The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-05-29
COMPLIMENTARY DINNER
10 REAR ADMIRAL F. j. HIG-
GINSON.

Held Under the Auspices of the Y. NJ. G. |
A. in the Interests of the Young Men
of the City-Speeches Made by Many /
Well Known Men, Including Admiral
HigginsOn and Professor Wetzei, the
Toastmaster-Plan to Raise $4,000
in Thirty Days.
Despite the rain storm which pelted
in great force outside the walls OF the
New Haven house the scene WITHIN the
big dining rom, where a dinner was
being given to Rear Admiral r. D.
Higginson of the United States navy
by the young business men of New Ha-
ven under the auspices Of the y M. q
A., were bright and joyous. A most
happy contrast and all was peace ana
harmony. and everyone wore happy
'We will do it, smile, which seemed 10
augl1r we'll for the future prospects OF
the New Haven Y. M. G. A. After 40
ing ample Justice to the many tempt
ing dishes displayed by Landlord
Moseley. Sidney P. Butler arose and
named Prof. Wetzel Of Yale as toast
master. Mr.. Wetzel in responding sald
he felt highly honored at being asked
to preside. He said the Y. NJ. G. A.
was a typical American institution
True Americanism sought to develop
all things manly, and that was what
the Y. M. G. A. was doing Inc lnstl-
tuition they had in New Haven was
first class throughout and worthy OF
heartiest support
Samuel III. Read was next introduc-
ed to the gathering. He did not mean
he said, to inflict on Them a speech, but
he wanted to tell them in few words
that he was there to stand for an In
situation which was one of the great
est that any young man could belong
to, an institution where ignorance was
exchanged for education and Vice for
virtue. They had a great problem be-
fore them, and it was up to the bust
mess men to meet it and carry it to a
successful issue. The Y M. c, A., he
said, was undenominational; knew no
creeds or sects. 1t dealt with man
morally, spiritually and physically and
did more for young mon than any
other institution that existed. The
building cost $365,O00 and they We're
now valued at $780, 600 They had a debt
of $131, 900 to raise and they meant to
do it. If this debt was raised, he said,
the people of New Haven would not
be asked for another penny towards its
support. He concluded by paying high
compliment to General Secretary Lotze
who, he said, had made the Y M c.
IA. his very lifes work and had given
all his efforts towards its success.
Here Prof Wetzel told of what the
Y. M G. A. had done for a young stu
dent who was now a senior at the Yale
law school and who owed much Of his
present success to the help he obtained
from the Y. M. c. A. when he was get
ting ready to enter the school.
e. L. Bates, state secretary, next
spoke on Connecticut Men" Connecti-
cut, he maintained, could produce more
intellectual men than any other part
of the nation, men who were giants In
art, literature, business, craftsmanship
on the bench, in the pulpit on tht
stage, and in fact in all walks Of life
And it took no mean place in the gal
axy of the great men of the country
He told of work the Y M. G. A. was
doing In the country and state, among
the railroads, in the colleges, ant
among the soldiers and sailors of oul
country. They had monster task be
fore them But he was sure they coul(
all join hands, march forth to victory
and set the Institution on a paying
basis free from debt.
Wilson H. Lee chairman of the citi
zens' committee, spoke briefly as Il
what had been done at their meeting
that afternoon. He said there was tn,
greatest enthusiasm, and he had nj
doubt that with the help of the young
mems committee they would be able tt
accomplish the task set before then
within the specified time of thirty days
He warned them Of the many barrier
they might come in contact WITH anC
of the setbacks they might get. TIL
money, he said, was waiting for then
in New Haven, and the men who hat
the money would admire them for thei
courage in trying to solve the problem
with which they were confronted.
At this stage of the meeting a mo
ton was made and carried that tn
gathering be a committee of the Who'll
to carry out the work, and Sidney F
Butler was elected chairman, Walter T
Downs vice chairman; E. G. Stoddart
treasurer, and Ward Church, secretary
Rear Admiral Higginson was next in
troduced by the POSTMASTER. On rsn
he received a perfect walton, the guest
rising to their feet and waving thei
handkerchief The gallant admire
briefly spoke of the great work bein
done by the Y. M. G. A. amongst tn
sailors of our navy. The men Of to-da,
he said, were different from those {
years ago. To-day ninety-fve per cen
of those enlisting in our navy al
Americans. They were carefully selec
ed young men taken from good home
and the Y. M. G. A. has done niue
to perpetuate and maintain the hon
life and good examples in the nav,
In Brooklyn they have an institute
than can accommodate $50 men, an
there they receive a clean bed, goc
room and breakfast for thirty-f'
cents. Then they are called on time
ioin their ships in the morning, ar
thus escape paying the penalty attacl
- - oxrer-s+aviner their leave of al