Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-15
Especial to Kennebec Joprnan

"dteVllie, Nov. IA William
Knowles Cooper, general secretary of
the 7. NJ. G. A. at Washington. d. G.
speaking at meeting of $50 dele
gates to the Ard annual state con-
yention of the Youn Mems Christian
Associations Of Maine, which opened
this afternoon, last evening following
the banquet at the Methodist church
declared that there was never any
foundation to the rumor that the late
Woodro" Wilson, president of the
Onited states from 1912 to 1920, did
not nave fine moral character.
Mr.. Cooper stated that when the
rumor was being circulated he re-
ceiVed literally thousands of letters
from all parts Of the country asking
Tor an answer to the rumor. He was
maze member of a committee to
thoroughly investigate this rumor
and after months of work in which
they reviewed Woodrow Wilson.
whole life. public and private. up to
that time they found that he was an
outstanding example Of clean Chris
tlan manhood and that there was
absolutely no foundation to the VIII
famous whisperings that were start
Delegates to the convention began
coming to Watervillc Yesterday. af-
tcrnoOn and this morning every train
from all parts of the state brought
bOys and men to attend The sessions
Professor Herbert l.. Newman of
Colby, the registration officer, had q
busy day assigning The visitors to
their rooms and places.
AT 3 o'clock an informal reception
was held at the First BAPTIST church
and student delegates were given
their assignments.
The business session opened at 4
r. NJ. in the Baptist church with
President Harry +. Merrill of Pot
land. presiding. Prayer was offered
by Ralph NJ. SomerviIle of Portland
! and the members joined in singing
Faith or our Fathers and II Need
Thee Every Hour"
DevotionS were conducted bv To-
seph Il. Hubbard, general secretary
OF the Y. M. G.. A. .tBangor, who
+ took his text from the seventh chap
ter OF Romans. Mr. Hubbard spoke
or the evils of CONNER, ializing rcli-
Gion and the necessity of each man
having ms own mind aDout his re-
liGion.
He said Journalism and CONNER
against. "The main thing that our
churches of this country have done
Tor other countries is TO loose the
word of Cod" said Mr.. Hubbard.
| Next on the program WAS the read
ing or the minutes of the 1929 con-
| vention. held at pittsfield. by Il. w.
). Benn, secretary of he Waterville
r. X. Y. NJ. C. \.
Mr.. Merrill. who is chairman of
| the State executive committee, gave
a resume OF the work done by the
I. NJ. Z. A. in Maine during the past
year, touching on the subjects of
boys work, father and son banquets.
state boys conference, and the
county boys conference.
The report of Herbert l.. Emery of
Waterville. State treasurer, showed
that the State body was in excellent
financial condition.
n general discussion Of plans fol-
lowed and then the committee for
nominating the annual slate of Off
GERS for the coming year and a reso-
lutions committee was appointed.
The final business of the session was
the appointment of a credentials
committee. after which the meeting
ad journcd and the delegates paraded
to the Methodist church. where the
Methodist ladies'.
After the fine array OF good things
had been slowed away by those pres
ent. Henry +. Merrill. State chair
man and presiding officer Of the ban
ouct. arose and in a short address
he told the boys to take care of their
character as the most precious thing
that they own. He then introduced
Judge Harry J.. Manser of Auburn
as the POSTMASTER of the evening.
The choice of Judge Manser as a
POSTMASTER proved Il most happy one
and for tho next few minutes he had
his audience in the best of humor
with his jokes and witty sayings. He
then introduced G. Barnard Chap
man, president of the Colby College
Christian Association. who in his
speech OF welcome told the boys new
er to run away when they heard
other fellows telling dirty stories or
meet them after they had been booz-
ing, but to stand up ana convince
them that they were doing wrong.
Mayor Leon O. Tebhetts delivered
the address of welcome in behalf of
the city of Waterville, in which he
declared that the things that count
most are the kindly word and the
friendly act. The mayor bid each
delegate a most cordial welcome and
hoped that they would receive a
benefit from the convention and
would be glad to come to Waterrille
to another convention at some early
future date.
Walter l.. Vain. president OF the
v. NJ. c. A. at Oak Grove Seminary.
responded for the students and he
declared that he was sure that the
convention was something besides
rood time and that what the boys
heard made a lasting impression for
the good of all of them.
For the association, Roy c. Hand
lev. general secretary of the Auburn
Y. NJ. c. A., responded. expressing
great appreciation for the cordiai
welcome that the delegates had re-
ceived in Waterville.
The principal speaker of the eve
ming was introduced by judge Man
ser as one of the leading W work
ers in the country, William knowles
Cooper, general secretary OF the 1.
NJ. c. A. at Washington. d. G.. VINO
spoke on the general topic: is
America a Christian Nation
Following are some of the COM
mittees made up OF Watervilie men
who helped arrange for the conVen-
fion: General chairman, Harry >.
Brown. .
Financial committee: Chairman.
F.. M. Foster. Mayor Leon q. Ien-
belts, w. w. Quinton. William \,
Knauff, Melvin d. Hutchinson Fred