Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
SURVIVORS OF THE ORIGINAL ASSOCIATION

from the different churches. consisted of ].
w. Clarke, G. W. Dutton, Thos Brooks
and r. Smallwood, representing the Bap-
fist; T. NJ. Hanson, C. w. Schreiner, Thos.
Duncan and c. Dusenbury the Episcopal;
Chas. Pierson, A. B. Johnson and Geo. H.
B. White. the Methodist, and DR.. ]. S.
Mackie, ]. I. Cochrane, ]. c. Whitweil and
o. c. Wight, the Presbyterian denomina-
ton.
The first annual public meeting was held
July Is, 1852, in the Smithsonian Institu-
ton, at which addresses were made by
President Lawrence and Senator Robert NJ
Charlton of Georgia.
First Permanent Quarters.
The association continued to meet for
short time at the Central Academy. but the
first permanent quarters were secured on
the third floor of building on 7th street
near E street, which were occupied on the
It'll of October. A series of lectures was
also provided during this year. which was
given at the Smithsonian Institution.
On December IA, 1852, Mr.. Zalmon Rich
ards elected president, to succeed Mr..
Lawrence. who had left the city. The ex-
penses for this first six months OF the Or
ganiZation reached the modest sum of
$4,000. all services being voluntary. Dur
ing the next year DIR. c. NJ. Butler attend
ed the anniversary of the original Y. M. c.
A. at London. England as the representa-
tive of the Washington association, and re-
turned with valuable suggestions for i'm
provements in the organization.
August %. 1853. Mr.. William ]. Rhees
was made librarian, and through his eff
forts the library soon reached some 1900
volumes. with 30 periodicals.
December Is, 1854, Mr.. o. c. Wight was
elected president of the associa ton, and
| the city was divided into sections. each sec
| ton being in charge of a member of the
| board of managers.
February 10. 1856, plans for a more COM
| plete and detailed division of the objects Of
the association were adopted each of the
| fifteen different departments of work being
| put in charge of member of the board of
managers to be assisted by four other
members of the association, to be selected
| and nominated by himself. The annual
| report at the end of the year showed a
| membership of 244 The work for the next
| five years continued as for 1856 with COM
| mittee appointed in October of 1856 to con-
slider and report plans for apparatus for
gymnastic exercises and the election De-
| cember 10, 1856, of Mr.. w. J. Rhees as
| president. The first class in vocal music
was also organized this year under DR..
| Munson
| A plan was adopted for a systematic
and efficient distribution Of supplies
| to the poor of the city by joint COM
| mittee of the association and of the Young
| Catholic Friends Society and of the Ladies
| Union Benevolent Society.
December p. 1857. Mr.. 7. J. Magruder was
| elected president.
noon meetings were decided upon and were
| carried on with great success until the mid
die of October. when they were moved into
| halls.
November 90 the association moved into
larger quarters In the Parker building,
| Pennsylvania avenue between 9Th and It'll
| and opposite the Metropolitan Hotel, and
the dedicatOry services took place Decem-
Der 8. December 20. 1858, Mr.. ]. H. Bradley,
| jr.. was elected president. August 15 1859
| the articles of confederation for the Young
| Mems Christian Association of this country
| and Canada were adopted. September %
| 1859, Mr.. Richard T. Morsen was chosen
president.
| During the Civil War.
March IS. 1851. Mr.. Mitchell H. Miller was
elected president. At this meeting resolu-
ton was adopted to supply at least once a
week tracts and other religious publica-
lions to the soldiers Quartered in the city.
In April Rev. o. P. Pitcher was employed
as special missionary to visit the soldiers
in the city and vicinity. njnistering to their
| spiritual needs, holding meetings near their
several quarters and distributing tracts
| May %, 1861. II was voted to assist the New
| York Evangelical Alliance in distributing re.
| lfgfous and secular newspapers to the
| troops, and Messrs w. j. Rhees, Henry
| Beard and Nicholas Dubois were appoint ed
| a committee to take charge Of the work
| Arrangements were made with the tract
| societies of Boston and New York to supply
| their publications for the soldiers. A con-
| ference with Mr.. v. Colyer OF the New
| York association and Messrs. NJ. H. Miller
and VIM. Ballantyne resulted In a special