The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-28
AT Conclusion of Dedicatory
Program, Hundreds Made
inspection From Basement
To the Garret.
DR. STANLEY COULTER
MAKES FINE ADDRESS
Speaker Informs Auditors that
The Occasion Was More
Dedication of Young Men
Than the Building.

Before a large and representative
eudience--one which included protest
ant and Catholic; banker, merchant
manufacturer, clerk and shop hand
the Young Mems Business Association
building, Eighth and North A streets
was formally dedicated yesterday and
thrown open to the public. At the
conclusion of the dedicatory exercises
the crowd, which congested the large
and beautiful building, inspected the
edifice from basement to roof and on
every hand expressions of admiration
and delight could be heard. Many
people, who were unable to gain en-,
trance to the gymnasium during the
dedicatory services, swarmed into the
bu. lding at the conclusion of these ex,
ercises.
Viewed in New Light.
1t was with new light that the ma
jority of the citizens looked upon the
Young Mems Christian Association af-
ter the admirable address of DR.. Stan
ley Coulter of Purdue university, who
was the principal speaker of the oc.
casion. 1t was pointed out that 1t was
not so much the building that was be-
ing dedicated, but the lives of the
young men and boys of the city for
better deeds and ideals. Those in at.
tendance, who had looked upon the as.
sociation in a light vein were warm
admirers of the institution and what
It stands for before the close of the
address.
DIR. Coulter no doubt stirred many
to take different view point of the
Bible. His talk stimulated interest in
It.
Crowd on Hand Early.
Long before the time for the dedi
cation services to commence people
began to swarm into the building.
In the corridor, the prominent work
ers in the association; the officers
directors and others, received as many
as possible. The crowd was then
placed into the gymnasium where the
services were held Seats were plac'
ed over the floor as compactly as pos.
sible. On the running track there
were several hundred standing. Alto
gether the audience numbered probab.
ly 1900 persons. Besides these there
were many who were unable to get
into the gymnasium, and at one time
the crowd extended out onto the side
walk.
During the time of the assembling
of the audience, the high school or
chestra played. Its numbers during
the program had to be eliminated be-
cause the space which the orchestra
occupied had to be used to accom-.
modate the crowd.
Little pretension had been made in
the decoration of the gymnasium. Ov
er the stage at the west end hung an
American flag This was the only
ornament.
Decorations Were Simple.
In the lobby and other rooms ad
jacent, there was pretty arrange
ment OF palms and ferns. Elsewhere
there were other simple decorations
the members of the association work
ting until midnight Saturday in order
that everything might be in readiness
Jones Was Happy Man.
Sharon E. Jones, president of the
association was the first speaker. He
also conducted the dedicatory cere
monies. He said: Ladies and gentle
men, I am too full of joy to keep in
the celebration of the greatest event
in the history of the city 1t is an
Institution which we are to dedicate
that will bring JOY and comfort. 1t has
long been wanted and we are to be
congratulated on the dedication of this
grand and complete building. l am
sorry l can not give a financial Iate
ment. The building is not entirely
paid for which is probably due to the
panic of 1907. However, We could moi
expect the woman at the washboard
the mechanic, woman working at the
sewing machine and the man follow
ing the plow 10 contribute under such
circumstances. There were over 5000
contributors to the building and they
are people of all walks of life The
report will be given one evening this
week. however I want 10 thank the
citizens on the part of the directors
The building will be turned over tc
The directors and trustees some tins