Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-18

Discussion OF Plans for lettering It's
Condition.

Discussion OF Plans for lettering It's
ConaItiDu.
Because the affairs of the Young
Mems Christian Association had come
TO such a state that the directors felt
they could no longer sustain the weight
unless they were upheld and backed by
the people of Wilmington, q conference
was held at the association ball Friday
evening at the Invitation nf the d.
rectors to consider the question OF what
bad best be done. the attendance was
rather discouraging to the directors,
who had desired to see Eoodly lumber
OF business men there, whereas outside
OF the directors themselves there were
but dozen or SO. In spite of the
drawback in attendance and in spite
of tho disbursements which the asso-
citation has had 10 face, the meeting
showed spirit which NAV mean much
for the future OF the work in Whining
ton. The situation was plainly put and
discussed. To meet deficit OF two
years tho directors hau themselves
raised about &, 2o1: the associatinn's
property je mort.aged at go, 600. which
1t is desired 10 pay: the desired Fa'
pairing and remodeling of tbs building
would cost s., 500, and to meet the
years expenses 81, 500 would be needed.
The special guests of the evening
were W. G. Douglas, general secretary
of the Philadelphia associations, ex.
Postmaster John Field of Philadelphia
and ". b. Wilson, supe: iutendent of
the Maptua Transfer, Pennsylvania.
Others present were President Alfred
Gawthrop, Vice Presidant Charles W.
Pussy. General Secretary Frank w.
Laug, Directors Charles Baird, w. X.
Crosby, Charles II. Cantwell, Isaac T.
johnson, Job Fl. JACKSON and Medford
ii. Cahoon, A. 6. McCausland. Walter
ID. Bush. William LuRe, A. S. Reed,
Thomas L. Young, c. d. Bird, E. A.
Humphrey, Howard ID. Ross, Joseph
l.. Carpenter. Jr.. J. d. Carter, w. G..
Tindall, Charles II. Head and W. Ii.
Curry.
Between 6. 80 and o'clock the men
sat down to supper, which was served
by members OF the Women's Auxiliary.
This was about concluded when Presi-
dent Gawthrop introduced General
Secretary Douglas, who plainly told
bis opinion as TO what was the trouble
With the association. After showing
bow associations prosper in smaller
cities even than this, and saying there
bad been a great deal of good work
done in Wilmington, he indicated that
the people have looked for results as if
| the association had building of an
| adequate character, which it has nor.
The association has good board of
directors, and capable secretary, hut
bias bad place. 1t 10 trying to do the
work without an adequate plant or an
adequate capital. Mr.. Douglas said
| he should endeayor TO raise money to
| pay nff the debt and modernize the
building. or would get out OF the rooms
and get suite Of bright, attractive
rooms elsewhere. lie held it to be an
economic waste of labor and of MONEY
TO continue under the present circum-
stances With the expenditure of a
little more money the results would
greatly increase.
| Ex-Postmaster John Field of Phila-
delphia, who is q trustee of the associa-
tion, referred to the time Of depression
| through which the country has passed.
lie said that the association certainly
needed a different class of building and
equipment. lie asked what would be
| the result il all the churches were
RACED, and all literature containing the
name Of Christ and God and heaven
/ Wcib bcpbiOycib WIN
| ing and equipment be held that thou
sands OF young men could he saved and
| they would carry the seed to others.
President Gawthrop followed with a
statement OF the situation, saying that
the association had not met heretofore
with tine success desired. 1t was dis
couraging, yet it would not do to give
it up. He believed in due time that
way would open out 80 that the desired
result can be achieved.
Mr.. Wilson. who has had marvellous
SUCCESS in railroad association work in
Philadelphia, made most telling
speech. Five yeas ago, he said, the
Pennsylvania Railroad Association of
Philadelphia was in the condition you
are tonight; dilapidated house was
made for the worship of the Lord, and
consequently the work was in dying
condition. And when the men met and
determined to have a larger building
the association began TO grow. They
did not go to the rich men of the COM
munity. but organized themselves,
until 5000 men had subscribed sig, 600,
and then they went to George b.
| Roberts and asked for corporate as.
sstance and got il. One hundred
dollars from 100 of Mr.. Jackson's men,
declared the speaker, looking towards
Job II. Jackson OF the jackson & Sharp
Co., ia worth Infinitely more than 500
from Mr.. jackson. True, Mr.. jackson
should head his men. Individual effort
Is OF moro consequence than money.
We received eventually $50. 900 and
opened the building in 1894. The
auditorim of the building would scat
6s2 men, yet in six months it was too
small and last June we decided the
building was too small. Seven thousand
men raised $50, 600, and the company
gave $40, 900. Now the building has
1882 seats and every Sunday afternoon
!, 300 to ], 100 people attend.
Mr.. Wilson presented some striking
figures as to the commercial value of
the association, drawn from the ex-
perience of his Office as superintendent
OF the Mantua division. Since the
establishment OF tho association the
working capacity of the men has in
creased 20 per cent, the money value Of
which since 1893 was more tuan Slj, 600.
At the close OF this speech Mr.. Field
arose and said it was the best speech
on association work he had ever heard.
The discussion then became mere
general Mr. Baird gave instances of
the value of the association. Mr.. Jack
son spoke OF the unfortunate condition
OF affairs and expressed himself as on.
posed to running into debt, held that
The association should either close its
doors or get the money. Mr.. Crosby
spoke more encouragingly and declared
that to piye il I'M would never Iln II