Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-29

tional committee at New York sends the
following message:
Dear Pierce: Shall wait with anxious in
terest for every message telling of the
progress of these last days of the building
canvass. No other association enterprise
is being watched with such concern as that
one by our whole brotherhood. Success
there means an uplift all along the line,
and defeat q hardly permit myself to think
of 1t, for / believe the cause of Christ In
America demands that building go up)
would mean discoura cement to the whole
cause. FRED B. SMITH"
The observation of Secretary C. w. Diet
rich of the Brooklyn central branch is
that the new structure at once increases
membership 100 to 300 per cent. Brooklyn
has over 81 ,O00.CO invested in six Y. M c. A.
buildings, and therefore speaks from
perience.
The letter. in part, is as follows
MY Dear Pierce: . The experience
of all associations putting up such build
ings Is that as soon as they are open the
membership increases from 100 to 300 per
cent. This reason of itself is sufficient to
justify the erecting and equipping of large,
commodious buildings. When men and
women of wealth come to appreciate the
important relation that young men sustain
to all that is most vital in the life of every
community there will no longer be any
question about the necessary facilities be-
ing provided for their protection and bet
torment. A large plant is the best solution
of the financial problem of our associations.
The increased income from rentals, MEM
bership fees, etc, far exceed the increase
In operating expenses. Few, If any. of the
associations having modern buildings have
any financial difficulty SO far as running
expenses are concerned.
Very truly yours, c. W. DIETRICH"
Increased Capacity.
Secretary Noel H. Jacks of the Hartford
tal no. h,1;J5
Ing for a town of $1,000 people and a Y. M.
c. A. membership of 1,200. finds that the
new equipment and home enables the asso-
citation to reach ten men where formerly 1t
reached one. He says:
my Dear Mr.. Pierce: have been great
ly interested in the efforts of the Wash
ington association to raise money with
which to give the association of our capital
city a large modern building in which to do
its work.
.'The possession Of such a building would
bring to the Washington association the
following advantages: First, a permanent
and regular income from rentals OF stores,
dormitories and auditorium; second, in
creased facilities for doing the work that
the organization Is supposed to do. Such
building, with modern gymnasium, SWIM
ming pool. up-to-date bathing privileges.
well-adapted class rooms for evening edu-
cational work. dormitories for the use Of
single and otherwise homeless young men,
an auditorium for lecture and entertain
ment purposes and other public gatherings
in connection with the association affairs,
social and recreation rooms which are such
an important feature in the present de-
velopment of the association, suitable BUSH
ness office and many other features not
necessary to enumerate, would bring to the
work of your city new life and greater use
fulness, and would enable you to reach ten
men where now you are reaching one.
wishing you all possible success In this
effort remain. YOURS yery truly
NOEL H. JACKS"
Washington's Responsibility.
Secretary Benz. B. Pierce of Brockton
says that every American citizen is inter-
ested In seeing an adequately equipped 7.
M. C. A. plant at the national capital. and
classes 1t az ''sin, never to be wiped
out for your citizens to falter at this
time and allow this enterprise to fail" He
says, in part:
My Dear Mr.. Pierce: If other cities
arise to the need of thorough equipment, as
so many OF them are doing all over the
country. surely Washington. the capital OF
so far In excess of the majority of our
cities, should have the most modern equip
ment which money can supply; and GER
tainly, now that you are so near securing
the needed amount, your citizens must not
turn back and leave 1t unfinished. With
the record already made, all eyes of the
country are looking to Washington ex-
pecting it to finish this undertaking, and
when we. who have had the experience of
enlarged equipment. can SO fully prove its
great advantage by the largely Increased i
results of our work, 1t seems to us it
would be Sin never to be wiped out for
your citizens to falter at this time and
allow this enterprise to fail Rather than
1t should fail feel sure that every secre-
tary and loyal American in our country
would gladly pledge themselves some
amount, be 1t ever SO small, of this $69, 600.
With the conviction that you must succeed,
feel like already congratulating you ON
the fine result. Sincerely yours,
BENZ. F. PIERCE"