The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-10
MRS. HERRMAN'S ORATORY.
AT THE AGE OF 10 SIZE MAKES a
STIRRING SPEECH.

ASSOCIATION NJ Sol Lexington avenue, tne BhI
Of Jacob II. schif, was dedicated yesterday
afternoon. The building was crowded. The
services were held in tho reception room on the
first floor, which had been tastefully deco
rated with American flags, palms, smilax. and
cut flowers. Tho Rev. DR.. X. Kohler made
an opening prayer, and Falk Younker, on be-
half of the Building Committee, presented the
key of the building to Percival 9. Menken, the
President of the association. Mr.. Younker
began his address by expressing for the Board
of Directors tho thonkfulness and appreciation
OF Mr. Schiff's generosity. He then said In
part:
May the key of this building. which I am
about TO present to you, Mr.. President, open
the door to admit all our young men who de-
sire to take advantage Of tho many oppor-
~tunities offered to thom here, to receive instruc.
ton which shall 1T them for life's work, and
where they may BIO froe from oil evil influences
through which many q promising career has
been ruined. And az for young men who shall
reach the entrance to this building, who arc
weary and Respondent because Of life's many
trials and disappointments, and also those who
are friendless and alone in this great city, and
who need u helping hand to urge them on, to
all such young men may the door of this insti.
tuition always open wide, and a kind leader ex-
tend q hand Of welcome, greeting them all and
saying to each one of them, as the case may be:
"'Enter here. brother. Be not discouraged,
life ia yet full Of hopo for you. If you arc
weary, you shall rest here amid pleasant sur
roundings. II employment has been denied
you, do not despair, we shall secure it for you.
Or II you have missed tho opportunities to edu-
cate yourself, you shall regain those opportunities
here. And you, brother, who seem go depressed,
is 1t because you have no happy homo to go to
tvhon yprr day'g IyOrk Ia dona and ynn rntae ifa
elevating influenced This. then, shall be your
home every evening that you choose to make It
such, for this is q home, an ideal Jewish
home, where Gods love and kindness are con.
tinually manifested. And you, brother, seem lone
ly. You say you have no kind friends to SYM
pathize with you. Well, you shall meet many
friends here. All are friends here, and you
hall DO one of US. Only one thing do we rec
ogniZe. and that 10 tho universal brotherhood Of
man."
After Mr.. Menken's speech Of acceptance
Daniel p. Hayes delivered an address on the
need of such an organization as the Young
Mems Hebrew Association. He said that the
Young Mems Christian Association had been
opening its doors and welcoming young Jews to
its building. and was thus gradually proselyting
them. In this building, through the generosity
of Mr.. Schiff. the young Hebrews could receive
all the advantages Of the Christian organization
with the additional merit of receiving 1t under
Hebrew influences. He hoped that within q
few years the association could have even
larger and more commodious quarters than the
Young. Mems Christian Association has at the
Then came the surprise of the afternoon. Mrs.
Esther Herman, who gavc $4,000 to the asso-
large American flag, and she had delegated Jo-
seph B. Bloomingdale to deliver the ,presenta-
ton speech. His name was on the printed pro-
Rramme. but Mrs. Herman. who 1S more than
70 years old, had been made SO enthusiastic
BY by the hSI meeting meeting. that sbo she s.id determined to mako
MIR. PREsIDENT: You were Kind enough to
ask me to make some remarks at the time Of
my being somewhat advanced in years, l was
not quite certain OF my strength and SO re-
SSe Ssssisa thai But to% ne s ]spir Hlse sR %iliia sPe the ST sll ehis
William the silent. with his little nation, rose
wrenched liberty and Independence from the
great tyrant of the middle ages. He set an ex-
shelter a few years in Holland before they set
out to found a new nation in the wilds OF Amer.
lea:
privilege OF bringing to you bright, energetic
young men this beautiful flag; but every privi-
sweet. Just as beautiful and generally far more
important than the privilege. And so l felt 1t
my duty to be spokesman for this dear flag that
" I am the American spirit Of love and SER
vice. Though ! was born in war, peace and lib
erty and to do the best possible is my mission.
Men and women lived. worked, fought and suf-
fered themselves to be shot to death that |
might live to bless you and all mankind. This
is my body and dress OF rod, white and blue that
you see with your eyes. Love me not only for
~worm-threads that will soil and break and
blow away with the dust Of the earth-but love
me r because aus ! Loved love - y0 0rsso serve yoi me ,L because l
rights, among which are life, liberty and tho
pursuit of happiness Live for me because l
This is the spirit of our flag. Are you no.
BILE enough to receive il II you. arc not, you
breathe the ali Of American liberty. TO those
that love Old Glory soy the grcai command Is
not that you shall die for it. but that you shall
live for IT,. In times OF war 1t may be an easy
thing, in the pervading enthusiasm, to go with
the crowd and enlist and to rush to battle and.
and sometimes self-denial and true courage and
perseverance, to 1--we for ones country, Arc you
equal to that Then. remembering that organ
iZation and numbers give strength to any cause,
ally yourselves with that body of men and wo-
mon throughout tho land who. in peace, are
spirit Of our flag. Meet here once a month. sa-
lite Old Glory. sing a song of loyalty to the
nne k a.sSIsS CLEAN TiayS the q affairs %ira Of o. our rI people, p and
every dry. and all the year perform faithfully
your political duty, and never lose an opportu-
ment TO advance the cau.e OF intelligent and
now pTcScII you InIb nag Oh lTutD, purify,
strength, and love. May God grant you that
nobility of character ever to be faithful to It.
Mrs. Herman Is a member OF the Alpha
Chapter OF the. Patriotic League, Of which
Abram S. Hewitt is Preside mt. Her address
was warmly applauded, and Mr.. Bloomingdale
refused to speak, saying that no could not sup.
plement her remarks.
MIR. Schif was then introduced. "Your as.
ISOLATION" said he. sis capable OF much good
in the years to come. BY your own efforts you
may become a factor in the life of this great
CITY,, Promise me that you will be watchful.
l will follow you with an interested eye and 1
| second tho wish made here tonight that with
in a few short years you may have Il larger build.
ing-one that will mako the Young Mems Chris
tian Association look like a baby beside It,"
The Rev. DIR. +. De Sofa Mcndes concluded
the exercises with a benediction.
The building that was dedicated yesterday
has been remodelled so as to be admirably
adapted to the work OF the association. As 1t
now stands, IL cost Mr.. Schiff n little over 500.
600. In the basement Is the Board of Direct
ors' room and q gymnasium lS by 40 feet;
Connected with the gymnasium are baths and
accommodations for the bicycle club of forty
members.
The first floor is comprised of tho office, a re.
ception hall, and the large reception room. On
tho second floor Is the library with shelf room
for 5000 volumes. There are also two looms
for chess and checkers. Cards are not per
| mittel. The third floor Ia so arranged thai by