Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-06-21
S100,0oO.00 J. NJ c. 4.
H.ME DEDICATED

MASTERY ADDRESS BY sEcRE.
TARY or WAR sTiMsoN-AN
ENDURING MONUMENT TO
THRIFT, INDUSTRY AND
CHRISTIAN SPIRIT OF NEGRO
| PEoPLE-ALL RACES AND ALL
cREEos LEND AID.
An immense copcourse OF people,
| which extended block in each direc-
ton from the structure, witnessed the
formal dedication Of the new 100000
home of the colored branch OF the
Young Mems Christian association. To-
Gated at 1916 Twelfth street, North
west, in the heart of the most popu-
lous section OF the negroes OF WASH
ington. 1t had been planned to hold
the exercises in the gymnasium, but
the crowd swelling to unexpected pro-
portions, 1t was decided to conduct
them on the front porte-cochere OF
the building.
On account OF the unavoidable alb
sence Of President Taft in Ohio, the
place which he was to have filled as
principal speaker fell to the lot OF
the Hon. Henry l.. Stimson, secretary
OF war; Mr.. Stimson dwelt at length
upon the necessity Of moral training.
supplemented by intellectual and phys
ical culture. and supported by prac'
tical knowledge of the professional,
industrial and gainful callings that
give ability to do ones full duty as
part of the civic compact
Everything that went to make the
well-rounded man Of affairs could be
given an impetus by active Identified
ton with the broad-gauged work OF
the Young Mems Christian association,
and he urged colored young men to
take advantage of the golden oppor-
tunity that was here presented to
them.
THE erection of this building is
something for the colored race to be
proud Of" continued Secretary Slim
son, "designed as 1t was by colored
man, built largely by colored hands
and with money contributed by col.
ored people. 1t shows that the race
is capable of accomplishing much. If
given the opportunity. 1t Is also 81 e.
nifcant that gifts of white men and
of people not connected with the
Christian religion helped in large
way to make the completion OF this
building possible. Julius Rosenwald,
Hebrew of Chicago, gave evidence
Of the broadcast human charity in
contributing $4,000 to the building
fund. 1t is encouraging to note the
widespread tendency to give the col
ored people a chance to show what
they can do and to lend assistance in
the way that will yield the most last
ing results.
1T is being recognized more and
more that the problem of the colored
race is a great national one" de-
clared the secretary, with emphasis.
1T belongs to no section and to no
particular class Of people. 1t can
never be solved except by the CO
operation Of peoples of all religions
and all races. We must face it as
Americans, all fighting, together un.
der one flag for a common end"
Mr. Stin sons speech was frequently
Interrupted by hearty applause and
calculations Of "Amen"
Other speakers were DR.. George
Otis Smith, president of the Wash.
ington Y. M C. A.; w. Knowles
Cooper, secretary of the Washington
Y. NJ. C. A., and Mr.. R. C. Morse. Ref
erences were made by each to for
mer President Roosevelt, who laid
the cornerstone of TIE structure on
Thanksgiving day, November rs, 1907.
Mr.. E. J. Morton, president of the col
ored branch, conducted the exercises
and happily introduced the speakers.
Too much credit cannot be given to
those indefatigable workers-Inter-
national Secretary ]. E. Moorland and
Local Secretary Lewis E. Johnson
1yho created the movement and whose
unfaltering faith and unflagging indus
try pushed 1t on to Its grand realiza-
ton. One of the most gratifying gifts
was $500, paid in by H. w. Chase,
colored man and former slave. The
other big donation, aside from that of
Mr. Rosenwald, was $4,000 from Mr..
John D. Rockefeller. More than s27,-
coo came from the colored people of
Washington, representing the generos-
ity of all classes, from the humblest
81 per week laborer to the $4,000 per
year government official, mingling to-
gether on common platform of race
pride and Christian cooperation.
The building is admirably adapted
to the purpose for which 1t is intend
ed. 1t was designed by w. Sidney
Pittman, colored architect, and ev-
cry brick was laid by colored con-
tractor. Thus it is a monument to
negro brain, Drawn and financial
strength. The building has four floors.
In the basement are a barber shop.
Turkish bath, social rooms, swimming
pool (50x20 feet, 4 to 6 feet deep)
shower baths, lockers and furnace
room. The pool contains $4,000 gal
Ions Of water. Entrance to the build.
ing Is on the first floor. Four stall
wart granite columns adorn the front.
The spacious lobby is fanked by a
reading room on the. south side and
home room on the north side. On this
floor will also be found the executive
offices, lunch room, committee room
and the gymnasium. The gym" is
one OF the prettiest rooms of the kind
In the country, having light on three
sides and a 3o-foot ceiling. The run.
ming track, and also the balcony, en-.
tirely surrounds and overhangs the