Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-28
In trying to ASCERTAIN the kind of a


the association, and to do II with the |
minimum amount of expense In its oper-
alton, most important Item. and one |
that we. as all similar institutions, are |
always up against.
For this fine structure all fitted and |
ready for work and free OF all debt. I |
want to thank all those who have done |
so much to bring it about. How we'll I |
recall tonight that last meeting attended |
by Governor Hill when we discussed the |
question of building of this kind, and |
as we went up the hill together he said
to me: George, we must build that build
ing and get 1t established on a firm and
enduring basis. How we'll his family
have carried out what ] know was his
earnest wish we all know as we pass
from one department to another of this
fine structure. We are grateful tonight,
not only to Mrs. Hill and her family for
the help they have rendered, but as we'll
to hundreds of others of our fellow citi-
zens who have contributed most literally
of their means and their experience in
securing for Augusta so fine a plant. l
doubt If there has ever been an effort to
improve our civic conditions that has met
so ready a response from all our people
as this one and it augurs well for the
success of the association in the future.
Now, Mr. Chairman, let me add a
word Of thanks to yourself and your
associates, under whose direction this
| beautiful building has been planned
| and built. l supposed l knew some
thing about contracting for and con-
structing many and various kinds Of
buildings, but 1 soon found that
| Y. M. c. A home was entirely differ
ent than anything l had ever had to
do with. The work to be done here is
different, and all the conditions varied
| greatly from any l had ever met. 1t
! became necessary at the very incep-
ton to make a study of all the re-
qurements entering into this work
and fitting the building to it so to get
out of it all that we now look forward
to- We had one man on the commit
tee who was not only competent but
| willing to spend the great amount of
time needed to make study of all the
small, as well as large, details that
make up such a building, and l desire,
in behalf of the association, to thank
Mr.. Bassett for the great amount of
work he has done, in season and out
of season, and to his good judgment
well-appointed building. To his asso-
ciates on the committee. to the va
rious contractors, we also extend our
thanks.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, Cit
liens of Augusta, this fine building, so
we'll proportional and thoroughly
built. is on your hands to do with 1t
as YOU may wish. 1t belongs wholly
| 20 nd
minister its affairs that 1t may be
forever not only perpetual memorial
to those who have made it possible,
but also glorify the great Creator
whose servants we all are, and be an
uplift in the community to be real
lied more and more as the years go by
1t is the feeling of those who have
given the most time and thought tc
the subject that it shall be run on the
broadest possible lines. That it shall
! not be an adjunct of any church oil
set of churches, or take the place OF
any of our schools but that it shall
supplement the work of all churches
and all schools and be a material helT
to every man. woman and child whose
| purpose is to do better and serve God
| more effectively.
We contemplate giving the use OF
| the building to the women so far as
| il can consistently be done, but l look
hopefully forward to the time when
| on the opposite corner of this beau
tiful civic square we may have Y
/ w. C. A. building exclusively for the
use of the large number of young wo-
men, many of them coming from other
| places, who make Augusta their home.
AS have already said, this is your
institution and it's success will be
measured by the time. money and eff
| fort you give it. 1t has seemed to me
| that Augusta has been lacking some-
| what in club life. Now here is the OPP
portunity for the enjoyment of the
best and cleanest kind of such life and
| we earnestly invite every man and boy
+! in Augusta to become an active men,
| Der of the association and participate
| in any and all its many phases OF
work. 1t will be non-sectarian, nom
| partisan, open to all, and run only for
the glory of God and the uplifting and
betterment of our fellow men.
Rev. Henry e. Dunnack
Rev. Henry e. Dunnack. pastor of the
Methodist church, was the next speaker
anu he lObk lOi eupJSSt liz <AoSoSio-
| ton and the Church"
In opening Mr.. Dunnack stated that
the citizens were gathered to celebrate
the completion of a building and the be-
ginning of work that altogether consti-
tutes the most notable achievement in the
city in half century And ne said that
the citizens were then in the presence of
great institution which expresses the
idealsm of many citizens, the generous
spirit of many women and months of toll
of half dozen of our best men, the gifts
of our business men, and over all the
memory of the men whose long years of
devotion to high ideals and whose life
has placed our city and all her people
under lasting obligations.
He showed that the institution vindi-
Gates its right to exist first, because 1t
is dedicated to God for the use of man;
second. because 1t adapts itself to condi-
tons and answers the challenge of the
hour; third. because it ministers to the
growth of human liberty.