Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-01-30
FORMAL OPENING
Y.M.C.A. Bull DING
Notable Opening Exercises Held IN
Gymnasium Friday Night.
ABLE SPEECHES MARKED
THE MEMORABLE EVENT

Brartner Enthuse Great Audience
in Behalf Of Y. M. c. A. Work
Constructor Highly Praised.
The Y. NJ. c. A. building was for
mally opened Friday night with appro-
pirate exercises in the gymnasium
The announcement of this notable
event attracted a great crowd Of peo-
pie to the building. The gymnasium,
including the gallery, was filed with
an eager audience while the overflow
roamei through the building. admir-
ing its architectural beauty and taste
full and unique appointments.
The opening exercises commenced
at s O'Clock with Senator Chas. j.
Faulkner, president of the Young
Mems Christian association, presiding.
After the audience had sung the in
spring hymn Onward Christian
Soldiers led by the City band or
chestra, prayer was offered by Rev.
Dr. F. NJ. Woods Of the Presbyterian
church
Addresses were delivered by Sen
ator Faulkner this city; Mr.. George
F. Tibbits. Of Washington; Architect
G. L. Harding, of Washington, and Mr.
z. T. Brantner, this city
Senator Faulkner, in the course Of
his remarks, said that the Y NJ. C. A.
building was now completed, opened
to the public and turned over to the
2 800 subscribers to its erection. He
paid high tribute to the architects,
Harding & Upman, of Washington
for designing structure that is not
only ornate in architectural style but
so well adapted in plan and interior
to the use and purpose
for which it was erected.
Senator Faulkner was followed by
Mr. Tibbetts, one of the brightest,
most popular and energetic Y. M. G.
A. workers to be found any where.
He emphasized the wholesome in
fluence for good particularly on
young men, that a Y. NJ. c. A exerts
in community He congratulated
the people of Martinsburg on having
such a beautiful and well-appointed
building and an active and wide7a-
wake lot of men az the head of it.
He urged the people to cooperate with
the Y, NJ C. A. and make it more
than self sustaining.
Mr.. c. L. Harding was introduced
as the man who designed the struc-
ture in which the audience had assem-
bled and which was a pride and an
to the town. Mr. Harding
spoke of the difficulties usually en-
in designing r. NJ. c. A.
building from the fact that it com
bines features of a church, hotel and
club house, at the same time having
apartments for men and
boys and so arranged as to keep them
separate. He paid high tribute to
the construction work Of Contractor
S. A. Westenhaver, who. he said, had
even done better work than the spec
icafitions. in some particulars had
called for.
Mr. Brantner remarked that it was
a notable coincidence that the Y. NJ,
c. A. building was opened ana the
Martinsburg city charter bill passed
in the legislature on the same day.
He said that at the inception of the
Y. M. C. A. movement here there were
a lot Of doubling Thomases who said
il would never be accomplished, and
that. there are still a few who say
that the building win never be self
supporting. To disprove this he APP
pealed to the people to heartily sup
port this most worthy and moral-up-
hitting institution and it's success from
every point of view would be more
than realized.
The exercises closed with the
benediction pronounced by Rev. DR.,
w. F. Locke.
The music o. the City band orches-
ira was an enjoyable feature.
Boys Reception.
About five hundred boys. big AMI
little. attended the boys reception in
the Y. NJ. c. al. building this morn
ing from 9 to 70 o'clock and had a
Jolly time. Some Of them pplayed
basket ball in the gymnasium and
others took a swim in the swimming
pool. Secretary Lunk and Physical
Director Cartwright gave the boys
a wholesome talk and II Is safe TO
predict that many Of them will be