The Detroit times., 1914-04-25
.Y.M.C.A. OBSERVES
HFTIETH BIRTHDAY
Frank ID. Taylor Will Give Brief
History of Early Tribula-
tons of Order

a all those who are deeply inter
esth In the welfare and progress or
the eYoung Mems Christian associa'
tom none look forward TO the cele.
braNon OF the fiftieth anniversary OF
the fassoclation next week with more
plekure than do Frank ID. Taylor and
Leohard Laurense, two or the organ
izers
M. TAYLOR win give brief history
OF DE association at the banquet 10
be kiven at the Hotel Pontchartrain
next Monday evening, and Mr.. Lau'
renA will perform a like service at
fhef'members" banquet al the y. Nj.
ca gymnasium the following even
Both OF these men are still active
IN he association and both are al
reclbrs or the present organization,
M. Taylor, who has kept scrap
book of newspaper clippings. etc, con
cetIing the early history OF the asso'
ciation, and who has constantly Kept
hts hand on the pulse of the society
which he helped 10 bring into the
world so years ago, says that II seems
but IA day since a little crowd OF
v
Christian association.
n grew from the date OF organ
izatIon, said Mr. Taylor. Grew more
rapidly and better than any other as
ISOLATION In the world, so far as my
knokyledge goes. and / have Travelled
andlinyestigated considerably II was
backed from the beginning by some
OF; Detroit's best young men-menT
Wild became powers in the community
and country later in llte.=
several organizations lad been
: ,---ased before 1his .Vge, hpt at be-
Gauge OF one reason or anotner Iaitef
to Survive. James, Farrell, the first
PRECEDENT, got the idea OF Young
Mems Christian association for De-
troll during visit to Chicago, where
one was operating. All OF the pastors
were Interviewed and finally meet
ing was held consisting OF two from
each OF the churches, and the organ
ization started. II was about Aug. l,
1854, when II was perfected and soon
afterward the officers we're elected.
1--WE rented two rooms in the Mer'
rill block, Jefferson and Woodward
ayes, and fitted them up. one as
reading room and the other as par
ior These were dedicated Monday
evening, Nov. %, 1864. according 10
my records. From that day on, the
association grew until 1t reached
what II now Is. Our first home TO
which we had title was where the
Good Luck store stands, back OF the
Detroit opera house on Farmer-st.
We bought this at auction for $l4,l0o,
10 OF US pledging $3.50 each as the |
first payment II was an old railroad
freight depot and hotel barn built In
1851. We bought a gymnasium outfit
and rugged up the large place with !
reading rooms and auditorium in front
and gymnasium at the back.
"fhis was sold later for $4,000 to
get money TO buy other property. In \
the meantime We occupied rented /
quarters, moving three or four times
before our building was completed /
and ready for occupancy at the cor
ner OF Grand River-ave. and Griswold- !
st. This sufficed until five years ago |
when the present structure on Grand !
Circus park was completed and occu-
pied
An elaborate program has been |
planned for the anniversary week. Al
the Monday night banquet, the speak. !
ers will be Seth Low, OF New York |
city; Sherwood Eddy, also OF New |
York city, and Mr.. Taylor George
It. Moody will be the POSTMASTER.
At the Tuesday evening banquet, |
the speakers will be J. A Macdonald, |
IL. d., OF Toronto; DR.. NJ. s. Rice and
Leonard Laurense, OF Detroit. James |
Schermerhorn will be the toastmaster. !
Thursday eFening will be held the
boys dinner This will also be in the
large gymnasium, which will accom-.
modate 500 persons at tables.
The boys department was organ
lied Sept IL 1882, through the eff
forts OF Mrs j. t. Foster, now mum.
bers nearly 1000 members, ana has
a building fund all its own,