Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-11-27
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TALKS
address at Laying of CorasrstOne of
ColOred Y. NJ. g. A. Building.

address at Laying of Cornsrstone of
CoIored Y. NJ. g. A. Building.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 26.--The presence
of President Roaseyelt as the principal
speaker at thefiayfnE OF the cornerstone
of the new home for the Colored Young
Mems Christian associatIon. made the
pent most notable one among the
s9ored people OF the District OF Columbia.
khe building Will cost $4,000. Twenty
ffre thousand dollars of the money for
tho construction OF the bailding was given
ny John d. Rockefeller. The president
Jaid:
II IL TO me a matter OF peculiar pleasure
10 be present on this occasion. at the lay
ing Of the, eornsrstone OF the building for
, The colored Young Mems Christian associa-
lion OF Washington. The Young Mems
Christian association has worked among
colored men for less than thirty years. For
a number of reasons. for some time after
The work was begun very little progress
was made; indeed at first, curiously
enoush~ the churches tended to antagonlzs
the Young Mems Christian association But
during the last twenty years the associa-
tion work among our eoiored fellow citi-
the very twenty years In which the colored
race IN America has made most progress
The religious people those standing high
est IN the colored churches. now appreciate
RS they failed TO appreciate quarter of a
century ago. that innocent sports and amuse-
melts should be encouraged, and that ths
poorest Lesson 10 be taught to any men
OF sny race, Us that pleasure and vice are
the swimming pools and gymnasiums Of
the Young Mems Christian association
buildings are adjuncts of a very important
kind to the effort for the moral and re-
ligicus uplift with which the ASSOCIATION
movement has always been identified
4 sociaticn reaches both the classes that are
reached by the churches and the classes
tlat the churches fail to reach. Such a
building as this will be Is open every day
ana every evening II brings In men OF
many different types. for II appeals to
ready the colored associs tion has mem
bership in this country OF nearly 10000,
5000 belonging TO the thirty seven city
izations. OF the $4,000 spent last year FOR
the current expenses OF the fh!rtv-scycu
city sssoeiations three-fourths were paid
by colored men. II Is noteworthy that OF
the 1000 colored men attending the colored
COLLEGES Of this country half are active
members o. the Young Mems Christian as
sociatlon. This speaks we'll for the spirit
OF these colleges, and gives US hope and
sSnc9uragegment S for the character Of. the
1900 volumes were circulated last
u NJ from the as yet limited number OF
iored Young Mems Christian association
wide Field for Work.
Ne city IN the country presents better
or Wider field for useful Young Mems
coiored people than wAshinsto1. He Here we we
have more than @,000 colored men, who
sSv o f0F.uPs'fy so nc hut few safe places
Hundreds OF young colored men are every
year being lured away from the habit of
decent living because they are not sup
piled With the chance TO so where innocent
ana healthy amusements are provided IN
surroundings that encourage education and
morality. cannot too heartily commend
the action OF those colored men who are
responsible for starting this building. When
conlpleted II will be a tribute to the adj
monument TO the advancement Of the
SllS OF Washington II will he a model
TOT the entire country; Il will Influence
otntf cities, and u affords an excellent
men TO Join In the work OF uplifting a clas,
that sorely needs aid The coiored mar
VINO builds that which improves and beau.
tltlss his city earns the right to the respect
33t 3 hps Wnnite neighbor; and benefits himself
men viii contribute freely toward thi,
Dulldint. ana hope that their white friend,
/, VIII help them also. Such building a,
lhis lIeeins the Improvement in morality
in Christianity. IN education. OF the coIoret
citisens Of Washington, and Therefore {,
coueerns not only the colored people ~
Washington, but the white people also
Wien completed this building win cesi
better expended. In thirty dsys the coIorsi .;
people OF this city pledged s25.OO0 IN orde,
10 secure a gift OF $4,000 Contingent az
their raising like sum. OF this Ses 0o
been paid in. and righs here 1''E LEI '5,OS me- ha,
word u the colored men who have pledges
sums and have not redeemed their nledgas
No man has right 20 promise aid 10 4
saqse IKE this and not TO keep his promise
iNis promise good and to do Il al once. an,
those who have not pledged for a con
ccontinusd on Page rwO)