The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-18
FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY
THE rOUN0 MANS CHRIsTf<N @sSO'
CLIFTON OF THIS CITY.
The Institution Has Been Very success'"i
During the Past Year-All the depart
m.nt. I'm a Very Prosperous Condition.

this city which has been as prosperou
in every way during the past year a
the Young Mems Christian Association
NJ the corner OF Sixth and Main streets
President $. w. Travers, and the eificien
members of the Board of Directors have
been highly successful in contributing theil
share TO the welfare OF the institution
They could not have placed their conf
dence in any better man than Mr.. George
+. Tibbitis, whom they elected secretary
OF the organization but little over q
year ago. DE has had a herculean task
I'm various ways, and often have | found
him at work long after midnight, with
out murmur. because what he did was
I'm the interest OF young men. He had
10 meet with a good many hardships be-
cause his hopes and ideas were not al
ways realized. But he passed over IL
| quietly, and while on several occasions
he met with disappointment on the part
! OF those whom he thought 10 be on his
| side, he never wayered. but continued
his work. and events have shown that
ne is the most successful secretary
the Richmond Association has ever had.
Time and time again / have been at
the building. and / have watched the
boys and young men when they entered
The first man whom they would look
for was Mr.. Tfbbitts. and he always has
string OF visitors around his desk
Each one Is treated with the same cor
diality and friendship. and IL it was
Ieit 10 q vote Of the members and visi-
tors OF the institution, it would be de-
clded without any opposition that never
any one enjoyed any greater popularity
than MIR. Tibbitts.
This fact was clearly demonstrated n
the fort'eth anniversary OF the Associa-
toh' Whlch was celebrated on last Tues
uay evening. The speech Of Mr.. s. W
IraNers, president Of the organization
iuily brought out all the facts which
have helped the institution to its nresent
prosperous condition. Mr.. Travers smoke
as follows:
Mr.. 1ravers' Speech,
In my opinion, this Associa,io, ,o,.o-
had better General Secretary ana
never exercised a stronger influence TO-
socd In this community than II Is doi,e,
to-oay' Every department Of the work
physlcai, educational, social and spirit-
ua' Is III healthy and growing condi-
tlon. Ana 1t gladdens our hearts 10 rec
the good that is being done.
But friends. it becomes my painful
duty TO state that unless this Association
receives better financial support than Il
Is now doing, the Board Of Directors win
De compelled TO impair its usefulness bv
curtalllpg its expenses. The expense ac-
count OF the Association has been repeat
euIy ana carefully gone over and consid-
cred by the Board of Directors. and we
know not where 10 apply the pruning
knife without impairng. if not destroy
ing, the usefulness Of this Association.
But we feel. as business men. it is not
right to run the Association on a broad
er gauge than the people Of Richmond
are willing to pay for and unless this
community Will give 1t a more liberal
support than II is now doing. we feel
that we had best seriously consider the
question OF abandoning the work. and
closing the doors.
But this organization has been here
too long, and this community knows too
well what 1t has done and is doing. FOR
this to be permitted. And / am salts
fed. that when it is generally known
that more money is needed TO keen the
doors OF this association open. that it |
will be forthcoming. For Richmond was |
one of the pioneer cities Of the United |
States, TO establish this great move
spread itself over the civilized world. |
II may be Of interest to state that Rich
mond was the fifth city in America 10 |
tourd and establish Young Mems Chris
tan Association, and only one year De-
hind the great city of New York, which /
held its forty-first anniversary only
Few weeks ago, with personages at its
head, no less distinguished than Cleve-
land II. Dodge and Cornelius Vanderbilt.
who give literally not only Of their mon
ey but their time, for its support.
Virginia shows Up Wen.
in less than half century. this move
nent for the welfare of young men has
grown, until its organizations are now
found in Sotty-two countries Of the
globe. The year book for 1893 shows .
-otal Of 4,96S Associations, 1.4J9 Of which
ire found in America, and hfty-threo
n the state Of Virginia alone. Surely
'icnmond, one of the lead rs IN the
cre-frCnt of this movement is not going
o drop out Of the ranks and desert the
ield now. She must not. She cannot,
1t may be thought by some. that our
5oard of Directors has probably been
xtravag-nt in its management. Permit
ne in its defence to again refer 10 some
Information, bearing upon this
oint, submitted in my annual report of
ne year ago.
This report took seven southern
lies, and showed that Richmond raised
I'D spent $3.50 per member; Nashville.
925 Atlanta. SlO.25: Asheville. 5000:
5000; Norfolk, Sl47O; and Sa-
annah, Sl5.5e
Thus II Will be seen. that not only has
his Association not been extr tvagantly
managed bnt hat il has been run at q
mailer expense per capita than any
ssociation in the South
The young men themselves are charged
bout what they are charged in the
Their Associations, and the members be-
'nging In proportion To the white popu-
Ition Of the city, IS about the average,
ut our weak point is the lack Of what
called sustaining members. We mean
Y this. persons who are willing TO con
ribute annually a given sum TO the sun
ort Of the work without expecting TO
erye direct personal benefit from it.
About the year 1sSJ. a movement was
tarted. which resulted in the erection
this building. That great and good
IAN, Dwight J.. Moody. was invited .
ere. and through his influence. and the 1
ctive cooperation of many OF our pub +
C spirlted citizens. about $4,000 to
$500 was raised, and this building was
'ecied ard furnished at a cost Of 3D.
- or over Z
The financial Coalition. s
Thus. the Association started IN the /
wv building in 1855. in debt about SI5.-
" on the building alone. and probably
me other outstanding bills besides .
hus 1t started its life in this building
debt. and it has been there ever since.
The Treasurer's report for the year q
Z ho IA. |