The Washington herald., 1907-11-27
GOOD-BY TO Y. M. c. A.
Convention Ends with White
House Reception.
PRESIDENT GREETS DELEGATES
Visitors Are Received by MIR. RoOSe-
welt with Pleasant Word and
Hearty Grip-SpeciaI HOnors Con-
ferred on Japanese and Chinese
Members-NO set speech.

President Roosevelt received the dele
gates TO the Thirty-sixth International
Convention OF the Young Mems Chris
tan Association yesterday afternoon. For
three-quarters of an hour the President
stood in the East Room of the White
House while the delegates at a quick step
streamed past. There are said to have
been more than 2O0O delegates in attend
ance at the convention, and if any Of
them missed shaking hands With the
President, they must have been very III
indeed
Each delegate was greeted. after pass
ing the scrUtinizing eyes Of the Secret
Service men, BY Mr.. Roosevelt. who gave
10 all pleasant word and a hearty grip
Only once was the line broken, and this.
with the exception Of short stops. when
the President held some man with whom
ne desired 10 speak FOR a moment, was
the only relief afforded him
Special honor and few words OF felici-
tation were spoken by the President to
several Of the distinguished men OF the
convention Particularly did he greet the
four representatives from Japan. the one
one from Australia There were several
little girls logged up with beautiful hair
ribbons and other bits Of feminine adorn-
ment. and TO these the President bent
low and smiled.
The reception began at 2:30 and lasted
until Sl5. The delegates were lined up
on Executive place and fell in line four
abreast When they reached the East
Room. however. they were made to deploy
into single file and thus they met the
President
Although ii was probably as hard work
of its kind as Mr.. Roosevelt has been
called upon TO do in many months. he did
not secm fatigUed. and even had time 10
greet the two reporters VINO were pres
ent after the last delegate had departed
Praised by President.
Il am slad to be able TO greet these
people, he said. They are doing such
great work. They go out and work
among all sorts Of people. you know. d"
Then the President saw a badge Of the
Eighth Army Corps Of the Spanish War
and remarked how strange II was 10 see
tnat there.
Ii was the original intention of the
President to have spoken 20 the dele
gates. but at the last moment II was
decided that the handshaking should con
stitute the whole programme OF the re-
ceptiOn.
Preceding the Presidents reception the
delegates. or at least 500 Of them, proceed
ed 70 Mount Vernon on the last excur-
sion Of the convention. The morning was
spent in viewing the historic home OF
George Washington, but all returned in
time 90 attend this great afternoon event
in the East Room.
The last day OF the convention saw
beside the trip 10 Mount Vernon and the
Presidents reception. the breaking OF
ground for the new Y NJ. <. A build
INK for cOlOred men.
These last exercises began shortly after
{ o'clock Commissioner MacFarland
acted as chairman and introduced the
speakers. The prayer was made by Or
Marsh and the principal address by Prot.
Kelley Miller. of Howard University
Prof. Miller spoke earnestly Of the op-
portunities afforded young men Of the
colored race by the foundation of this
institution. and urged them 10 live Chris
tian lives
Following this address came a short
talk by Richard G. Morse. general sec
retary OF the International committee
and then the greeting was given by r.
Sarasin Warnery, president Of the worlds
committee
The first shovelful OF earth from the
foundation Of the new building was taken
out by Mr.. Warnery. the second by :
W. Woodward president Of the Washing
ton association and the third by T. J.
Morton. chairman OF this branch. The
benediction was then delivered by the
Rev +. J. Grimke
This new building is located on Twelfth
street between s and Il. Fifty thousand
dollars has been raised for its construc-
tion. and it is hoped that $4,000 will be
at hand before the structure is finished
The delegates began 70 leave Washing
ton shortly after the Presidents recep-
tiOn, so that only a few hundred wit
messed the ground-breakingG exercises.
Most Of those who remained left last
night or viii leave to-day so that the
tlirty-siXth international convention bids
fair 20 fast become a memory
According to local Y N. G. A. officials.
this convention may become a memory.
hut It VIII be pleasant one Several
OF them declared, as did several Of those
who come from foreign lands. that this
convention has never been surpassed.