Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-26
PLEASANT PROSPECT
Encouraging Signs for Burned Out
Y. n G. A.
The MEETING HELD TODAY
Citizens to 81 Asked to Help Along
ths Cause.
A PUBLIC MASS MEETING

The board Of trustees CT the Young Mems
Christian Association met today at SIG F
street for the purpose Of further consider
ing plans for The raising of funds for re-
placing the building that was burned We'd
nesday morning. There were present at the
meeting President l.. CaEell Williamson
and Messrs. Warner, Swartzeli. Larner,
Harding. Smith; Pratt, Pugh. The general
feeling was that although it would be nee
essary to work hard for the accomplish
ment Of the iiesired end, it would be quite
possible to raise large sum for the erec-
ton of new building, and it vas agreed
that it would be mistake to set the pace
too low. and to strive for anything less
than the accumulation of S150,0O0.
Before the meeting was called to order
Mr.. N. H. Egleston appeared before the
board and stated that he was sure the
citizens of Washington would be gratified
if in rebuilding the =. NJ. c. A. should pro-
vide in its new home large and con-
venients hall for meetings, lectures. etc.
He said that there was not in the city
convenient and safe public hall suita BILE for
general assemblies, and he detailed at
some length the various inconvenfent feat
ures of the meeting places now available.
Speaking for the Geographical Society, of
which he is a member he said he felt safe
in promising that that organization would
agree to hire the Y. NJ. c. A. hall through
out the season If it were erected according
to the best principles of architecture. He
recommended that the building be erected
on square with plenty of ground in the
interior, SO that the hall proper could be
built back of the street on comparatively
Invaluable ground, and should be on the
hrst hoor, and but one story high land per-
hapS gallery. He thought such an en-
terprise would more than pay the interest
on considerable Investment and would be
source of revenue to the association.
Mr.. Larner told Mr.. Egleston that the
association had had such proposition in
mind for some time, and it had been prac-
tically agreed upon that in the event of
rev building being erected its chief fea-
ture would be az assembly hall that would
be available for the uses of the public.
MIR. Pugh said that there had been for
some time in mind plan for a hall suit
able for lectures, musical entertainments
and other public gatherings, fitted with
stage of good size, and a large organ. 1t
would probably seat about thousand peo
pie. If erected according to the present
Ideas or the managers of the association.
Raising Funds.
The meeting ofrthe board was informal in
character. 1t was decided that the work
of canvassing for funds should be left in
the hands of the building and finance COM
mittees of which Messrs.Larner and Wood
ward are respectively chairmen. Mr..
Woodward is nov in Massachusetts, and
will not return Before next Wednesday.
Mr.. Larner, as acting chairman of the joint
committee, was authorized to prepare
blanks for subscriptions and to make other
preparat lions for the active solicitation of
funds. which Ewllla be begun as soon as
possible. 1t is likely that when the So
Letting committee, composed of these two
standing committees of the association, is
able to hold a meeting decision will be
reached as to- the length of time within
which contributions shall be paid. Some
period of years VII be determined upon
and payments lwiil likely be made in quar-
terly installnlepts, $50. that the association
VIII have a steady revenue every three
months. -
A Complaining feature of this plan, how
ever, is that The interest On the mortgage
that will have to be placed OH the building
in the absence of all the cash for a COM
plete and final payment will be a consider
able drain upon the finances of the assoeia-
ton. SO that by the time the subscriptions
are all paid in their total value, reckoned
by the actual purchasing power they repre-
sent, viii have shrunk to material de-
gree. That is to say. that ii S1Jp,o00 should
be subscribed before 1t is all paid in, 5000
or $4,000 of this sum may have been paid
out in interest On the Indebtedness, thus
reducing the total efficiency of the sub
scription. This, of course, could be avoided
by cash contributions, but it was the gem
eral opinion of the trustees today that more
men could be found to subscribe on a time
basis than on cash basis.
To overcome this possibility the commit
tees will probably work for total celIec-
ton Of S2o0,0;O. so as to leave ample mar
gin for the payment of interest, as Wen as
the principal, and thus allow the associa-
ton to finish the transaction within the
terms of years that may be decided upon
with every cent of Indebtedness paid.
Public Meeting.
It was decided also to hold big mass
meeting of the friends of the association
some day next week. probably Thursday.
when Mr.. Woodward shall have arrived.
It is likely that this meeting will be held
in some central hall, such as the National
Rifles Hall. at midday, this hour being bet
ter for business men, many of whom leave
the city after business hours. No plans
have yet been perfected for this meeting,
but 1t is expected that II will be of short
duration, and characterized by two or three
brief, snappy speeches from good takers,
who will succintly point out the necessities
of the situation and the urgent needs of the
association.
Subscription blanks win probably be on
hand to allow the generously disposed to
give then and there. and if between now
and Thursday a citizen can be found to
head the list with good round sum, it is
generally expected that this will incite COM
raising Of forty or fifty thousand dollars
at the threshold Of the enterprise. Then
the subscription committee will by that
time have been well organized and will
have been provided materials for an active
campaign. and 1t Is anticipated that in two
days after this meeting the work of can
vassing will be so under way that 1t will
be as smooth and systematic as though it
had been under way for year.
Temporary Quarters.
Meanwhile, temporary quarters will have
to be provid,d for the association. At the
meeting today the authority that was grant
ed Wednesday evening to Messrs. William
sen, Harding and Pugh to select temporary
quarters was continued, and they were d.
Oh
with two or thrae adjacent rooms, for the
use of the mem 2ers. A maximum rental
was agreed Up on, and 1t was decided that
all the expenses OF the temporary work
should be cut down to the lowest point. At
the suggestion Of Mr.. Larner it was
agreed that the ladies Of the various
churches OF the city that are affiliated
with the association should be asked to
furnish the new offices. 1t was decided
that it would be impossible to continue the
il It
Tomorrow's Star will con-