The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-08
ASSOCIATIONS BIC NIGHT
THOUSAND GUESTS ATTENDED
They Wcrc Young Men and Boys OF
AL Sorts Entertainment Offered
Was Just TO Their Liking.
Many New Members.

Last night was q red-letter night In
the history of the Young Mems Chris
tian association. 1t witnessed the for
NAL opening for THE winter of the edu-
cational department and manual train
ing school. now jointly known as the
John Raymond institute and the occa-
sion also Included the introduction of
the new heads of departments and the
large corps OF teachers.
For the occasion the association had
Issued over 1000 invitations to the
young men of the city, irrespective OF
race. creed or color. and 1t was estimat-
ed that those present numbered about
1000. For their entertainment the Of
iicers had wisely arranged a sort of
running pot-pourri of vocal and tns'tru-
mental music and refreshments instead
of 'tlhe old and tedious programme of
stiff ARA stereotyped character. The
main and third floors We're lighted by
an extra number of incandescents and
were attractivsly arranged with palms
ard ferns, while the fourth floor, which
will be used for the industrial depart
ments OF the institute, was thrown
open for inspection.
The work of the Young Mems Chris
tian association as an encouragement
for moral, mental, spiritual and physi-
cal advancement could not have been
more eloquemtly portrayed than by the
throng which comfortably filled the
large building. Gray heads We're a
scarce quantity or were entirely absent.
The visitors Were almost exclusively
representative gathering of hardy
young nanhood. Ttere were young
boys and young men. well dressed and
badly dressed, black-haired and red
haired. erect and crooked-!n fact all
kinds of boys and young men, includ-
lN,I "A
probability that some bad ones were
mixed In the throns was remarked 10
President Dickson. and mis- comment
well illustrates sterling principle of
the association. He said:
Want the Good and Rad BOYS.
II don't hope these are bad boys, but
| do hope the bad ones are here; we
want them, and we want the good ones.
of course. This association Is for boys
and young men. II any of our men,
bers are bad they might better be with
us and become purer than be cut In the
world and become worse"
A very large number OF those prescott
came as result of a recent census of
the young men of the city. The census
occupied six months and was made by
six agents employed by the association
which obtained a record of every young
man in Scranton. Several weeks ago
1000 personal letters, sealed and
stamped and signed by the general sec
retary, Were mailed ITO the young men
and boys OF the city, telling them of
what the association had to offer in a
general way, bidding them welcome to
the building and referring particularly
to the educational department and IT'S
cost. These 4 900 letters Were followed
a few days ago with prospectus of the
John Raymond institute and an invita-
ton to the opening, and the result was
more than satisfactory.
In the throng were several young men
from as far up the valley as Carbon
dale and as far south as Moosic who
came purposely to attend the opening.
There were four young Bohemians from
Peckville, who entered the educational
department.. In all about fifty young
men, unsolicited, paid membership fees
of 81 each. and many paid 81 extra and
registered as students in one of the
educational courses, or 81 extar for reg
istration in one of the industrial
classes.
1t was soon after 8 o'clock that the
formal opening was inaugurated in the
lecture hall. which was filled. After
prayer by Rev. DR.. G. f.. Robinson, Sc
lections Were rendered by Conrad's Or
chestra and the choir of the First Pres
byterian church. President a. w.
Dickson spoke briefly. and in his usual
brisk and happy vein, and introduced
H. II. Burroughs, superintendent OF
the manual training department.; Ply
sical Director A. r. Hoff and J. VI.
Chance, professor Of instrumental
music. General Secretary Mahy iu-
troduced the following corps Of teach
ers: A. F.. Tappen, business depart
ment; +. II. Sampson, assistant. busi-
ness department; John r. Jones, Eng
lish branches; Ralph A. Lyon, free
hand drawing; Tallie Morgan, vocal
music; John L. Richards, w. NJ. Hill
and Fl. II. Wheeler.
They Inspected the Building.
Following the formality In the lee
ture hall all were treated to feast of
fruit, served from tables on the third
floor, and the next hour was spent In
wandering at will through the large
building. There was much music. and
good music, meanwhile, vocal and in
strumental, rendered by the cnoir and
the orchestra, and when at 1890 o'clock
the thing was ended there must have
been considerable satisfaction to the
officers.
or General Secretary Mahy, to whose
efforts the success of the opening Is
chiefly due, a comment by one of the
well-knOrvn officers of the association
seems appropos. He said, referring to
Mr.. Mahy, "His soul Is In the work
and he's got brains"
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