made, and dwelt upon the
value of such form of Christian work rep
resented in this association. He said that it
built up the churches and was a valuable aux
Hilary to the other departments of organized
Christian effort Prayer was offered by Rev.
DIR. Craighead, and then the Y. NJ. c. A. choir
under the direction of Mr.. J. T. Ratley, which
furnished the excellent music OF the occasion,
rendered a selection
THE sECKErARY's STATEMENT.
The secretary of the association, Mr.. J. E. More
land. then came forward and spoke in an inter
esting way Of the work that was being carried
on by the association. He said that during the
year some 5000 young men had attended the
meetings and large number had been brought
under the influences which gave them brighter
hopes for the future. He referred briefly 20
the various forms Of activity. giving promi-
hence to what had been accomplished by the
literary society. the Sunday school teachers
meeting and the ladies' auxiliary. This latter
organization. he said. had rendered efficient
aid in reducing the debt which rested on the
association. The athletic department was not
forgotten, and the secretary said the base ball
team was now in such trim that it would take
frst-class nine to beat them.
The president of the association, Mr.. J. II.
Meriwether, supplemented the remarks he had
made ut the opening Of the meeting by n more
detailed statement of the financial condition
and prospects. He said that the new hall cost
about $4,000. Owing to the generosity OF the
business men OF the city most of the material
had been contributed. The brick men had
given brick. the lumber dealers lumber; lime.
hardware and gas fixtures had also been do
mated and contributions had also come from
class OF men who could not afford to give verv
much. namely, the laboring men. and in some
instances they had given their days work. In
this the of the inlDrOyement had been
lessened, but there was still a debt of some
sl,5OO. The entire property now represented
an OUTLAY of $4,000 and the indebtedness was
about $4,000. He thought that this a
creditable showing. especially they had gone
into the enterprise with no money. He spoke
Of the generous support received from such
men as ex-Justice Strong, ex-Secretary of State
Foster ard others. The audience made lib
eral response to an appeal for contributions to-
ward the debt.