The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-10
Y. M. c. A. TRIBUTE.
Albert Curtis Memory Honored by sery
ices in Association Hall.

Albert Curtis Memory Honored by serv-
ices in Association Hall.
Rarely in the annals of the city has
a larger and more representative audi
ence gathered to pay tribute of re-
spect and esteem to the memory of
one man, and he not one who took a
prominent part in political affairs, than
that which assembled yesterday after
noon il Association Hall to join in the
service commemorative of the late AL
bert Curtis. The exercises were con-
Quoted by Hon. A. 8. Roe, who repre-
senteG the trustees of the Y. M. G. A,
which organization has ever been one
of the largest recipients OF the bounty
of Mr.. Curtis.
The exercises were opened by the
singing of the familiar hymn, Rock
of Ages" by the congregation, under
the leadership of A. D. Buttrick. Dur
ing the course of the service, there
was also singing of several of the old
time hymns, which were favorites of
Curtis
Rev. DR.. John E. futile read por
tions of the 1st and 27th Psalms, and
delivered a particularly impressive
prayer, in which he referred in
touching manner to the example and
inspiration furnished by the life Of
Mr.. Curtis.
Hon. A. S. Roe spoke at some length,
giving the historical facts Of Mr.. Cur
it's life and dwelling on the fact of the
complete identification Of his career
with the development and progress OF
the city he loved so well and did so
much for. He referred to the fact that
Mr. Curtis laid the corner stone OF the
building in which the services We're
being held and that during his life he
did very much for the association and
at his death he left it munificent
legacy. Mr.. Roe then gave detailed
sketch of Mr.. Curtis life and the
growth of the city and at the conclusion
of his address he introduced as one who
had been closely identified with Mr..
Curtis and who had been intimate
enough with him to have been made an
executor of his will, Charles F. Rugg,
who delivered feeling tribute to his
departed friend. He said in part: i
wish to pay brief tribute to the mem
ory of Albert Curtis and l do this to-
day with pleasure and with deep feel
ing. His was life that commanded the
respect and admiration of all who knew
him, and it is fitting that the city for
which he did so much should revere
the memory Of man so devoted to it's
best interests. If / were asked what ]
consider the supreme moment of Albert
Curtis life, I should reply that it was
the moment when he surrendered him
self to Jesus Christ. We have no record
of the early religious experience Of Mr.,
Curtis, but we know from the life he
lived that he was a sincere and con-
sistent Christian man. l have made
special inquiry to find out why it was
that he was so much interested in the
young men of the city. There was held
in the Old South Church some time in
the year 1872 meeting at which
Dwight Moody spoke on the needs OF
the age in the line of the uplifting of
the young men of the country, and I
was on this occasion that Albert Curtis
received the impressions that DEVOTED
his after life to the service of the youth
of Worcester.
Early in 1872 he made an offer OF
1925. 900 for the erection of a suitable
building for the use Of the Y M. c. A
Of the city. During the great bust
ness depression that followed in the
next few years, nothing was done, but
he never forgot his pledge, and paid
! the whole amount. despite the Difficult
ties in which all business men were al
| that time He was the main instru-
ment through which the present sue
cess of Y M. C. A. has been brought
about, and to him belongs the honor
under God and the grateful remem-
brance Of an appreciative city.
| The last speaker of the meeting was
James Logan, who said that in his es-
timation it would be entirely impossible
to Judge of the amount of good thai
Mr.. Curtis had really done, and in al
probability the whole sum of his bene-
| licences will never be known till that
day when all the hidden things OF
earth are brought to light
| Seated on the platform during the
exercises We're Hon. A. s. Roe, Rev
DR. John E. futile, Charles F. Rugg
James Logan, r. E. Thompson, James
Cunningham, George c. Whitney
Charles H. Morgan, A. L. Burbank, L
| P. Goddard, Henry D. Barber, S. B
| Osbourne and DIR. Emerson Warner.