Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-28

building committee, who made the pre-
sentation OF the lot. building. furnish
ings and endowment by the building COM
mittee to the boar5rof trustees. The key
when Mr.. Bassett presented in behalf of
the building committee will be preserved
as a memento. It was plated with silver
and attached to II by a silver ring is
silver plate inscribed Presented to the
Truasees at the dedication of the Angus
tn Y. NJ. c. A. Sept. as 1914" In pre-
senting the gift Mr.. Bassett spoke as
follows:
Norman L. Eassett
Mr.. President, Members of the Young
Mems Christian Association, Ladies
and Gentlemen:
This evening marks the elimination
of the work of the committee which
was appointed in December, 1910, and
whose official title has been Commit
tee for the establishment of q Y. NJ.
6. A. in Augusta, Maine" The COM
mittee is to make its report and to de-
liver to the duly appointed authorities
the harvest of its labor. 1t would
have been most fitting for its presi-
dent to do this, not only because of
the Office but especially because of
what he has done for the cause. He
has contributed generously not only
of his personally but of his personali-
ty. No matter the hour of day or
night when the committee had work to
do promptly at the appointed time he
appeared. stayed through our delibera-
tions and gave US the assistance of his
wide experience, his excellent judg-
ment and common sense. Unfortu-
nately for the committee, but most
fortunately for the Y. NJ. c. A. he has
been made president of the board of
trustees and must officially receive
what the committee has to give. He
could not both give and take ahd it
is not characteristic of Mr.. Macomber
to play a double part.
1t would have been fitting too for
another member of the committee to
speak for it, its treasurer, not only for
what he has contributed to the cause
Of his means and of uAtiring personal
effort, but because it was in response
to his earnest words spoken at one of
the dinners of our Board of Trade that
the meeting was held out of which
the committee grew. But again IN
fortunately for the committee and
again most fortunately for the Y. M.
c. A. he is the first president of the
association and presides this evening.
The committee has, therefore had to
face survival, not as Mr. Darwin would
say of the fttest, but of as the small
boy says, lust what's left" have been
asked to speak for the committee and 1
assure you it gives me the greatest pleas
ure to do so.
May I first call your attention to a
most interesting fact which, as 1 have
been Informed by many connected with
associations in other places, is somewhat
unique. Almost invariably elsewhere first
the association comes into existence, be-
ginning life in as brave way as cir
cumstances allow then growing and be-
coming ambitious and finally making a
supreme effort to obtain the equipment
sufficient to meet increased and pressing
demands and to provide for the future.
In 1881 an association was formed here.
! nave been told that it was never robust,
that 1t vent through an attack of theo-
logical fever. passed into decline and
died at the unlucky age of 10. We believe
that we understand the treatment of that
fever better now and that our association
need have no fears of recurrence There
was, therefore, no association here when
this movement began. Our association
was not formed until June 80, 1914. Did
1t begin life in any feeble way, to strug-
gle for more and better things. Rather
like Athena of old who sprang into life |
clad in complete and shining armor At
its birth it found ready for it all that |
other associations have had to struggle |
for, this home and this equipment which |
you see where practical convenience and
ideal beauty are SO splendidly combined. |
For more it could not have asked. 1t |
would hardly be right for us to say that |
this is Augustus way. We must not