Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-06
GOVERNOR G|LLETT
LAYS YIN. c. A. Stone
GREAT BUILDING FORMALLY
BEGUN
Prominent Ministers and Laynen
Take Part In Event That Marks
Epoch in Associations
History


Hope street, near Seventh, and later in
the afternoon performed the same cere-
mony for the Young Woman's Christian
association.
Simpson auditorium was filled to it's
seating capacity yesterday afternoon
for the exercises of the corner stone
laying, at which Arthur Let's, presi-
dent of the association, presided, and in
the course of his remarks Mr.. Let's
said that 1t was never known in the
history of the world to have two corner
stones laid for the young men and the
young women in the same city in one
day.
The exercises opened with the con-
gregational singing Of the hymn Joy.
to the World" and it was with a right
joyous good will that the vast as
semblage took up the refrain led by the
brass band.
Emmanuel Presbyterian church, gave
the Invocation, which was followed by
responsive reading led by Rev. Robert
Burdette. Following the hymn Rock
of Ages" Stae Secretary Wilcox offered
prayer. Rev. RUbert Mcintyre, pastor
of the First Methodist church, read the
scripture lesson.
Thanks Y. M. C. A. for Aid
Henry J. Mccoy, general secretary of
the San Francisco Y. M. G. A., rendered
greetings to the Los Angeles association
in behalf of A',o Brotherhood of the Y.
M. G. A. of North America, opening his
remarks by thanking the Los Angeles
association for the substantial aid rem
dered the northern association at the
time of the disaster. He said
'I well remember that hour in my
life when our buildings, the work of
many years, had been razed in a min
ute. and at that time our friends from
Los Angeles came to us. They inspired
us, gave us the ability to raise half
| million dollars, and the Los Angeles
association ought to have large share
of the credit for this achievement.
''It was my privilege to be with you
in Los Angeles at the laying of the cor
ner stone Of your first building over
twenty years ago. Twenty years in
prospect are long, but in retrospect they
are short"
| At this juncture the speaker asked
those in the audience who had been in
Los Angeles twenty years to raise their
hands, to which but few responded.
| and then upon asking those who had
come here since to raise their hands,
the great audience raised it's hands al
most en- masse, causing no little merri-
ment.
Build Every Three Days
| 'rhe Y. M. G. A. has built building
every three days the past year. Good
Bishop McCabe of the Methodist church
used to sing his famous song, "Were
building a church a day." and we will
soon be UP with the Methodists In that
respect.
''I bring to you today greetings SUt
alone from San Francisco but from the
| Brotherhood Of the Y. M. G.. A. of North
| A AOaariC1-UaS from the phnIa vida
wide world and from the associations
wherever the story Of the cross has been
| told.
"Men make cities. and character
makes men, and the Y. M. G. A. builds
character, and blessings have come to
| thousands of young men through these
| organizations Can there be anything
| better than helping young men to a
better life, as the Master did? No ca
| thedral built of stone, no painting or
statue can compare with a Christ-filled
| life and Christ-made man.
1--WE may build monuments Of stone,
| granite or marble, but they will crum-
| BILE, but the man or woman who builds
life by the gifts to young manhood and
young womanhood shall live forever
and ages hence will be recorded
Secretary Speaks
D. e. Luther, general secretary of
the local association, was called upon
by Mr.. Let's and made a short address.
He said:
'I wish 1 could tell you today the
thoughts that are in my heart. 1t is a
great privilege and great opportunity
that we have today, and I pray God
that he will give us the wisdom, grace
and courage in order that we may
honor him in the upbuilding OF the lives
of the young men.
'"It is a great responsibility we have,
but we wouldn't shrink from one bit Of
it. 1t is the joy Of my life to do this
work, and any one must covet the po-
to work with such men as we
have identified with this association.
You little know of the sacrifices they
are making-not in money, for that is
the smallest item-but these busy men
have given more time to this building
project than they have to their business
in many instances
Lieut.. Col. e. w. Halford. U. S. A., a
well known worker of the association,
made the address of the afternoon He
said in part:
There is a German saying that what
is long spoken Of happens at last. That
is the position today. The laying of
the corner stone is important, but who
shall measure the Importance of a
building to be forever dedicated to the
work of the Y. M. C. A? 1t is little
wonder that so many are here, that the
state legislature and county and city
authorities have recognized it and that
Los Angeles is honored with the chief
executive Of the state, who no less hon.
ors himself in the act. Mr.. Moody once
characterized the Y. M. G. A. as the
greatest religious movement of the
nineteenth century, and we can well be-
lieve this and even more.
"It is now in it's second generation,
and it is not 80 much to say that it is
the greatest of all the centuries, the
church of God alone excepted, of which
it is the loyal, yet subordinate. right
hand.
1.-THE day has long ago passed Of the
jealousies aroused by it and the criti-
cisms of it's methods, as they are now
seen and approved by all, and the day
for apologies for it's work is forever
past. 1t no longer asks for sympathy
and support, but from every quarter
comes testimony r garding its work
Within the past year four millions of
dollars have been expended in new
buildings and millions more have been
expended in CARRYING on the work