The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-23


the meeting.
Mr.. Manning stated that the object
was to put on foot a movement for a
modern Y. NJ. G. a. in a building of
its own. He gave a short history Of
the efforts to have an association in
Sumter and thought the cause Of the
failures was the lack of a building
and proper equipment. The citizen
ship Of Sumter has worked Up to a
termination to have a fully equip
ped associatiOn-a place where the
boys and young men Of the city can
congrogate and spend their evenings
IN innocent amusement and recrea-
ton. The Y. NJ. c. A. is ar institu-
ton that links all religious views. 1t
does not interfere with the church,
does not do the work Of the church,
hut lays the foundation for the
church in the development of char
acter and manhood.
The principal work of the modern
asso citation is to develop men of
character and good habits of giving
the young men a place to go, where
the influence and Environments are
such as to help in the formation of
those habits that go to develop the
best there is in a man.
He saw in the presence of so many
at the smoker an evidence that the
people of Sumter would rally to the
support Of the committee when the
campaign for subscriptions Is begun.
Mayor l.. d. Jennings next spoke.
He said that the committee had stu
died the situation from every stand
point and that they had reached the
conclusion that the smallest amount
on which the work could be done Is
$4,000. This amount-and more
can be raised and must be raised To
raise 1t, however, all must contribute
there must be no drones. Success
comes only by all pulling together.
All should help and all will help.
Capt. r. A. Brand, of the Atlantic
Coast Line was next introduced. Mr..
Brand is a Sumter boy who loves
Sumter. He spoke very feelingly of
the ties that bind him to Sumter.
He told Of his experience in asso-
citation work both in Augusta, Ca,
and in Wilmington, N. G. When he
left Sumter, he said, to take up his
work in Augusta, his idea of the as
sociation was that it was doing
work that should be done only by the
church. When he saw what the as
sociation was doing in developing
character and manhood he became
an enthusiast and has been since.
The corporation he represents
believes in the association and all its
officers are members. The Atlantic
Coast Line, realizing that man who
spends his evenings in the associa-
ton, getting that wholesome recrea-
ton to be had there is better able
next day to perform his duties, Is
now erecting and maintaining three
associations for the men in their en-
ploy.
He belongs to the Wilmington, N.
c., Association which is doing
grand and commendable work. He
thinks that Sumter should have and
can have an association. All that is
needed is the determination to do it.
it when 1t is needed.
There is nothing that appeals to
him more than the young men and
boys Of a community The men of
tomorrow are the boys of today.
He thinks the best way to break
boy in is to do it like the Texas
ponies are broken in-run with
them. He has no patience with the
theory that a boy can be told and
sent to do the right things. That is
not the way it is done. Go with them.
With a creditable hotel, paved
streets and a modern y. NJ. G. A.
Sumter Will be q first class city, and
he believes that Sumter will in a
short while step in the first class.
He thinks the Association will be a
paying investment. one of the best
paying in the whole community. He
believe that Sumter will make the
Association one of the first things to
Nc brought about.
Mayor r. Goodwin Rhett, of Char
lesion, next 81 pike. At first he phOned
that he could OF come, but when he
was told that ere was a possibility
of his helping Sumter to have a Y.