The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-28
NOT sELFsUsTAlNlNG.
Y. M. c. A. Gymnasium Must Be Part
 Iy Supported By Public.

TO the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 want to thank you for a leading edi- torial on tho 16th inst, urging upon the public cooperation and generous respo"se in subscribing the balance of seven thou sand dollars needed to complete the fund for our new gymnasium. It is very Kind for you to write thus without, so far as know, any solicitation on our part ana we appreciate 1t very much, l assure you.
 However, you are In error on one point, namely, that the association is self-sup- porting. I quote from. the editorial men tioned: Nothing is asked from the gem eral public in the way of support All such institutions are self-supporting The young men who use the conveniences of- fered by the association are to pay for them. But in al cities the public is ex- pected to furnish the building. In this way low fees become possible"
 Permit me to say that there is not Young Mems Christian association in Am erica, or any other country that l am aware of, that is doing straightforward accociation work by generally approved methods, that Is self-sustainig. It never was intended that they should be self supporting, any more than any other pub lie institution. Some associations in the past have tried it and have become mere clubs, and soon were forced to close their doors.
 The reasons why the Young Mems Christian association is not suf-sustaining may be mentioned:
 l. The mebership is kept low in order to place the many privileges offered en- tirely within the reach of every young man in the community.
 2. It Is public institution, existing en- tirely for the good of the community. There has just come into my hands an address recently delivered by Hon. Edwin Burnett Smith of Chicago on this very subject, and quote the following: The basis of the appeal for financial support, which the Young Mems Christian asso- citation everywhere successfully makes, Is It's public character. If the associa- ton was merely a private club it's mem bers should meet its expenses without help from the general public. It is not merely public institution; it is an educational center. It makes no appeal for charity; 1t asks for reasonable support as an in- stitution which exists for public as well as for individual good. In its service to individuals 1t renders a service of general value to the community.
 Our most successful institutions of higher learning are largely endowed. We ap- plaud every giver to their support, every addition to their endowments. We &C., cept for our children at nominal tuition rates their splendid privileges with no thought of being pauperized. Some lead ing univerities, to say nothing of interest on buildings and equipment, expend sev- eral hundred dollars for each student per annum. This is often four or five times as much as the tuition paid by students.
 The association exists for young men, many of whom are preparing for their careers. Even those who have incomes are not yet able to pay the full cost of the educational features which it affords Though some retain their membership year after year, by far the larger num- Der pass through it within a year or two as part of their preparation for life Like the school and the university. 1t ministers to a changing membership. Thus 1t directly reaches a larger percentage of the young men of a community than Is generally supposed.
 It is the high privilege of the association that to young men it stands at the portal of active life. Many of them are fresh from distant homes. Just freed from the restraints and encouragements of home and friends. they find themselves in a community so vast that it can take little account of individual conduct. Vice in at tractive forms lures them from the path of rectitude. It is the purpose of the as- sociation to meet them at the gate, to maintain among them the highest ideals of manhood, to warn them that none may sin with impunity even for a season, to lead them to see that the Christian life is necessary and inevitable to men who would contribute their lives to the onward progress of a divine order.
 The story Is told that a visitor to nor thern New Hampshire, noting the poor soil, inquired of farmer: What do you raise hereg" The farmer promptly replied: We raise men,"
 It Is the aim of the Young Mems Chris tian association to make the quality of its manhood the test of the character of the community which it serves. It has the right to claim the cooperation and sup port of all who share this noble purpose"
 As rule from one-hfth to one-third of