The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-22
RECEPTION DEDICATION OF

RECEPTION DEDICATION OF
 Y. w. c. A. HOME.
 An important event of yesterday was the reception at which the members or the Young women's Christian Assocta- tion entertained when the new and beautifully equipped home on Ferry Street was dedicated.
 On entering the fine old building re- gently purchased. one could but De forcibly struck by the wonderful trans formation wrought by the splendid management and good taste of the wo- men vxho have accomplished so much Everything Is attractive, new and ar tistic. A "Home" air peryades this old home that is from now to be devoted to the uses, protection, education. di- version and general benefit of the young women of our community. Many gifts for the building have been re- ceived and many that have been do- mated are yet to arrive. MT. John Wanamaker through Mrs. W. B. Pat erson. who IS business manager of the Association, has given the splendid gift of an entire equipment for the Domes- tic Science Department. This includes the gas stoves. the mahogany tables, the table linen, the silver, the china, the fern dishes, the jardiniers, and 8 complete furnishing for the tea room. Many gifts from the city stores have been rendered and generous individuals have been liberal.
 Once the meeting that was held du- ring the early part of the evening for the purpose of dedicating the building Mrs. A. McD. Wilson. Chairman of the Gulf States Division Y. w. c. A., pre- sided with inimitable grace and wo- manly charm. She introduced the speaker of the evening, Miss Barnes of Chicago, General Secretary of the American Committee. She is a force- full speaker and with her subject so dience with fine address that bore on the spiritual side of the Y. W.. c. A. work.
 pr. Patterson's Remarks.
 pr. c. w. Patterson In the follow ing remarks told of the history of the movement. He said:
 The remarks which I am to make tonight cannot be considered as any thinug else than introductory, and must. therefore. of necessity be brief. I scarcely think it necessary to give more than sentence or two to what may be called the history of the move- ment which tonight reaches one of its points of continuation. You are most fof you aware that some four years or more ago, MT. George Foster Peabody bought the property in which we now
 
 Young Mems Christian Association for a term of three years. stating that af- forwards he expected to use it for an- other purpose, which was to be made known later. Two years ago the hith- erto hidden purpose was declared in an offer to the people of Montgomery this property, on which he had ex- pended $23,000 or more for the use of the Young Women's Christian Associa- ton. at the price of s10,0oo. which he was to give to the young men upon certain liberal conditions. This offer was at once stimulating, and the As- sociation which now comes into happy possession of it's home. was organized. A Board of Directors, consisting of the most earnest and enthusiastic women in the city was at once organized. and the work of soliciting funds for the purpose in view was begun. There were many to look askance on the undertaking, many to prophecy defeat, many to urge that there was no neces- sity whatever for such an organiza- ton and such a work as proposed. But the work went on. From discourage ment and difficulty the brave women drew fresh inspiration, and after the expiration of two years saw them selves on the threshold of the fulfill ment of their desire and plans.
 There not being quite enough money in the treasury to pay the entire ten thousand dollars at which the property was held, the sum of thwo thousand dollars was borrowed, and the pur- chase consummated A part of the money thus obtained was used in need ed repairs and changes to the building. A general secretary and physical df- rector were employed, and definite plans made for opening the actual work of the Association in It's substan- .s. l4.r <H4Sxs,e har r1a tonight with glad hearts, to felicitate these self sacrificing and earnest work CTS on the achievement of their pur- pose, More and more emphatically has the need of such an institution as this been impressed upon our minds, and more and more have we hoped and prayed that the effort might be successful. And now, that the ef- forts so faithfully put forth are com ing to their fruitition in thls splendid organization, with its beautiful home, and its business-like plans we are glad that we had some little to do in start ing the movement
 I am particularly glad that I had the privilege of being in at the very be- ginning. At the meeting in these rooms some two years ago, when Miss Barnes first met a Montgomery audi ence, I gave expression to the unquali- fled opinion that it would be shame if Montgomery failed to take advantage of such an opportunity as was pre- sented In MT. Peabody's offer. be- lieved in the association then. eff I had not, I suppose my wife would have compelled me to) and believe in it still more today. It is here. It Is here to saq, and I am heartily glad of it.
 But Mrs. Black asked me to make one thing clear to the people of Mont gomery. She told me not to leave the impression on the minds of any one that all the money needed had been raised. So just a word on that point. I am not good at remembering figures, but think I have these correctly At the time when this property was pur- chased the association had in cash some S7,000 In pledges some S1,500. Two thousand dollars were borrowed to eff feet the purchase and secure posses sion, and to make the necessary im- movements on the building. Two thousand dollars. therefore still needs to be raised before the ladies In charge of this movement will be able to feel that they are entirely out of the woods. Surely the people of Montgomery will not fail to come to the help of these noble workers and furnish the money needed, The work of the association is expected to he self-supporting, of course.
 A closing word of encouragement. You have done nobly. I heartily con-