Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-05-14

was also reported TO this Office, re
oeived letter in which practically
the same reason was given for not
acting favorably upon his request for
quarters in the new building.
II the Y. NJ. c. A. is a sectarian in
stitution, established only for the pur-
pose Of furthering the aims OF Chris
tianity, then unQuestionably IL is
within the province or the board OF
directors Of that institution 70 deny
admission 20 any save those who sub
scribe 20 the Christian religion. But,
III the Y. NJ G. A. as stated to the
Council Of the city OF Richmond in
a desire TO become relieved OF taxa
ton. is a secular institution for fur
thering the morals and spiritual we'll
being of all men. then certainly the
action taken is open TO criticism and
Jews ia this city, and in fact. in every
city I'm which there is a Y. NJ. c. A.
can take offense from Il. The local
association not only accepts as mem
hers those Of the Jewish faith. but
actually solicits membership among
Jews. AS matters now stand. q Jew
may enjoy all Of the privileges Of
fered by the organization. may he
come active in the gymnasium de-
partment or may be a member Of
any Of the clubs organized, but is
denied the right 90 secure rooms in
the recently completed building. Sew
eral ministers of the Protestant re-
ligiOn have been seen by a representa-
tive of the Record. and in every in
stance these men have deprecated the
action taken by the authorities of the
association.
To is not our intention 20 ofer
any criticism of he secretary of the
association I'm refusing explanation
OF the affair AS a matter of fact.
this is not an editorial tt would more
properly come In our news columns.
We have purposely avoided making
any hue and cry from these facts and
have offered this ia our editorial col
umns more for the benefit. or rather
for the warning. of Jews who con-
template placing themselves in a po-
sitiOn which may ultimately prove
embarrassing. In all frankness. we
say that we recognize the right of
the Y. NJ. G. A. 90 refuse Jews. just
as we recognize the right of a Young
Men Hebrew Association refusing to
domicile Gentiles The only incon-
Eruous part of the AFFAIR Is that the
Y. NJ. C.. a. has accepted both the
Jews money 10 aid In constructing
the building. and still accepts as
members these same Jews. For our
part. We believed the authorities in
charge of the Y. NJ. C.. A. and the Jews
of Richmond TO be on most friendly
terms. and while we cannot say that
We deplore the action taken. we do
say that we consider it il-advised and
hardly calculated 20 be productive Of
more pleasant relations in the future.
To the young men who were placed
i'm this ombarrass position because
OF their application for rooms i'm the
building VIE say that we deeply and
sincerely dcplore the fact that they
took such action. and believe that
they. too. acted ill-advisedly and
without proper consideration OF the
step taken. To should prove a lesson
iu the future. and we believe IL will.
Il will be seen then that the wave
OF race prejudice against the Negro.
the doctrine OF caste against the col
ored citizen is asserting itself in the
prescription OF the Jews. Il has al
ways been "a source Of surprise to us
that any Hebrew, one OF the greatest
races or people that ever lived should
lend himself to practicing the very
prescription OF which many OF that
race are now victims.
For our part. &c seems TO us that
the Jewish Record has made out a
clear case against the directorate.
Certainly. IL viii require much ex-
PLANTATION and no end OF argument
for the non-sectarian organization 20
extrIcate itself from the embarrassing
position in which Il finds itself