The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-03-02
DUMMETT AT THE Y. M. c. A.
Three Score Business Men Greet
Belated Traveller at Luncheon
in Banquet Hall-Males Strong
Plea for Financial Support.

j. A. Dummett, belated but cheer
full, arrived in the city Sunday night,
and Monday took up that part of the
program which was scheduled for
that day. The list of names of bust
ness men who attended the luncheon
yesterday at the Y. M. C. A. banquet
rooms contains nearly all the most
prominent business men of this city.
Between fifty and seventy-five people
took part in the reception, which was
later conceded to have accomplished
more good in concrete form than any
similar meeting that has ever been
held in this city as 1t will result in
what has been striven for by the well
wishers of the institution for some
time past. that is. contributing
membership.
The chief speaker of the luncheon,
Mr.. Dummett, entertained his audi
tors with an account of his expert
ences as an association worker cover
ing period of thirty years, ten of
which were spent as travelling secre-
tary of the Y. M. c. A. in the north
west. Many anecdotes were pathetic
in their character and the relation of
one in particular brought tears to the
eyes of some. Mr. Dummett told of
an experience he had in an eastern
town which Mad wooden building
entirely inadequate to house the
growing youth of the place, but, new
ertheless. was a home to the boys
where they could indulge in pastines
so dear to the heart Of healthy chill
dren. In this town was a wealthy
n int in, thn 10 Tor
could not be moved out of spirit of
indifference, it being evident that he
tolerated rather than believed In the
good 1t was accomplishing. This man
had two young sons who spent the
greater part of their recreation hours
In the building. Shortly after Mr..
Dummett had departed from the town
on one Of his regular visits ne re-
ceived telegram that the Y. M. c. A.
had burned to the ground. He re-
turned to the place and among the
first to greet him on his return was
the father Of the two boys, who as
sured him that he would help build
la new home for the institution.
Greatly surprised and curious at such
a sudden change of heart Mr.. Dunn
NETT soon discovered the reason. The
ruins of the old building were still
smoking when this man sauntered
around to note the damage. He found
his two boys there picking up beloved
pieces of paraphernalia that had long
known the touch of their little hands
in the "old gym" Big tears were
running down their faces and the
father watching them became touched
with their childish grief The result
was big, fine building.
Another instance the speaker cited
was that of w. M. Ladd, banker Of
Portland, Ore. who, wishing to do
something for the youth of this city.
built a fine club house. There were
few restrictions placed on the conduct
of the place, nearly every form of
diversion common to a regular club
being permitted except that of drink
ing. With no guiding hand to restrain
youthful impulses rule after rule vas
laid on the shelf until the club re-
solved itself into place for bicycle
meets and card games, even drinks
were surreptitiously brought into the
building from the rear. Mr.. Ladd,
learning how his cherished hope for
the betterfn ent of the young man was
being abused, turned his attention to
the then building Y. M. G. A. After
several visits to the rooms of the as
sociation during the evening he de-
cided that he had found q place where
his money would return the interest
he had sought. AS a result his sup
port and influence soon gave the Y.
M. c. A. of that city fine home,
which has outgrown itself three times
since 1t was organized.
The speaker made a strong plea for
what Is known as contributing
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES men who
pledge themselves for certain amounts
annually. He said 1t is we'll known
fact no Y. M. c. A. is self-supporting
because the moment 1t becomes so it
loses it's influence in it's own peculiar
field of moral labor.
When Mr.. Dummett had finished his
address he was given a hearty vote
of thanks by the business men pres
ent.
Following the principal speaker,
Rev. r. A. King gave a short address
on his interest in the work of the in
stitution and said that when he was
deciding between two calls that were
offered him, before he came here, he
was largely Influenced in making
North Yakima his choice because of
the fact that he learned that the Y.
M. C. A. of this city was a flourishing
association, this in spite of the fact
that the other call was perhaps in
other ways more desirable.