The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-30


not been altogether free from such
charge. Let us hasten to wipe out the
shame of such charge by showing in
the ample provision we make for our
young men that we esteem their welfare
above all things.
We have reason then to be proud OF SUCH
an institution as this, and to watch the
| rearing of this building with ever in
creasing interest. Here is an institution,
which consecrates itself entirely to the
work of making men who shall make
our city prosperous and great and gior1-
Gus. No other institution in our midst
| is equipped to do the kind of work which
will be done here. In our larger cities
this kind of work is felt to be so pressing
that great institutional churches are es-
tablished. These would scarcely be sus-
tanned in our midst and we leave that
great field of service entirely to the Y.
M. G. A. Large wholesale establish
ments in our great cities have SO apreclat-
ed the work done by these associations
that they have established reading
rooms, parlors and gymnasiums in con.
nection with their stores. The value OF
such work is no longer open to discuss
| ion.
Here for instance will be building SO
well equipped that we may hope to lift
and inspire them through their social
natures. The day for hermits has gone.
We desire to make no more. We do not
ask what young man believes. We
know that he has q social nature craving
expression. We know that the emissarles
of evil have scores of places in this city
where young men are led to ruin through
the instincts of their social natures. We
arise as citizens and say: Here shall be
one place where great reading room
| filled with the best, and beautiful parlors
shall be open night and day and free to
| everybody who walks our streets. We
have no way of knowing the influence for
good exerted by such an agency. Here is
a young man walking down the street, of
noble purpose and high aspiration, but
his brain is hot with impulses which he
knows to be below him. but from which
he cannot shake himself free. He sees the
bright light of this reading room and en-
tiers. An hour spent here has Gained
him. He goes home conqueror. The
community has gained a man instead of
a cuiprit.
But man is not at his best without
the best body. We are scarcely modern
in our methods of making men OF the
highest type without such gymnasium
as we shall have here free to every man
who will enter it.
Another work this association will do
the value of which cannot be over-esti-
mated. There are always men working
at trades who are capable or making
superintendent Of business only that
they have not the documentary education
to fit them for such q service. There will
be evening classes of all kinds by attend
ance on which many a man will rise to a
larger place..in life. He can do far more
for the world because there is more in
him. And above all this, this association
will endeavor to make men by holding
high moral and spiritual ideas before
them. 1t will prevent many life being
blighted by iniquity We say what a
power such genius as Byron would have
been if he had not been dwarfed by his
views. This association will save many a
man to life of great usefulness by in
spring in him high spiritual ambition.
The whole city has personal interest in
this building.
The men Maine has produced are he1
pride. We have not the material resources
OF some states. We 90 not dazzle the eyes
of men with our brilliant financial pros
: poets, though of this we are not
ashamed. But it is our boast that Maine
can produce men. The men who represent
us in national legislation are men OF
whom any state might well be proud
The man who presided over the House oil
I Representatives was made in Portland
He is only an example of the kind Of
manhood in which we believe.
} 1t Is our glory that there went out from
: these streets man whose name is known
wherever the English language is read
In Longfellow we have another proof thai
the best thing city can make is moi
cotton goods, leather or stoves, but q
, man. I dare predict that while this asso
citation may not uncover any grea
genius, it will discover to us a grea
! many men who by the beauty and useful
ness of their lives will repay us manifold
for all the money We have invested in Thu
building.
The best investment of money eve1
IL e. nj fn,
much in the eyes of the world, but i
! counts for everything as force in tn
world.
That shrewd statesman Benjamin
Franklin bequeathed to the city of Bos
J ton, five thousand dollars to be put at in
4 terest hundred years, and then lent t.
= small mechanics just starting in business
J | The first hundred years ended in 1898, ant
= the fund had increased to over four hun
= dred thousand dollars. They put hun
:. dred thousand at interest and paid owe
y three hundred thousand dollars to the cit
: of Boston to be used for the amelioratiol
! of the life of the people This is monu
! ! ment to the memory of Franklin NOR
4 glorious than pillar of marble built til
J it should touch the sky.
u When we shall realize the value of
man, and shall see the manhood whicl
this association shall make it will be GU
glory that We had part in this enter
= | prise.
= Mayor Randall then spoke as follows:
It MAYOR RANDALL'S ADDRESS.
Ladies and Gentlemen:-We are Assem-
g bled here today to assist with appropriat
e ceremonies the laying of the corner ston
' of the splendid building which is to b
n erected as the permanent home of tina
1t noble organization. the Young Men
j. Christian Association, and it is pleas
e ant duty for me, as representative of tn
d city, to be present on this occasion an
j. endorse this noble work. For surely thel
r can be nothing nobler or grander tina
}, the work that this association has done
IS the past, and is doing today, for the goo
e of the young men of our city and state.
@ Ever since it's organization it has cor
1t tinued to prosper, and increase in nun
l. Der, until today | understand, it's men
n bership is over a thousand, and sincere
S ly hope it will continue to prosper in th
future as in the past until even this gree
is building will be insufficient for its accom-
I mediation. For long while the associs
o ton has felt the need of larger and moi
l. commodious quarters and it's member
l. have looked forward to the day whe
!, +ba,, io,b+ hax which vi