The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29
A PALACE FOR ATHLETES.
N. j. 4. @. President Ia rs THE COR
STONE OF NEW CT UB no USE.

Bishop Potter Demvera tAs Invocation
Or. .Chnunery NJ. Dep-w Follows with
n sporting orntion, In Which He Eu-
ioTiEes Amateur Sport and Makes n Hit
The elements fro wned on the functions con.
nected with the laying Of tho corner stone OF
the Row York A. C.'s palace nc the corner OF
Fitty-nlnth street and Sixth avenue yestcr-
day. Still there wrs a repre- sentative gather
ing on hand, including some of the leading
advocates of athletics and physical culture.
The athletic clubs Of New York and Brooklyn,
tho city and judicial departments, and out Of
town organizations accepted the invitations
sent out, and helped to swell the ranks which
massed around the platform when Bishop Pot
ter delivered the invocation at $3.50 O'Clock.
President James Whitley received a rousinR
ovation az he stopped forward 10 outline the pro-
grarnme and make some Introductory remarks.
Ex-Presidcnt Barlow 8. Weeks then came for
ward and described the contents OF the box to
be placed beneath the corner stone, as follows:
A copy of the articles OF Incorporation OF the club.
the frat and present constitutions, the club seal,
a list OF all tho on'cers and members of the club
since the organization, q history OF tho club. q copy
of invitation to yesterdays ceremonies and auto.
graphs OF the building ana finance committees and
tho architect. o copy OF he nrst article published
concerning the club. tho names OF the contractors
for the now building and copies Of all the daily
papers.
President Whitley then took hold of q dainty
silver trowel and proceeded to lay the corner
stone. He said: II have examined this stone
and proved 1t with q level, and declare It we'll
and truly laid"
The audience then drow closer.aronnd the
pla form, and DR.. Chauncey NJ. Depow was
introduced to deliver tho Grafton. He was N
his best form, and made some pronounced hit.
which reused the bearers to enthusiasm In
the course OF hi remarks he said:
TIE laying OF the corner stone OF what Is
TO be the most complete, commodious. and per-
mony with the times. 1t is a Significant note
oil, prngress and prosperity. 1t can hardly be
ing good times ike the opening Of mills. fac
tories, and furnaces. But II docs show the
strength and continued growth Of athletics,
both III good and bad seasons.
1t Is a singular phenomenon of our days
that athletics In their modern sense are or
tons OF the kind were unknown in the United
States. Then u man who was distinguished rs
y ooSer, q wrestler, a runner. an onrsman, ora
ment, was regarded with distrust in business
circles, was deemed unreliable IN the profes.
sions, aud suspected of All inability to grasp
spiritual truths in the churches.
1t was common IN. our university towns,
as well as in the c~oauting houses. n third of a
century ago. TO see great numbers of men
who were Bible. backed. because. from leaning
over desks and porting over books, they had Sc
"tN " 'nbhiO Va thV obAhV "hi1h a.
the upper part OF their anatomy resemble a read
ing desk. Men who had this figure were
motion in sedentary pursuits than those who
preserved and Increased that noble form Of hu-
,,1apity which from Its resemblance to the
were worthily called God-like. We are fortu-
nate in the exactine requirements or our day
that neither Curvature OF the spine nor chronic
dyspepsia nor an acrid temper, due to physi-
cal Ills, is a sure charter to a diploma for
learning or entrance to heaven.
1T is lpS9 than Hfty years AGO aiDce tho first
college rowing club was formed. 1t Is only
a littl" over forty ye- rs ago since the first con-
Harvard. Then came baseball. then football
and now. as we saw in the Yale team which
which came ovyr to the United states. every
form OF athleticism finds n home and exer-
else at our seats Of learning ,s p The athletic
the landmarks OF good habits and virtue.
MANLY sports and international games are
factors in maintaining the peace Of Ii, world.
We have witnessed the cordial reception OF
the r ,IpTT Sc TIT YES Of our colleges In Eng
While at Henley last summer l heard the
cheers and felt the enthusiasm Of an allen
crew OF French men who came over from the
Seine; These Frenchmen. despite our tradi-
letic Gaul, beat some of tho best crews on tie
Thames. Manly sport. like art. knows ne..
thcr race nor territorial divisions. l was
arescn, at the dinner given BY the sports Club
to the Yale crew. Two hundred and fifty Eng |
lish athletes. members OF this. the leading
athleti, club Of Europe, were the hosts. Each
of their six speakers We'd with the other in
commencing the Gallantry and modesty of
their visitors. and in cordial expression that
they might come over again and try their luck.
Upon this cornerstone let there arise a
for honorable athletics. a home which
shall frown upon the brutality of some Of Its
forms. a HON. that shall encourage every
kind II healthful sport
The ceremonies were attended by seven ex-
Presidents OF the club. Col. f. Van Wyck. Col.
George Moore Smith. William h. Curtis. Jen-
ings S. Cox. Walter q. Schuyler, A. G..
Mills: and August belmont. Among those
who had served as Governors were Harry Z.
Buermeyer. Robert F. Colfax. Walter 5. Bald
win. DR.. Hamilton Burt. Gen. Thomas G..
John G. Gulick, +. w. Kearney,
Bishop, and Augustus T. Docharty.
After due honor had been paid TO th corner
stone and other features OF the new plant. the
party adjourned to the present headquarters
OF the club. kifty-n'th street and Sixth ave-
nr,e. where an elaborate collation., with must
cal accompaniment, was served. The bal
nnce OF the day was devoted To festivIty
among the members. who celebrated the occa-
zion in royal style.
PURIFTsPORT AMONG STUDENTS.