Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-14
|0LD-T|MERS GATHER TO ADDRESS D. AR
Review of Past and Look President Taft to Be Speaker
Ahead by Y. NJ. CA at Opening Session.
CHARTER MEMBER TALKS FIRST Meeting TOMORROW
Founders Day Exercises President General Scott Call Mem
This Afternoon bers to Order.
PRESENTATION OF PORTRAITS OTHERS ALSO WILL SPEAK
to A.
of Those Organized E. Patton Among Those
CHARTER MEMBER TALKS
Founders Day Exercises to Be Held
This Afternoon.
PRESENTATION OF PORTRAITS
Oil Paintings to Perpetuate Memory
of Those Who Organized the
Association.

80 @ ~ tiu0e ~ the formal exercises or
Founders day. which is to be observed
today for the first time the members
of the training classes Of the Young
Mems Christian Assoc alton invited old
time members of the organization to an
| informal reception in the Sir George Will
lianls room yesterday afternoon Henry
B. +. mcfarland presided.
Among those present were George A.
Miner. eighty-five years of age, who
was a charter member of the Boston
Young Mems Christian Association, and
who as a resident of Washington is
now a frequent visitor to the local as
sociation.- Others whose memberships
began in the fifties and sixties were
Frederick l.. Moore, Warren ChOate, L.
! J.. Woodruff Daniel McFarlan. F.. NJ.
Bradley. Charles Lyman, Alfred Wood,
S. \. Terry and Edward S. Westcott
Rev. Thomas Duncan, u. d. only sur
viTing founder OF the association, told
in an informal way the early history of
the association foundation in Washing
ton. He said, in part
''rhe observance of Founders day by
the Washington Young Mems Christian
Association would be incomplete which
did not make mention of the man who
gave birth to the idea. The honor be-
longs to the Rev. Clement NJ Butler,
ISetoi VI IIHuitS EpiSCOpdi 1HuTCH VI
this city. in 1852 Mr.. Butler had re-
ceived from England a number of news
papers and saw in them notices Of the
ideas and plans of the London Y NJ. {.
A. Boston had organized the first Amer
lean association, in 1851, and with a copy
of its constitution, which Mr. Butler had
secured, he conferred with two young
teachers of his Sunday school, Thomas
Duncan and William Chauncey Lang
don. with regard to similar organization
here.
To Counterfeit Evil Influences.
I'VE felt the need in that day" declared
DR.. Duncan, "of an association for young
men that would afford social and religious
privileges. to counteract the evil infiu-
ences which city like Washington nat
urally would afford the young men.
was deeply impressed with the POSSIBLE
tiles of the organization. and LangdOn
agreed with me. and we went to Rhees
and had confidential talk, and conclud-
ed that we must undertake something of
this kind. So we determined to consult
our ministers. l went to my minister
Rhees went to his and Langdon to his
and they all were of the same mind and
he same idea had occurred to them. So
a meeting was called and the different
| ministers took part in sending out no.
tees.
DIR Butler published vigorous article
in the National Intelligencer. commencing
the project. and public meeting was
called June ., 1852. out of which grew
this present organization of the Y. NJ.
{: A
II look upon this association as one OF
the most potent forces in modern times
toward the bringing about of q real unity
OF the churches. 1t has been q blessing
TO my life. and as l have observed its
growth from a small organization to its
present power and property l have felt
grateful for any part l and my two as
sociates as founders Of It had in bringing
about the organization
Tribute to Feminine influence.
Frederick L. Moore was facetious in his
"reminiscences. As brother-in-law of
Mr.. Rhees,1 one. of the founders. he gave
much credit to the interest of women In
the early days Of the association. and de-
clared that his wife had had more to do
| with arousing his interest in the associa-
| ton and maintaining 1t through the years
| than any one else. Indeed, said Mr..
| Moore. Il may say that found my wife
through the Young Mems Christian As
| ISOLATION. and l can therefore not esti-
| mate the obligation l feel. 1t is joy to
| see the present prosperity, especially as
| ! remember the days when the struggle
| was SO intense that We were threatened
| with election from our rented quarters
| several times"
Edward 8. Westcott paid a glowing
tribute to former General Secretaries
| Theodore Harding and James E. Pugh,
| and acknowledged his very great indebt-
edness to the association as young
man entering into the government serv-
ice here In Washington, because Of the
social advantages it provided. Mr.. West
colt declared that no one person had
done more to bring the association into its
present position of influence and strength
| than S. W. Woodward, for ten years its
president. whose business foresight and
| generous gifts have been so large fac
! tor in the present association plant at the
corner of G and 18th streets.
/ John b. Sleman, jr., was also mention
ed as valued and very active promoter
with Mr.. Woodward, of the association
progress.
Takes Look Ahead.
| Following an address by William
Knowles Cooper, general secretary, or
| the present status Of the association, and
| the look ahead. in which Mr. Cooper out
lined rapidly the facts of development
| in the present building, and in the color
ed branch. the army and navy, the indus
trial and other outside religious meetings
which the assoca ton is. conducting, Mr.