The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-31

W. GlehVelahu ~ ah thS
Grand Opera House Under the " M, G.
A. Auspices.
One of the most enthusiastic meetings
the Y. M. C. A. was that OF yesterday
afternoon, which was meeting espe-
cially for young men. The address of
the afternoon, read by Judge Cleave-
land and written by Governor Roose-
Welt, was delivered at every Y. M. c. A.,
meeting in the United States and Can
ada yesterday afternoon at o'clock,
and it is one that was heard by thou
sands of young men. Governor Roose-
welt delivered the same speech person.
ally in Carnegie hall, New York city,
yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock and it
was listened to by a large audience.
The address was one that stirs up young
men toward Christian work in the TWEEN
tieth century, and doubtless every
young man who heard it yesterday will
feel inspired to work harder along
Christian lines than ever before.
Pierce N. Welch presided at the meet
ing yesterday and the musical pro-
mixed chorus of forty voices on the
stage and 1t rendered some excellent Sc
lections. The Y. NJ. C. A. orchestra also
furnished good music during the after
noon.
Just before the close of the exercises
Rev. Alexander F. Irvine spoke briefly
on the address of Governor Roosevelt.
The address of Governor Roosevelt as
read by Judge Cleaveland yesterday
was as follows:
1t is a peculiar pleasure to me to
come before you to-day to greet you
and to bear testimony to the great good
that has been done by these Young
Mems and Young Women's Christian
associations throughout the United
States and the Dominion of Canada.
More and more we are getting to recog-
nize the law of combination. This is
true of many phases in our industrial
life, and it is equally true of the world
Of philanthropic effort. No where is 1T,
or will it ever be, possible to supplant
individual effort and individual initia-
tive; but in addition to this, there must
be work in combination. More and
more this is recognized as true not only
in charitable work proper, but in that
best form of philanthropic endeavor
where we do good to ourselves by all
Joining together to to good to one an
other This is exactly what is done in
your associations.
1t seems to me that there are several
reasons why you are entitled to espec-
ial recognition from all who are inter-
ested in the betterment of our Ameri-
can social system. First and foremost
your organization recognizes the vital
need of brotherhood, the most vital of
all our needs here in. this great CONT |
nent The existence of a Young Mems
Christian association is certain proof
that some people at least recognize in
practical shape the identity of aspira-
,tsss,sis and interest both in things materi- |
alp and in things higher, which with us
must be widespread through the masses |
of the people, if the national life is to
attain full development. This spirit of |
brotherhood recognizes of necessity |
both the need of self help and also the !
need of helping others in the only way
which ever ultimately does great good; |
that u.s. of helping them to help therl-
selves. Every man of us needs such
help at some time, and each of us I
should be glad to stretch out his hand
to a brother who stumbes. But While
every man needs at times to be lifted up
when he stumbles no man can afford
to let himself be carried, and it is
worth no mans while to try to carry
some one else. The man who lies down.
who will not try to walk has become
mere cumberer of the earth's surface.
These associations of yours try to
make men self helpful and to help
them when they are self helpful. They
do not try merely to carry them, to
benefit them for the moment at the cost
of their future undoing. This means
that all in any way connected with
them not merely retain, but increase
their self respect Any man who takes
part in the work of such an organiza
tion is benefited to some extent and ben
-efted to some extent and benefits the
community to some eXtent-of course
always with the proviso that the or
ganization is well managed, and is run
on business basis, as we'll as with a
purpose.
The feeling of brotherhood is necessa-
rily as remote from patronizing spirit
on the one hand, as from spirit of
envy ana TndIlCG OH the OlneI. Inc DeSC |
work for our uplifting must be done by |
ourselves and yet with brotherly kind
ness for our neighbor. In such work,
and there, in the kind of work done by
the Young Mems Christian associations,
we all stand on the sef-respecting ba-
sis of mutual benefit and common eff
fort. All of us who take part in any
such work in whatever measure both |
receive and confer benefits. This is i
1. ue of the founder and giver and it is
no less true of every man who takes {
of what the founder and Civ
er have done. This brotherhood makes ]
us all realize how much we have in /
and how much we can do
when we work in common. l doubt if it 1
10 possible to over-estimate the good (
lone by the mere fact of association {
with a common interest and for a COM
mon end and when the common inter t
ast is high and the common end pecu-
iarly worthy the good done is of course s
many times increased.
Besides developing this sense of v
brotherhood, the feeling which breeds ]
"erect both for one's self and for 9th s
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