The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1936-06-12
East Madison Y.M.C.A.
Branch Progresses
BY Haskell CAMPBELL

IN January, 1884, when tie at
tempt was made to organize
committee for the establishment Of
a branch of the Y. M. c. A. in the
East Madison district, the effort
was received with enthusiasm and
skeptieism in the order named
Today. after two and one hall
years of quiet but insistent en-
deavor we feel privileged to pre-
sent to Seattle the progress made
from January 1884 to January
1886.
First, the committee has grown
ia membership from three to TWEEN
ty-five and regular calls of encour-
agement are received from organ
lied groups of civic and fraterna
circles; second, we have real en-
thusiasm and fellowship within
third. we have hoped for guidance
and have been crowned with sue
cess. After a mass meeting held al
our Y. w. c. A. in April, 1884, al
which 104 persons were present
the committee was authorized bs
the community to apply to the Me
tropolitan Board of the Y. M. c
A. for consideration in establishing
an East Madison Branch of the Y
M. @. A. This application was pre-
scented in May, 1884, accepted il
June and a Provisional Committe,
organized under the direct super
vision of the Metropolitan Boar
to determine first, need, second
ways and means in prompting tn
proposed new organization.
Investigations showed the nee
imperative and immediate as tn
increasing leisure of our youth wa
greatly augmented by enforcet
idleness resulting from the depres
sion, and in August, 1884, sixteel
young men, ages Is to %, mad
formal request for the continue
tion of our efforts. In July of thu
same year the first community pic
mic was held at Washington Park
with an attendance of 500 person
representing about 119 families
and in November was held the frs
Father and Son Banquet with 81
present when the policy of the Z
NJ. c. A. was explained by Mr. Ed
win Socolofsky, assistant secretary
of the Metropolitan Board and adj
visor of the Provisional Commit
tee. Enthusiasm ran high and the
work of the committee commended
This banquet was donated anc
served by the Puget Sound Lodge
No. 100 I. B. P. o. e. Elks of this
World, under the leadership of Mr.
E. r. Chainey, treasurer of the
Committee.
The committee also gave a dance
and reception to the graduates Of
1884 in June 1884.
The Provisional Committee spon-
sored four classes of Adult Educa-
ton in 1884 from which group was
provided the nucleus of a perman-
emit class in Physical Education.
In this survey and in establish
ing the committee the Local
churches were most cooperative
In an effort to collect funds nee
essary for the continuance and
support of committee activities,
Mr.. e. Alexander, Chairman of the
Financial Committee, inaugurated
a Penny Drive which, with other
donations, amounted to $233.O0, and
the success of an entertainment
for the Navy in July, 1885, YVES
due to his untiring efforts. Other
activities of 1885 included contin-
ued classes in Physical Education,
Glee Club Swimming, etc. The sec
ond Annual Community Picnic was
held in July, 1885 and was also a
success, and the committee worked
in cooperation with other organ
lied groups during the Commun-
ity Fund Drive. Glasses of BOYS
under proper supervision visited
several local Institutions.