Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-19
AN IMPOSING EDIFICE
ADDRESS OF SENATOR FAIRBANKS
AT 7. n. c. A.
Corner Stone Laying Graced by the
Vice President-Elect Satur-
day Afternoon.

In the midst OF binding snow storm.
the corner stone of the new Young Men
Christian Association building. at 1874 G
street northwest. was laid last Saturday
afternoon, as indicated in The Star. The
address Of Senator and Vice President-elect
Fairbanks was not made until after The
Star had gone to press. He said, In part:
I'VE lay the corner stone of an imposing
edifice which is to stand through many
years as ralying center of beneficent In
fiuences in the capital of our country. There
is no filter place than this to encourage the
development of those forces which tend to
make better our common citizenship
1.-THE Young Mems Christian Association
Is no mere experiment. For more than half
a century it has been accomplishing its
great work. 1t has justified In full meas
ure the wisdom of it's founders. 1t Eas rap
idly expanded in power. in wealth, in MEM
bership and in influence. 1t Is not circum-
scribed by either national or state lines.
1t has become international in Its scope.
and it has established it's dominion through
out our national union. 1t has come to
abide with us because its basic principles
are essential to our highest and best civic
development.
I'VE look upon our growing national pow
er with measureless pride and satisfaction.
We view increasing national strength
with the utmost qualification, but we find
our greatest pleasure in the development
of our national character. There never was
an hour in all of our splendid history when
our people were more ambitious to advance
in all of the qualities which mark the high
est and best citizenship than they are now.
They never gave more thought and effort
than they are giving today to their moral,
intellectual and physical Improvement.
Vital and Positive Agency.
I'VE do well to turn aside from our mani
fold vocations to promote the interests of
an agency such as this. an agency which in
a very vital and positive way tends to ad-
vance our mutual good and the welfare of
the entire community 1t works in a vast
and most fruitful field. 1t works among
the young men, among those to whom temp
tation is most perilouS: among those upon
whose shoulders in the orderly course of ma
ture the burdens of state must rest. 1t
throws about the young men the most
wholesome influences, the influences Of good
Christian fellowship. 1t puts hope into
them. 1t stimulates their ambition. 1t i'm
proves their bodies and purfieS their souls
1t tends to withdraw them from the temp
tations which beset their paths upon either
hand and it removes them from the blight
ing touch of evil associa tons. 1t makes for
sobriety and industry. 1t tends to make the
idler a producer. 1t increases the sum of
wealth and good order of the community. 1t
blesses in an unreasonable degree the
young men for whom it works. 1t blesses
the doors of good who fortunately are the
dominating force among US. The doer of
good deeds to others is the doer of good
deeds to himself.
THE largest employers of labor are among
the most earnest supporters of the Young
Mems Christian Association. The great rail-
way companies of the country, which re-
quire temperate, intelligent and loyal men
in places of exceptional responsibility, are
giving the utmost encouragement to the
work of this great association.
1.-The Young Mems Christian Association
Is non-denominational. All churches join in
its work. Protestant and Catholic find here
common opportunity for the exercise of
their benevolence. They find here oppor-
tunity to carry into practical effect the
principles of their faith.
The Young Mems Christian Association
reaches out and draws within the circle of
its benefcent influence all races and all
creeds.
Permit me to congratulate and also to
thank those whose generosity has made pos
sible the great structure which is to arise
here. We have faith to believe that they
are indeed building better than they know"
Placed in Corner Stone.
The following articles were placed under
the corner stone: Bible, names of officers
of association. directors, building commit
tee, trustees secretaries, pastors of city.
members of association, names OF archi-
tects and contractors, list of contributors,
prospectus of jubilee celebration, prospectus
of 1904, copies of the Association Men, Post,
Star and Times, containing accounts of the
jubilee celebration; all printed matter of the
association; Washington's young men, d.
rectory of city of Washington, the Post for
December II, Star and Times for Decem-
Der 16. current magazines.
The new building will contain 100000 feet
of floor space, while the present building
contains only $4,000 feet. The cost of the
building will be $500 OOO of which sum
S270,000 has been raised 1t is estimated
that S45 600 will be needed to furnish the
building. making in all about $4,000 needed
to complete and furnish the building. 1t is
| asserted that the new building will be ready
for occupancy by October L. 1905, at which
time the present building will be turned
to tIc hn1 hraIn nln af