president of this, the _first_ Young Men's Christian Association of the
United States. It is a strange coincidence, easily understood by the
Christian, that on the twenty-fifth of November, one month previous,
without any knowledge on the part of Boston, the first Young Men's
Christian Association of America had been organized at Montreal, in
Canada.
The constitution adopted was based upon that of the parent Association,
and provided that, while any young man could be a member and enjoy all
other privileges of the Association, only members of evangelical
churches could hold office or vote. The reason for this was clear and
right. Those who originated the parent Association, and those who
formed this, believed in the doctrines of the Universal Church of
Christ--in the loss of the soul and its redemption only by the blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ; nor could they be satisfied with any work for
young men which did not at least aim at conversion.
The chairman of the international committee thus speaks, in February
last: "When any Association sinks the religious element and the
religious object which it professes to hold high beneath secular
agencies and powers, it ceases to deserve the name of Young Men's
Christian Association. It belongs then to a class of societies of which
we have many, and in which, as Christian young men looking to the
conversion of our fellows as the supreme object, we have no special or
peculiar interest." The tenth annual report thus speaks upon this point:
"The tie which binds us together is a common faith. We hold this faith
most dearly, and believe it to be essential, and therefore worthy to be
protected by every means. We cannot be expected, surely, to do so
suicidal a thing as to admit to the right of equal voice in the
government of our society those who are directly opposed to the very
essence of our being."
[Illustration: NEW BUILDING.]
The _benefits_ of the Association are for all--its _management_ alone is
restricted.
There are now nearly twenty-five hundred Associations in the world, all
upon what is called the evangelical basis, and in the United States and
British Provinces only Associations upon this basis have membership or
representation in the International Organization, formulated in Paris,
in 1855, thus:--
"The Young Men's Christian Associations seek to unite those young men
who, regarding Jesus Christ as their God and Saviour according to the
Holy Scriptures, desire to be his disciples in their doctrine and in
their life, and to associate their efforts for the extension of his
kingdom among young men."
It is a fact that whenever the attempt has been made, and it often has,
in any Association, to give an equal right in the management to those
who are not of our faith, that Association has either soon adopted our
basis or ceased to exist.
The spiritual benefit of its members having thus always been its
ultimate end, the London Association, during its early years, did no
other work; and no sooner was the Boston Association formed than it,
too, took it up. For a while, it carried on a Bible-class and a weekly
prayer-meeting; but in May, 1857, a daily prayer-meeting was
established, and has been continued almost without intermission to the
present time. The visitation of sick members, the distribution of
tracts, and the conduct of general religious meetings, have been the
regular work of special committees. These last have been held when and
where they seemed to be called for: on the Common, at the wharves, on
board the ships in the harbor, and, especially during our Civil War, on
board the receiving-ship Ohio; in the theatres, at Tremont Temple, and
at the Meionaon, where, at various times, for weeks, a noon meeting has
been held for business men.
The Association has also been the rallying-point and chief
instrumentality in great revival movements, under the direction of the
churches, and especially in that under Mr. Moody in the great
Tabernacle. The Boston Association has never forgotten the chief object
of its existence, nor, though not without some fluctuation, has it
intermitted its religious work.
We have said that in London the work was at first wholly religious. In
this country, however, the social and intellectual element in young men
was immediately recognized and measures taken to satisfy them. Therefore
pleasant rooms were at once secured, carpeted, furnished, hung with
pictures, and supplied with papers, magazines, and books; and, as the
work enlarged and additional and more commodious rooms were obtained,
the literary class and the occasional lecture in the room at the Tremont
Temple building, expanded, in its first own building at the corner of
Tremont and Elliot Streets, into evening classes, social gatherings,
readings, and concerts; and here first we were able to give to our
members who wished them the advantages of the gymnasium and bathrooms.
And when, through the munificence of the business men, the Association
was enabled to take possession of its present building, certainly
excelled by no other in the world, either in beauty of exterior or
accommodation, every appliance for physical, social, intellectual and
spiritual work has been made possible.
[Illustration]
Visit the building with us. There it stands, at the corner of two broad
streets, and in the midst of the finest public and private buildings in
the city. Unique in architecture, simple in design, warm in color, and
beautiful in its proportions, it is a building of which Boston may well
be proud, while every Christian man must rejoice in the thought that it
is built for His glory whose blessed emblem crowns its top-most gable.
By its broad stone staircase, under the motto of Associations, "Teneo et
teneor," and through its vestibule, we enter the great reception-room.
Immediately on the left, a white marble fountain supplies ice-cold water
to all who wish it; beyond, richly carpeted and well furnished, the
walls hung with good paintings, are the two parlors. Here the members
have withdrawing-rooms equal to those even in this favored neighborhood.
