The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-04-29
IAFT AT DAYTON.
Tell. what the Y. NJ. a. a. Mas Bone
For American Manhood.

DAYTON. o.. April ~ Secretary 81
War william n. Taft arrived here TO
attend the ceremony ~ layiag the cor
nsrstone of the new Young Mems
Christian association building. Ehe
secretary was introduc-d 10 large as.
sembly by T.. l.. shuey. aud he at the
conclusion formally placed the relic
hos In the crypt prepared for u and
senlsd II. The Secretary's address
dealt mainly with the growth ana pur
nese of the Young Mems Christian ~.
ss~ntisr.
After expressing appreciation Of his
good fortune In being able 10 I've pres
ent on the OCCASION II the dedication
" "thls great new building Ia your
beautiful city 60 the high purposes Of
the Young Mems Christian association
Secretary Taft said:
The great advantage of the hstltu.
ton IL that after long experience II has
come 10 be conducted upon the most
improved business principles. and
while II furnishes on the one hand. an
opportunity for the contributions Of
those who love their fellow men. II
furnishes. on the other. an example Of
assistance 60 those who need assist.
ance which II not cxtravagant or ex.
cessive and which does not discourage
self help by CREATING q spirit OF de
pcndence Ia those who enjoy the bene-
ftS which II offers.
Another characteristic ~ the asso.
citation IL lts nonsectarian religious
quality. II believes In the Christian re-.
lIglon. hut II tolerant. liberal In IT,
scope aud knows no denomination. NO
race. no politics. The truth is the
growth OF the Young Mems Christian
association has been an evidence Of
~and nj the same time an assistance 10
the growth of the spirit Of Christian
tolerance among all denominations. We
are IA more tolerant today than for.
merry. I never was 10 fully conscious
OF this fact"
Secretary Taft said that be had not
thouga II especially appropriate for
him 70 deliver nm address ON this occa.
sIon. A. he had not been particularly
identified. as an Individual. with Y.
M. &. A. work. But when rcmeri.
bered." said he. the opportunities
which I have had for observation 81
the usefulness OF this association In the
army Of the United States. In the Phil.
Ipplnes, ON the lsthmus Of Panama asd
ia other foreign dependencies ! felt
that ! should be falling 10 render ties.
tlmony which was due this occasion "
I did not say something upon the sub
ject Of the scope of lts operations with.
IN my Official eognizancc. ] had 10 put
myself 1000 miles from home really 10
know ne power for good this associa.
ton exerts."
Tie secretary referred 10 the great
work which the association was doing
Tor the elevation aud assistance sf rail.
road employers and TO the fact that
congress had given authority - the
secretary Of war 10 grant pey~lssion
10 the Y. NJ. G. A. 90 maintain ~ al
military reservations such buldmer
ne its work for the promotion. ~ istel.
lectual, physical aud moral welfare 81
Me garrisons might require. lie said
that army officers In the United States
and In Porto Rico and the Philippines
had been enjoIned TO facilitate the ef'
forts OF Me association In every proper
way. and he testified that excellent re-
suits were being achieved.
But nowhere" said the secretary,
rs the opportunity for usefulness Of
the Y. NJ. G. A. greater than among
Americans In the Philippines. Porto