Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-26
LAST OF MEMORY MEETINGS
W. 0ber, L. Mc0ague and T, L. Willis
Speak ofstruggles and Blessings
WILLIS, UNABLE TO ATTEND, SENDS NOTE
4. W. Carpenter Presides at Final
Gathering OF Men to Pay
Tribute to Old \. ".
c. 4. BuildinR.

The closing meeting In the old Young
Mems Christian association building was
most impressive and was attended by sew
eral hundred persons, who nlied all the
parlors and reading rooms to hear j. l..
McCague and Frank w. Ober recite rem
iniscences of the work of the association.
|. W. Carpenter presided and the Drs.
Henry sang a duet and Fred G. Ellis a
solo. Mr.. Ober who became very we'll
known and very well liked during his FIVE
years work in this city, was listened to
with a great deal of attention as he re-
called the various men and events con-
nected with the institution during his time.
Mr.. McCague spoke of the association
from the time Of its organization in 1868 to
the time of the coming of Mr.. ODER. He
told of the great growth of the association
from the time when It was able to pay so
per month as rent for a small room TO the
time OF the erection Of the building which
is being vacated today.
Nothing brings out the good there is in
a man much as adversely" said Mr.
ODER. And this was demonstrated during
the first years of my residence in Omaha,
when this institution had a hard struggle
for existence. The vision of the future was
an incentive which carried the work for
all had a hard struggle for existence.
would like to preserve the threshold of this
old building as a history of the men who
at the rate OF 1.oo0 to zoos per day have
made this building a home 1t has been
worn nearly through and knew the heart
aches and the life story OF many of the
men who have helped to wear that stone
away
Oher Goes HACK N HfstOTN.
Mr.. ODER recalled many of the strong
workers who have been and are still with
the association. and added:
IF could look into your faces and did
not think you were better men from your
association In this institution I would be
ashamed of our work here. You win recall
in times to come the help you have been to
men more than any money value. Men
wiggle under the service but are now thank
ing God for the part they have played. We
need men in the new building and you must
furnish the new building with yourselves,
which will be better than mahogany. We
need men of heart who are not ashamed to
show their love for fellow beings"
Fred L. Willis. secretary for nearly eight
years, who was unable to be present at the
closing meeting sent these words of ex-
preston of his tender feelings toward the
old building:
II wish I could tell you of the mingled
feeling of sorrow and JOY that come over
me as l think of the Omaha association
leaving the old building. Nearly eight
bright, happy years did l go in and out
of the old building. II was far from an
ideal association plant and yet somehow
In spit of all its disadvantages there was
something about 1t and the way men used
hui Uh tn, 20,
for its poor facilities. 1 think one of the
greatest things about the Omaha associa-
ton from the secretaryship of George
Howser has been its spirit of helpfulness
to men, and as l look back on the years
from 1895 to 1904, while the early part OF
them we're years OF financial problems and
a scrimping to make both ends meet, some
times 1t seemed anything but Christian.
Nevertheless through 1t all there was "A
spirit of loyalty and fellowship which will
stay with me as long as memory lasts. I
suppose as We get on in years the old
days always seem the most attractive, and
/ confess as l look back at the mem
meetings and the old social hour and the
Monday night Bible class and the fellows
who stayed right by It, those are days
which live with man and enable him to
thank God he was in 1t,
soon a Thins of the Past.
And soon the old building will be a
thing OF the past. The old landmark the
familiar face. gone: and the future. what
shall it be7 The new building, splendid
as II will be, will not make the association
and a large membership, desirable as that
may be, will not make an association
the only thing that will do it will be the
spirit of Jesus Christ, in even greater
power than in the old days, and this is a
thing that / pray for, that with the new
home and increased privileges and enlarged
opportunities there shall come In a greater
measure the spirit OF brotherhood and OF
fellowship and friendship that shall make
the association more and more a haven Of
refuge for men.
My regards to all the old fellows.
know you will have a good time with
Frank ober with you. A great deal OF
the success of the Omaha work is due tc
/ the WAY he ssWeat blood from 'oI IN 'oc >,