Year: 1877

COMMUNITY,


and especially OF the class for whose benefit
mainly their organization was formed. But
they are now forced to the conclusion that
what should be donc-what the best in
tcrcsts OF the community require OF them
cannot be effected unless the means are OBJ
tanned for placing the Association on firm
foundation. They do not mean by this state
ment to intimate that there has been any
want OF liberalty among our people to-
wards the Association, or want Of interest
in the objects for which it was formed. On
the contrary, it is only justice to say that
on the occasions when, under special eXl-
eencies, the Association has felt con-
strained to ask help, our citizens have
shown the sincerity OF their interest
by responding literally to such appeals.
But the Directory Is convinced mat the
whole system by which the Association has
been hitherto kept up ought never to have
been regarded as more than series OF pro
tempore- expedients, which might keep 1t
alive for time, and were Of iu,titiable use
while the Association was but an expert
ment; but should never have been relied on
as sufficient to sustain vigorous and grow
ing strength. In their deliberate opinion 1t
has now become pressingly urgent to sub
stitute for such temporary aids permanent
endowment OF the institution. The charge
upon its resources for the rent OF rooms has
ALWAYS been too heavy for it to bear, with
out greatly hampering its proper work; anu,
from the very nature OF the case, while the
helD accorded from without continues to be
fuctuating and uncertain, that steady in
crease OF strength and expansion Of itS
sphcre OF operations so desirable for the AS
sociation and for this community must re-
main llnattainable. Under


THE PRESSURE OF THIS DISABLING BURDEN
the Directory has been compelled to
ioreeo many opportunities OF extending the
operations OF the Association, and to make
it their almost exclusive cndeayor to keep
the Association alive by every practicable
device OF retrenchmcnt and economy. Even
these measures have not been entirely sutti-
cient for the avoidance OF debt; and, OF
course, under such 4 condition Of affairs,
very little could be done that required adj
ditional expenditure. by the stinting econ
omy thus forced upon them the library has
been special sufferer: very little could be
afforded for books. and for some time no.
thing has been expended for the purchase
OF new books or rebinding the old. Under
such discouragementS the interest felt in the
Association has declined and is declining,
:tnd we therefore deem it proper to make
our condition and need known to the pub
lie as II necessary step towards making eifcc-
tual the resolutions recently adopted by this
Board.


The Directory must not conclude tins
statement without again and more earn
cstly appealing to the citizens OF Richmond
for such contributions as will put the AsSo-
citation far on its way towards the end
sought.


SHOULD Til: HELP NEEDED BE LITERALLY


GIVEN.


and the Association thus be encouraged to
prosecute its work more vigorously, the i'll
creased influence for good, and In restraint
OF evil, that will thus be brought to bear
upon our young men, will be OF the great
est Importance in promoting the welfare OF
this community. II measured merely by
the !0,rer standard OF worth such influence
over our young men will more than return,
in the working value OF improved charac-
ter, the value received OF money contrib
uted. But this is not the sole Standard
there is q higher, and, however estimated,
all the purposes OF the Association are w0r-
thy OF public encouragement. 1t is there
fore hoped that the results OF this appeal
will Justify the confidence OF those making
it.. that this is an institution our citizens
''will not willingly let die and that the
gentleman charged with the duty OF solicit.
ing contributions here and elsewhere will
carry from Richmond such 1 list as will be
most convincing evidence OF the interest
felt by its people in the object of the sub,
Scription.


[Signedl J. D. X. SLEIGur, President.