Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-10-01
For a Y. M. c. A. Building.

At the annual meeting of the Au-
ugusta Board of Trade, Thursday
evening, many subjects of general
public interest were treated by the
speakers, but one which most strong
ly appeals to us is that concerning
Y. NJ. C. A. building for Augusta.
Frank G. Harrington declared that the
adult life of the Capital City was well
cared for but suitable provision had
not been made for the welfare of the
boys and younger men. He advocates
a modern Y. NJ. c. A. building and said
that. Augusta was the only capital city
he knew that did not have such a
building. He said that business men
of Augusta feel the need of an institu-
ton for it's young men. He would
have it open to everyone rather than
a country club as had been advocated.
The Kennebec Journal holds up all
its hands in favor of the motion of Mr.
Harrington. Let us push it along! 1t
is a move in the right direction and
any man or association may well be
proud of having a leading part in its
said. the Board of Trade could have
no more fitting movement to its credit
than a Y. NJ. C. A. building erected for
the youth of the city.
such a building should be up-to-date
in every particular and of sufficient
size to accommodate reasonable
growth of the city in the next quar-
Ter If d century. 1t should be fitted
with what always proves of first i'm
pOrtance and attraction to young men
"a well equipped gymnasium and
shower baths. Of course there should
as well as adjacent dormitories where
young men temporarily without re-
spectacle quarters could find homes
under the wing of wholesome influ-
cnces.
One Of the chief advantages of a Y.
M. G. A. institution over the average
well regulated club is that it is always
under the charge and guidance of q
competent director who has the inter-
ests of all the boys at heart, and who
has leveling influence over them
they learn to respect the character of
their associates rather than the family
or the money which such associates
represent
The value of the Y. M. c. A. infu-
ence is world famous. A young man
from Augusta going to a far city on
his arrival first inquiries for Y. NJ.
G. A. There he is assured of welcome
| and a home until he can look about and
establish himself in strange surround
ings. If that were all it would be next
| to Invaluable, but it is not so. Mem
bers of the Y. NJ. G. A. take him in
charge. A respectable boarding place
| is provided and kindly and wholesome
| Influences thrown around him from
the start. Every member has his
| moral safety at heart and everywhere
| he turns he meets the Y. NJ. c. A.
brother; while the director proves a
| father in every sense of the word.
While Augusta has none of the one
! thousand and one great temptations
of the great city to offer young stran-
gers here, yet aside from it's own youth
| there are numerous opportunities to
start boys right and help them along
| i'm the right course.
Next to the right sort of a home is
| the right sort of an institution with
| attractions for the boy. No better
has been devised than the Y NJ c. A.,
| and such an institution with all that
| it means to future generations Au-
| gusta lacks. 1t is a good time to start
| IT, good time to work for it, a good
| time to establish it. Why not push it
| along? 1t is up to every bOdy-nQw
| don't hang back-let's have it, Who
is to make the first move? Please
come to the front, Mr. Organizer: we
are anxious to publish your name and
what you say, and to aid in every
| other way that a newspaper can.
| Waiting