Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-23
Y.W.C.A. READY FOR CAMPAIGN
Effort to Secure Money for New Building
Begins March is.
ee1.oN5 BANQUET HEARS THE NEWS
Mrs. Hartford and Mrs. Byers Wake
Enthusiastic Addresses to the
Member. and Predict Success
for the Movement.

Two hundred women. half of whom were
new members attended the Get One" ban
auet given last night by the Young Wom-
ems Christian association and served by
the women of the First Methodist church.
Enthusiasm for the money collection cam
paign for the new building. which Is TO
begin March 10, was aroused to a hlgh
mitch by the addresses of Mrs w. p. Har-
ford and Mrs Emma +. Byers. Mrs. Har-
ford was to have repeated the address she
made at Chicago at the meeting where the
two different branches Of women's Chris
tan associations were merged, but she
adapted It largely to local application.
Mrs Hartford pointed out the Increased
opportunities for young women In cities by
the merging Of the two national bodies
known briefly as the national board and the
American committee, of which the Omaha
association has been a part. The new or
eanization. which is arranged for, but not
consun1rnated, 10 to be called the National
Association OF Young women's Christian
associations.
Purpose of the Association.
The association, Mrs. Hartford explained,
will minister to the working women with
and without homes in the matter Of good
food served in the Iunchroom gymnasium,
rest rooms for recuperation and relaxation
and in the knowledge OF homemaking and
domestic science. For mental improve
ment instruction in various subjects. lee
lures concerts and semi-social gatherings
are arranged. and for the spiritual needs
means OF assistance are provided In Bible
study. gospel meetings and in other ways.
The National Board associations have
devoted their energies largely TO the room
ing and boarding feature, while the Ameri-
can Committee organizations have worked
along the other lines, such as that In
Omaha With the union of the two both
plans will be carried out in the new build
ing. which will permit of greater and more
satisfactory work by removing the OBJ
stacles Of cramped space and lack of proper
facilities. Mrs. Hartford had been assured
by officers of the American committee that
the work done in Omaha is a typical one
of the associations.
Mrs. Byers' Optimism.
Mrs. Byers' talk was fun of encourage
ment for the workers In the money getting
campaign 1T am quite sure said she.
that few women who discussed the matter
few years ago had any thought Of the
splendid. building that comes before our
eyes tonight Less than five years ago
we talked of a $4,000 structure. Our ideals
have grown larger and we realize now that
the building must be greater than We
planned. Today we own our own lot and
We are going to ask this city for 900
to build a home for our young women, one
that will stand as q monument to integrity
and spiritual power.
I'VE stand on the threshold of n great
effort. We must raise this s125,0O0 The
finance committee has been working on
the problem for many months. The cam
paign will begin March 10. The way we
shall get this money will be by organized
effort Of the women of this city who be-
lieve In the Young woman's Christian as
ISOLATION. We are going to fight battle.
One of the first things we have to face
is the foe of encouragement. We must
make sure that though 1000 persons refuse
US money we will ask 10000 others, or as
many as necessary. 1t seems to me tonight
that the promises are sure.
Women who Are Interested.
There are today 10000 self-supporting
women In Omaha. Many of them are with
out the kindly protection of a home, q
Christian organization, mother or a
friend to make them better and stronger,
and when you realize this you will feel the
necessity OF the work we are trying to do.
In a city like this are many temptations
for a young woman to do the things that
are not right and pure and to lead them
away from the best things in life. Fol
these there is great need OF a downtown
home and place of rest. recreation and COM
fort. Especially do we enlist the services
of the young women in the effort. for en-
thusiasm means much and 1t comes easily
from them"