The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-23
ASSOCIATION HAS
 B|G STAG DINNER Nearly 275 Members at the Y
 M. c. A, Spread PROMINENT MEN PRESENT Mayor Ward and Judge Feagin Ad- dress the Large Audience-over a Hundred New Members
 Are Added.
PROMINENT MEN PRESENT

Nearly 275 members of the senior and intermediate departments of thea Young Mems Christian association gathered at stag dinner in the gymnasium last night.
 The meeting was presided over by R. S. Munger, president of the association. Several of the members of the board of directors were present representing the different departments of the work.
 The first speech of the evening was given by Mayor George B. Ward, who called the attention of the young men to their civic duties and their opportuni- ties to lead and control municipal, state and national affairs. Mayor Ward said: "I wondered where all of these strange young men came from when I entered this hall tonight and was told that they were citizens of Birmingham, members of this great institution and factors in the future life of our city. l say to you young men, you constitute the backbone. of the life of our future greatness. The coming generation will either be made or be broken by the lives you live, the characters you form and the part you take in the duties before you. I ask you to interest yourselves in the politics of your city, to inject your keen minds into the problems of municipal life and gov ernment. This is a day of hope for America when young men of your stamp and ability are taking their proper places and dominating public opinion and con- trolling government"
 Many New Members.
 Kinds Peevy, chairman of the member ship committee, then read report of the association membership. Nearly 100 new members were elected and added to the roll from the senior, intermediate and junior sections MT. Peevy com- mented on the growth and increasing work, and urged his hearers to bring the Y NJ C. A. to the attention of their friends.
 Chairman Clark, of the gymnasium committee, spoke on the work of that department and assured his hearers that all would be done to accommodate the increasing membership.
 pr. Turner, president of owenton col lege. spoke of the association work dnlOnB lHe COlltBeSt Sdylil8s
 We would as soon think of starting a year without an association as with out one of the regular chairs" He spoke of the great work being done among the college men of this and foreign coun- tries and of the large number of in- 1uential men who still have time, talent and energy to lead in the association ef- forts.
 Professor Brown of the Birmingham High school spoke of the value of the association to the boys of the city and of the healthy moral atmosphere that prevailed the rooms of the institution and of the impression that helped to make and create the higher culture of real character.
 Speeches were also made by Professor SIaton of Owenton, J. s. Bridges, the Rev. Dr. Handley of the Central Pres byterian church, W. F. Urqhart and R. W. Ewing.
 Judge Feagin's Talk.
 Judge N. B. Feagin of the police court spoke of the civic duties and respons- bilities of life among young men. He,I said:
 q see all classes of men before me. bankers, lawyers doctors, teachers, min isters and others who are having part in the development of the city of Bir- mingham. To you young men I say that to be useful you must be men of power. Think of the immense power represented here tonight, of the moral force exerted by you for good or for evil, of the united efforts that can be made to stand for much in our city. I say that this force | will be felt and heard from in the fu- ture, and that this great and noble | institution, the Y. M. c. A., will take | it's place in the forefront of the young | life that will make our city great"
 Maurice sillows, the membership sec- retary of the association. spoke of the | movement of the "150o club which has been organized to increase the member ship to 1500 before May l, 190s General Secretary Jackson made a few short re- marks and the evenings programme was closed by prayer by Captain Mocleiiand of the Salvation army.