Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-29

people of the five cities and towns
that have joined together to enter
tain you have made real sacrifices to
do so. 1t means something to take
600 boys into the families of these
communities and I want you boys to
show your appreciation by the way
you conduct yourselves. We want
you to desire real benefits from this
conference.
The several committees that have
been working for the last few weeks
have labored day and night for you.
You come here and see everything
prepared, and can little appreciate
the vast amount of detail that has
been attended to SO as to make your
sojourn pleasant.
We all want you to be well quail
fed to assume the responsibilities of
mans estate and want you to pause
and give serious thought to your
future. President Coolidge express
ed the confidence Of the grown ups
in the rising generation, a few days
ago, when he said: Whatever the
perplexities of the day may be,
there is coming on in the youth of
your State and of my State and of
the Nation character and ability to
meet them, and to solve them all
for the benefit of humanity"
We have faith that You will live
up to the high ideal that our Presi-
dent has set for you.
AS Governor of the State I well
come you all to the State Capital
and want you to feel that you are
among your friends and you are en-
tirely at home here. Before you
leave Augusta 1 want every one of
you to come up to the State House
and see the interesting things there.
l want YOU to go to the State Mu-
scum, the House Of Representatives.
the Senate Chamber, and especially
do l want you to see the war flags
that are preserved in the rOtunda.
You will be much impressed by
them. / also invite you to come to
the Blaine House between the hours
of and Saturday afternoon, for
it is one of the most interesting and
historic spots in Maine.
The Y. M. c. A. is an organization
that is doing much for the boys of
the State. 1t we'll may be called
the right hand of the church, 1t
seeks to care for your body, your
mind, and your morals. it wants to
help you to live upright lives and
to think of and do worthwhile
things.
am familiar with the work of
the 'Y" and never miss an oppor-
tGnity to speak enthusiastically of
it. If any calamity should take the
'Y" out of the State of Maine it
would leave a gap that no other Or
ganiZaGon could fill.
l have no patience with those per-
sons who Cry out against the rising
generation and say that it is demor-
allied and corrupt. ! believe that
boys and girls today are good deal
better than those of former times.
and that every year shows improve
ment. These meetings help every
one who has anything TO do with
them. In my travels over the State
l have come in contact with boys
and girls of all sorts and ages and
! want to tell you about what
think are the incest letters that I
have received. One day l visited a
and made a little talk to the chill
dren. They we're all of the first and
second grades and I did not sup
pose that I made any particular inn
preston on them. On returning to
Augusta l wrote each one a letter.
A day or two later l received sew
eral replies from the little ones
there and ] am going to read you
one or two OF them. One little girl.
five years of age, wrote as follows:
II thank you for your letter. 1t
will make me a good girl"
Another said. Il was so glad to
get your letter. am going to study
hard and always love the State Of
Name"
am sure that these little girls
meant what they said. They have
the right spirit and will grow up TO
be fine women.
The Y. M. C. A. wants to encour-
age you all to take an interest in
church work. Some boys get a
false idea that they can get along
without the churches, and that per-
haps they might he considered weak
or effeminate IL they took part in
Sunday school and church services.
That is an entirely false idea and
the more manly a boy is the more
interest will he take in the church.
It is a splendid thing to join a
church and those of you who read
the papers remember that only a
few months ago President Coolidge
himself Joined the church and the
papers all over the country told
about 1t. and all good people were
pleased.
When was passing through one
of the towns that is entertaining
some of the boys here at the con-
ference, / remember a sign outside
the church door. 1t read as follows:
"More people are sick on Sundays
than on all the other days of the
week put together" That sign was
in the town of Winthrop and l all
ways shall remember it,. I knew
that when the minister wrote it on
the board outside the door he meant
1t and wanted to shame the MEM
bers Of his congregation into coming
to church. Probably most of those
sick" people were out riding In
their automobiles or fixing up things
around their houses, I doubt IL even
one of them spent any money for
doctors services on those Sundays.
Some people criticize the churches,
and il a church man goes wrong
they point the finger Of scorn at him.
1t is not the fault of the church that
once in a while there is backslider,
but 1t is the fault of the person HIM
self. For that very reason II a "Y"
hoy goes wrong thoughtless people
say that the "" Is on no use. THIS
should make you all unusually care
full to do what is right. for If you
fail YOU bring discredit upon this
SDlendid orxya n iza tio,1