The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-06

which included an organ voluntary by
George Barlow Penny, a selection
from The Prodigal Son" by the To-
peka Choral society, a duet by Messrs.
Bowie and Pribble, and a solo by Mr..
David Bowie, the principal address
was made by Mr.. L. Wilbur Messer,
of Chicago, general secretary of the
Y. M. G. A. The lecture was illus
trated by stereopticon pictures.
Mr.. Messer told the story of the
origin and the growth of the Young
Mems Christian association. The idea
had it's first conception in London, he
declared. A man who recognized the
Importance of proper influences for
young men organized a gospel meet
ing for the benefit of the employees of
the establishment in which he worked.
He gradually came to learn said
Mr.. MesSer, that something more at
tractive would have to be offered than
a gospel meeting to interest the young
man. Accordingly reading rooms were
established in connection.
The work spread and grew and in
later years we find that the depart
ments for physical training were
added, and later the educational
features for the benefit of the young
men intellectually.
Now we find the Young Mems
Christian association supplying a mod
ern building embracing all features of
club life under Christian influence. 1t
forms an attractive place for young
men to assemble and therefore keeps
them away from the low theatre, the
saloon and from the many other temp
tatiOns which are degrading and de-
basing.
MANY of the Y. NJ. G. A. buildings
erected years ago and some of the
buildings erected in various cities in
comparatively recent years are now
being supplanted with modern build
ings similar to the one which is
planned for Topeka. The modern and
thoroughly up to date Y NJ c. A
a 1afc rriG
club. The dOrmitOry feature is added.
You will have the dormitory in the
Topeka building, and the young man
who belongs to the Y. NJ. c. A. will
have all the advantages of club life
Mr.. Messer showed pictures of the
Y. NJ. G. A. at Bangor, Maine, a smaller
city than Topeka, but which boasts a
5000 building.
Pictures of the TWenty-third street
branch in New York, the Chicago build
ing which was erected by Miss Gould
and the sailors were also shown.
Following Mr.. Messer's lecture the
picture of the proposed Topeka building
was shown together with the floor
plans.
DR.. Evans. pastor Of the First Meth
odist church. was introduced and he
spoke of the aims and ambitions of the
local Y. NJ G. A. management in
regard to the new building.
This was DR.. Evans first public intro
duction in Topeka although he has been
here several months and has firmly es-
tablished himself in the esteem of his
congregation.
Although DR.. Evans spoke last on the
program and although he was assigned
to the duty of making the financial ap-
peal for donations to the building fund,
it is a remarkable fac1 that he held the
vast audience, and probably not more
than two dozen persons left the build
ing during the time the pledges were
being taken. DR.. Evans made a master
fsll effort in this direction and his force
full anu emphatic declarations command
ed the attention OF al present. The
pledges taken aggregated donations ex-
ceeding $4,000