Y. M.. C, A. NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 758, 5 March 1910, Page 10

Y. M.. C, A. NOTES.

- (By H.N.H.) The' Y.M.C.A. building, of Boston, took fire on January 13 and was completely destroyed within two hours of the. firo starting. Tho structuro was worth .£50,000 «M'fas built 30 years ago. ..The origin oi the .fire is supposed to havo been in 1 gymnasium, .although.it has not been definitely determined. The Boston building was the oldest Y.M.C.A. building in America. . A fund for £200,000. was recently.. completed for a now building. Tho Eastman-Gardiner Lumber Company, which operates ono of the largest lumber,plants in the SouthenrStat'es, nas' just erected a Y.M.C.A. building at its logging camp,. 27 miles from, civilisation in tho heart of the Mississippi long-leaf pine forests, and has put a trained association secretary on its pay-roll to run it for tliein. This company has exporiflmcnted by putting up a £2000 building at Laurel, Miss., where its sawmills are operated. This proved so good a thing for tho town, and the men of the company, that tho president said that the association was one of the best assets of their manufacturing plant, as.it made the labourers • sober, saving and permanent. The superintendent of the logging camp, who was afraid that a religious organisation' would not 'do,-as the. town was made up of whites, blacks, foreigners, Protestant's,, Roman. Catholics, and Hebrews, says he was mistaken. He found that it did do, and the life of the .placo.centred in the-association building. Tho men with families were contented and,would "stay on tho job," becauso there was social life and diversion with the happy combination of education, pleasure, and. religious meeting on evenings, holidays, and Sundays. Men would stay in their mills who lelt other camps bccause "it is awful lonesome Sunday." And . .tho superintendent . said that tho presence and ' influence of the Sf'crctar.vvin ■ the. camp six months , before the. ..doors . were. opened was worth tho cost 'of. ;the' operation. He:.'made life interesting by forming and teaching a brass band;, for ' ono; thing, then ho made his own' home attractive by starting a lawn, among the -stumps in front of his shack,: and a vegetable garden behind it, and then other cabins followed the- example. '

Amongst other buildings destroyed by tho great earthquake at San. Francisco was the home of the Y.M.C.A. . On November 5 the corner stono of th 6 hew building,' which is • to cost £100,000, which amount: has' been already raised, was laid by Mr. W. II; Taft, president of the United States., In performing the ceremony tho' president boro tho fol-lowing-striking testimony to tho value of tho work of the association;—" This building will fill a want in society that can be filled in 110 other way, offering a homo, to young men denied one, proviuing - rational amusement for., spare hours—the time the devil always offers

his temptations. . . . This great structure is being erected for t'lio moral protection of young men and boys of San Francisco. Its'.work will stand for all that is best, in life. San Francisco's greatest assets aro her young men and boys, and what can be dono for their moral protection and ultimato salvation from all forms of sin is the greatest question that can engago tiie thought and attention of this community. It' is about as hard to put money where it can do some good as it was to make that money. You can put all you choose into the Young Men's. Christian Association and got the value of every dollar.