The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-11-27
BUILDING AT WASHING TON,
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER GAVE
ONE-FOURTH OF THE 100000
WHICH THE EDIFlcE WILL
COST - Mr.. ROOSEVELT AD-
MONlSHES THE NEGRO TO IN
DUSTRY AND THRIFT.


ence of President Roosevelt at the
laying of the cornerstone at the
home for the colored Y. M. G. A.,
made the event a most notable one
among the colored people of the Dis
trict of Columbia. Although the
weather was not suited to an out
of-door ceremony, the attendance was
large, including not only great gath
ering OF colored residents, but many
distinguished officials of the Federal
and local Government
The President was the principal
speaker of the occasion. He appeared
at the site of the proposed 100000
building at Twelfth street. between
S and T. Streets within few min
utes Of the time set for the beginning
of the ceremonies, 2 p m. He was
given cheer after cheer,
g. j. Morton, President of the col
ored branch of the Y. M. c. A., pre-
sided
twenty-five thousand dollars Of the
money for the construction of the
building was given by John D. Rookie
Teller, the remainder of the cost of
the structure being raised from
among the colored people in the Dis
trict. The President said in part:
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Already the colored Y. M. G. A. has
membership in this country of near
ly 10000, 5000 belonging to the thir-
ty-seven city Associations, and 5000
to the student organizations. Of the
$4,000 spent last year for the current
expenses of the thirty-seven city AS
sociations, three-fourths were paid
by colored men. 1t is noteworthy
that of the 10000 colored men attend
ing the colored colleges Of this coun-
try, that half are active members Of
the Y. M. c. A. This speaks we'll for
the spirit of these colleges, and gives
us hope and encouragement for the
character of the leaders of the col
ored race in the future. Over 1900
volumes were circulated last year
from the as yet limited number of col
ored Y. Nj. G. A. libraries.
Model for Others.
81 cannot too heartily commend the
action of those colored men who are
responsible for the starting of this
building. When completed it will be
a tribute to the advancement of the
colored race and also a monument to
the advancement of the city of Wash
ington 1t will be a model for the
entire country; it will influence other
Cities and it affords an excellent op-
portunity for both white and colored
men to join in the work of uplifting
a class that sorely needs aid. The
colored man who builds that which
improves and beauties the city earns
the right to the respect of his white
neighbor, and benefits himself in a
double way. | hope that the colored
men will contribute freely toward
this building, and l hope that their
white friends will help them also.
Such building as this means the
Improvement in morality, in Christi
anity, in education, of the colored
citizens Of Washington, and therefore
it concerns not only the colored peo-
pie of Washington, but the white
people also.
Two Examples.
LET me mention a couple of cases
in which colored men have contrib
uted largely to work of this nature.
A colored man, born a slave in Knox
vile, Tenn, was so much impressed
with the value of the Y M. G. A..
vcrN among white young men that
he gave a piece of property costing
So 600 to the colored Young Mems
Christian Association. He has the
honor of having given the largest gift
up to that time of any individual in
TIE state of Tennessee, regardless Of
color, to the Association movement,
another colored man, who was
born on the gold coast of Africa, came
to this country at an early age, was
hefriended by the Philadelphia Y M.
C. A., and by the use of their library
prepared for a competitive eXamina-
ton, entered the University of Penn
sylvania after winning the prize, re-
ceived his education, and is to-day a
very successful physician in the city
Of Portsmouth, Va. gave $500 to the
h~ildin2 fu0d Of their association a
year ago. He also gave 500 for cur
rent expenses the first year the asso-
citation employed a Secretary, and