Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-16

many churches being against II. There were
few contributions and few members. When
ever Z NJ. C. A. member passed the 9TH
ers would make fun of him. say he was q
till-tapper or other such specimen. wash
1ngton was not prepared for the assocfa-
ton then. The conditions which existed
then were Illustrated by one OF the presi-
dents we had. There was a hot contest and
he wanted to be elected. On the night be-
fore the election he put in large number
dues. On the next day. after he had been
elected, that check went to protest. All
these conditions had to be overcome.
And they have been overcome. and we
have today in the association such men as
President Woodward, Commissioner Mac
farland, representing our government, and
others. Under the leadership of President
Woodward, John B. Sleman and Lyman
Pierce, we are the great institution we are
today"
None of the board of directors" began
Commissioner Mcfarland, who was the
next speaker. has gone through the new
building without a feeling of surprise and
of qualification and of a SOLDERING respon-
sibility which rests upon as trustees in
this new building. Those active In the work
of getting the new structure feel most
deeply what we owe to the community and
they expect of us, and we enter with, a de-
termination to be faithful to the trust thus
imposed. We want to see great things ac-
complished there not only in making great
athletes or teachers, but we want to make
better sons, better public servants, better
citizens. One Of the great truths which
Jesus Christ taught was that he who was
the servant to all was master of all, that
the man or the institution which Is the
servant to all is the master of all. The
Y. M. c. A. has ever in the past been
servant to the church, a servant to the
community, and We want it to continue SO.
1t Is not SO much more men, but more man
that we want
Tribute to President Woodward.
Ex-President w. P. Williamson paid a
glowing tribute to the work and energy of
President Woodward in making possible
the new building.
In closing the addresses of the day, Pres
ident Woodward said: I'VE, the members
of the board. have entered into the labors
of the men who have spoken here today
and their associates. There's was period
of faith, ours should be of activity.
This seems like period OF golden harvest.
But the laborers are few. If we do not
use the sickle when the fruit Is ripe, the
crop spells and Is lost. We must have
more help, more active workers in the as
ISOLATION in the coming days; we want
two or three score Of young men as ushers
to show visitors through the building and
let them see what we have. I hope you
will take this matter to heart and let US
know If you are willing to assist
The occupancy of the building which was
vacated yesterday to be turned into the
boys department dates back seven years.
In 1898 the home of the Y. M. G. A. on
New York avenue caught fire and 1t
practically Quilted by the flames. The
idea had been in the minds of the officials
to secure a new location before the fire, but
they were thus compelled to move before
they expected While the board was look
ing for quarters the present buildings, va
Gated by the Columbia Athletic Associa-
ton, was put on the market President
Woodward and several associates got to-
gether and purchased the property for the
association. John B. Sleman was the sec.
rotary of the association at that time, he
having succeeded Secretary Pugh AT
that time the interest ebbed very low and,
it is said, that the actual membership in
the association was only 100 when the
building was chosen. During that time the
membership has grown to nearly $500 sd
that larger quarters were imperative