Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-02-18

the work OF the gymnasium under his
direction was kept fully up to the
standard Of his predecessors, and with
the new and better building and more
superb equipment, was making a record
for progress which redounded greatly
to Inc credit of Mr.. Norman. His belief
was stated that the ASSOCIATION was to
be congratulate because of securing
his services, and predicted that in the
future he would keep step with the
men who had preceded him by having
offered to him still larger fields of USE
fitness.
The references which he made to
himself as havinss felt before the new
building was started that possibly his
work was done in Wausau and that it
would be better for the association for
him to go elsewhere, but that he had
been glad to remain until the building
was completed and occupied,
proved his unselfishness. His heart
was in the work, and Whenever
it should be demonstrated that i: could
be carried on by some other man better
than himself, much as he loved the
cause in Wausau, much as he loved the
city with her citizenship, he was willing
to step out that God might be honored
and the work greatly enlarged He
had taken up the work dropped by
other and efficient hands in 1896, and
through the blessing of God, and with
the loyal labors and marked fidelity
which the officials had given him, the
work had advanced to its present status.
This address of such marked sincerity,
faithful devotion, permeated with such
conservation of the evangel;Ttic idea
OF the association, will long linger as
pleasant memory as part of the events
OF the banquet of February IA, 1908
Fred B. Smith, one of the interna-
tional secretaries, had asked to have
his place upon the program changed
from the first to the last speaker. 1t
was nearly ten O'Clock when he was
called upon and he proved witty, clev-
e., logical, eloquent and so impressive
at times, that the moments slipped
away, his hearers all unconscious that
for over three hours they had been sit
| ting there unmindful of such a thing as
| physical WEAKNESS.
Mir. Smiths address or addresses are
not easily written; in fact cannot be
written at all; if they were they would
1 not be his. He talks rapidly, but not
! too fast. At times his speech is slow,
! but not such as to cause WEAKNESS. He
awakens thought, challenges attention,
| drives home the truth with sledge ham,
m9r blows; forces his views upon others
without any effort on his part, simply
| because they are truths, lights up every
proposition with illustrations, the trend
of which are not to be disputed.
He talked Y M G. A. Friday night;
he travelled around the world, took his
| hearers with him, and took such pace
that the most of them grew dizzy, while
| he admitted that he got seasick himself
| OF course he talked about Wausau; the
things he said of the city, of the men
and of the association, were all good,
because his words were all true. He
made everybody feel well, aud then
with the force of some great missile
from catapult drove home the truth
as parting benediction, you need the
Y. M. g. A. more than the Y M. C. A.
needs you" Mr.. Smith knew by the
flashing of the eye and the intense in
terest written upon the faces of his
auditors that rney would have been
glad TO have listened to him another
| hour
Saturday evening was given over to
an open house" with the attraction of
gymnasium exhibition. A great num-
Der visited the building and seemed
never to tire of viewing its elegant
appointments.
| The music Saturday evening was
furnished by the Columbia band, and
was of high order. The crowds were
appreciative of the selections and were
not miserly of the way they showed
their appreciation.
| THE SUNDAY SERVICE