Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-01
DONE IN AN OLD BUILDING.
What IL Sssd I'm Other Cities OF the worl
OF the Washington Y. M. c. A.

what 10 sssd in Other Cities OF the Work
OF the Washington Y. NJ. c. A.
Tho work of the Y. NJ. c. A in this city and
the need it has for a new building to accommo-
date suitably all the branches of the work car
ried on by this active organization has at
tracted attention abroad. The STAR has al
ready set forth the story Of the wonderful pro-
gress made by the association and the value Of
the work done by it for the community. The
Young Mems Era Of Chicago, in it's last issue,
under the heading, "a Year in an Old Build
ing" has this to say:
1t is always an interesting story to read of
what has been done in q new building in its
first year and notice the comparison with the
former years under the less favorable circum-
stances. Sometimes the associations that are
not so fortunate become discouraged because of
lack Of equipment and say that there is no use
irving to work without tools. and az a result
perhaps, some work that could have been done
has been neglected. For the encouragement Of
such it is worth while to note the progress of
the Young Mems Christian Association at WASH
lngton. DC, and the work that is being done
there with the same old tools and the same
equipment OF 1881. The building the associa-
ton occupies was purchased twelve years ago
for S32, 900 and it built an addition of gymns-
SUM at a cost Of %, 900 more. The increase in
real estate values makes the property worth
S100, 900 now. but that has not added to the
conveniences nor made the building suitable
for the work Of the Young Mems Christian
Association. Every visitor to the national CAPT.
tai is struck, if he chances to see the build
ing, with the modesty Of the structure.
and he asks the question very naturally,
''ls that the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion?" Then he wonders why the people Of the
beautiful city do not rise in their might and
cause to be erected such building as they
would be proud of: then visitors could no
longer say: Washington has beautiful public
buildings. churches. colleges, philanthropic in
stitutions. but no building worthy of its young
men and dedicated TO them in the name of the
Christian religion" The outside is unattrac-
tive the inside more so. though tidy and clean
and homelike. but when compared with cities
OF the same size Washington's building is
diapidated indeed. Notwithstanding the poor
accommodations the work has been pushed far
beyond what would seem to be the possibility
IL such n structure. In the same old building
the membership has increased from 667 to
l.233. and for three years things have rushed
along at food tide. 1t did not reach pinnacle
and then drop off. but in membership the ], 200
mark has been held. and in attendance in the
gymnasium. educational classes. lectures, So
Gals. literary society and religious services
there has been constant and continued pro-
erosion.
During last year there were 61S religious
services held in the building. including gospel
meetings, Bible and training classes and prayer
meetings. an average of almost two day. with
total attendance of 22,S40 Az a result
seveuty-hve Young mer professed faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ. In the educational work
there were eleven studies fifty sessions each in
six months and 1873 individual students en-
rolled. with an aggregate attendance of Il, 4S7.
Twenty lectures or parlor talks were delivered
with 1858 persons to hear them. The literary
society held fifty sessions. with 1927 present,
or an average of sixty-six at each session. Four
hundred and fifty young men and 100 boys
made use of the gymnasium until their attend
ance numbered 2J. l40. There were 100 sent
to boarding houses. fOrty-five positions secured
for men out of work and total attendance of
1886 or an average of $40 for each day in the
year in the building. These figures sound like
a new building year. but they are not, and If
the other months of 1898 will continue as jan
nary has started out it would seem that the new
figures will be more astonishing. In the educa-
tional work January was in advance of October
bv 16 per cent. the total attendance being
1854, with average of forty in arithmetic,
forty in bookkeeping. forty-eight in ste
biography. fortv-eight in typewriting, twenty
two in English, sixteen in draughting, nine in
algebra, eight in geometry.
In one session of tho boys classes in the gym
nasum there were eighty-seven boys under six
teen, of whom seventy-nine took part in the
drill. The afternoon mems classes had an
average of thirty and the evening thirty-eight
there was total of 2.184 exercising individually
and in Class during the month. The success of
the athletic field last year was not less phenOm-
email, and in open contest. in pentathion games,
in base ball and in foot ball the association boys
have carried the red triangle to honorable VIC
tories, while their defeats have been equally
reasons for jubilation. In all this work the
Christian influences have prevailed and the
name of Christ reve.ed.
The literary society and lectures, the orchestra
and committees held sessions and meetings
regularly.
But in the religious work were the successes
greatest. An average attendance of 4S7 is
recorded. and, best of all, eighty-one requests
for prayer by young men. 1t would seem that
Washington work is not as bad as their build
ing and that it would lead all who feel that they
have reason for encouragement to take courage
and do their utmost with what they have. and
even before Washington, with its splendid
work. where nobody lives but great many stay
for four years or less more, shall have
building in which the association would I'M
doubleday double its effectiveness, those whom
Washing ons success may encourage will have
the equipment which they and the capital city
shall deserve.