Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-25
RALLY DAY FOR THE Y.M.C.A.
Special Exercises Attract Large Audience
to the New ThsatsL
STIRRING APPEALS MADE TO HELP CAUSE
I'm Addition to This Pastors in Prnc-
ticaIIy All Protestant Churches
Preach Sermons Along
Same Line.
STIRRING APPEALS MADE TO HELP CAUSE

4 SUNDAY was Young Mems Christian aSSO-
citation day in Council BLUFFS. Supplement-
ing the mass meeting in the afternoon at
the New theater. where a large audience
was entertained with an exceptionally fine
musical program and eloquent addresses
on behalf Of the association building project
the pastors OF the several churches took
the Young Mems Christian association as
the topic for their morning sermons
The gathering at the New theater was
thoroughly representative one and filed
the lower portion and the balcony of the
| house as well as the boxes. On the stage
In the center of which was an immense
cluster of Easter lilies, were grouped the
speakers, several ministers, the officers of
! the Young Mems Christian association and
a number OF leading business and profess
sional men. F. J. Day, president of the
association acted as chairman.
/ The meeting opened with the singing by
the audience of "All Hail Young Mems
Christian Association" an original adapta-
tion by Rev. G. w. Crofts, former pastor
Of the First Congregational church of this
city, to the tome Of America"
The musical numbers were of exceptional
excellence, those assisting in the pleasing
feature Of the program being Miss Lillian
Price Mrs w. w. Sherman, Mrs. Robert
- IL
Hypes, VIII Rigdon, Charles Haverstock.
Mr. Gerke. DR., Claude Lewis, Lynn Brown
and Kenneth Sherman Rarely has meet
ing such yesterdays been interspersed
with musical numbers by the foremost
| singers of the city and the appreciation Of
| the large audience was evidenced by the
! hearty applause
Debt Owed to Young Men.
The first speaker was Hon. Emmett FINLEY
who took as his subject What This Com
munlty owes to the Young Man" He
classified his topic into three thoughts
! First, Young Mems Christian association
was debt which the adult members of
the community owed to the rising genera
| ton; second Il was a loan which would
be repaid back, and third, it was an in
vestment which would produce good re-
| turns. 1t was an obligation, he said which
the elders owed to the young, for while
the public schools would train the youth
along educational lines the Young Mems
Christian association would give the young
man that moral education which he needed
Il appeal to the people of Council Bluffs
that the $4,000 needed be subscribed so that
a proper environment may be thrown about
their childre and their children's children ="
urged Congressman w. l. Smith in closing
Il
ment." Mr.. Smith said the greatest prob
lem Of the human race was how to convert
! the raw product Of boys and girls into the
polished man and woman of the world.
| There was in the present day, he contended,
but little of the old-time rigor in the home
| and the school, which was to be in some re-
spects regretted. What right has the
mother who does not make the home pleas
ant or what right has the man who does
not help establish a place where his and
other boys can find suitable and legitimate
enjoyment to go moaning around and cry
ing, Where is my wandering boy tonight?' "
He declared that young men would far
more likely graduate from the Young Mems
Christian association 70 the church than
they would from the saloon to the church.
In closing he made an urgent and eloquent
appeal that the citizens contribute the
money needed to build Young Mems Chris
tian association building.
Bailey Makes Strong Plea.
]. p. Bailey, secretary OF the Young
Mems Christian association in Nebraska,
proved himself a veritable whlrlwind He
appeared to be at his best and Kept the
large audience entertained for nearly half
an hour. He explained the benefits a COM
munity derives from an institution such as
the Young Mems Christian association. and
said that no sacrifice should be too great to
establish one in Council Bluffs.
Mr.. Bailey's theme was Reasons Why
Believe in the Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION Work" In brief, these we're the
reasons given by him:
1. Because its name indicates its pur-
pose, the practical demonstration of APP
piled Christianity. It's highest aim is well
! rounded Christian manhood.
2. Because of the power which young
men have to let, In the arst in
stance, financial power. 1t is estimated
that the average young man is worth $500
per year to the productive forces of the
community. The next instance, physical
power Where shall the strength be spent?
In building up or In dissipation? The power
OF influence Is also a vital force. In con-
sidering the influence OF an old man you
are dealing in addition, but with the young
man you are dealing In multiplication,
3. Because It is upon young men and
| boys that the forces which tend to weaken
and blast their character are primarily
conferred. Are these forces weary in their
efforts? Are they admitting that they are
| beaten by us? Are they careful to pick
certain young menu Are they weak in
their power and have they lost their in
T. Because OF the record the Young Mems
| Christian association has made. For sixty
! three years II has been carrying on its
| Work, and now stands stronger than ever,
| Whyf Because IL has made good from
| every standpoint by proving a friend to
young men By instiliing In them high ideals
their energies toward useful channels, by
/ preserving their vitalities and discovering
| them out.
Mr.. Baileys appeal to the audience re-
suited in Sl,573 being subscribed at the
meeting. Announcement was made that
Fl L. shugart had signed for $1,000 with
the promise OF 500 more II $4,000 was raised.
The Women's Christian Temperance union
and the Elks' quartet each donated SOS, as
did Mrs Strokes Sunday school class OF
the First Congregational church. The class
consists OF six boys The building fund
has now reached S24SI6
The committee having the mass meeting
in charge desires 10 express its deep ap-
probation OF the services rendered by those
taking part In the splendid musicaI pro-
gram and of all who assisted to make the
meeting the success il was.
First Presbyterinn Church.
Rev. Marcus p. Mcclure OF the First
| Presbyterian church took The Value Of a
Man" for the topic Of hts association
sermon aud his text, II Kings v 7. "Je-
hovah. pray thee. open his eyes. that he
may see" saying In part;
This prayer Of Elisha was born Of a long
| ing that his companion, a young man,
| might be led 10 the infinite resources