The few whom we find here certainly appreciate their comfort. The
pleasant room adjoining is that of the general secretary, where he is
usually to be found, and where each member is cordially welcomed for
converse or advice. Beyond, again, is the office, where three men find
it no sinecure to attend to the continuous stream of comers for
welcome, membership, or information. The library is a large, handsome,
sunnyroom, well furnished with shelves, _but not these so well with
books_; and yet, from twenty to fifty men are here quietly reading. The
next room is for general reading. Around the walls on every side are
papers from almost everywhere, and on the tables all the periodicals of
this country, and many from abroad. All about the room sit or stand the
readers, many, for the time, at home again as they gather the local news
of their own town or village. The room beyond is called the "game-room."
At each little table sit the chess or draught-players, while many
interested are looking on.
Here is the lavatory, complete in all its appointments, except, perhaps,
that the long towel on the roller has been already this evening used by
too many hands. The smell of blacking, too, indicates the wearer's
pleasure in his cleaned and polished boots. In that little hall, which
seats about three hundred, a lecture is being given to young men, on the
care of the body, by Dr.----. This is one of six which are given
gratuitously by Boston physicians.
We mount the stairs to the next story. These two rooms are rented to a
commercial college. This door opposite admits you to the hall, which has
seats for nine hundred persons. It is extremely simple, but the tints of
the walls and ceiling are delightful, and you have only to listen to
those members of the ---- Club, who have leased it for their concerts,
to realize that its acoustic properties are perfect.
Still higher, we find the room of the board, where, once at least in
each month, the directors sup at their own expense, and manage the
affairs of the Association. Here, too, its various committees meet. In
the room adjoining, a French lesson is going on; in that, German; in
this, penmanship. Still higher up we find the "Tech" Glee Club
practising, and this large room adjoining is filled with those who are
learning vocal music. The building seems a very hive--something going on
everywhere.
Let us now descend to the basement. The gymnasium is here in full blast.
Men in every kind of costume and in every possible and, to many persons,
impossible position, while the superintendent is intently watching each
to see that he is properly _developing_; every kind of bath and many of
them are right at hand, and dressing-rooms with boxes for eight hundred
persons.
And this great building and all these appliances are the gift of the
citizens of Boston to the young men from the country. Many of the donors
remember the time when they came lonely to the city, and determined, if
they could prevent it, that no young man, to-day, in the same position,
should be without a place where all of which they so greatly felt the
need is supplied.
These needs are thus supplied. Early in the history of the Association,
a circular was sent to every evangelical pastor in New England, asking
him to give information of each young man coming to the city, that he
might be met at the station or received at the rooms.
Let us sketch a case: We have received word that John ---- is to arrive
from G---- by such a train. During the journey, thoughts of the dear
ones he has left crowd upon him. He is already sick for home, as he
looks about him and sees no familiar face. He has left harbor for the
first time. All before him is uncertain: all about him strange. He
reaches the city; friends are there at the station to welcome this and
that one of his fellow-travelers. He knows no one. No one cares for his
coming. No one? Yes, there is a young man scanning closely the faces
which pass. Suddenly his eye encounters our traveler, and at once the
question: "Are you John ----? 'Tis well. I am from the Association. We
are expecting you." Together they go to the building, and, even before
reaching it, our stranger is not quite a stranger. One man at least is
interested in him. "This is the building." "What, this fine place ready
to welcome me? Why, this is grand!" Here, too, is the electric light,
but not baneful this, no wrecker's false gleam, but like the light upon
the pier, showing safe entrance and anchorage. "This is our secretary.
Mr. D., this is John ----." "Glad to see you. Had you a pleasant journey?
What can we do for you? You want a boarding-place! Well, here is the
book. What can you pay? Very well, Mrs. B. has a vacancy and it is just
the place you want. I will send some one with you there. Your
recommendation was such that we have found a situation for you, and they
will be ready to see you to-morrow. We have an entertainment this
evening, and I shall be glad to introduce you to several young men."
Imagine, if you can, what such an introduction to city life is to a
young man, and what is his coming to the city without it. He is no
stranger now. He has found comfort, companionship, sympathy, occupation.
His heart goes home indeed, but it is in thankfulness that he writes and
describes his surroundings, and glad is he at the close of the evening
to join with others in, prayer and thanksgiving to his mother's God, for
the blessings of the Association; and later, in the quiet of his own
room, he renews his thanks, sleeps peacefully, and, full of hope, takes
hold of work in the morning. He is directed to the church of his choice
and is introduced to the pastor. Thus, at the very first, he is
surrounded by good influences in a city where thousands are on the watch
with every allurement to tempt just such strangers to destruction of
both soul and body. Should John ---- be ready, in his turn, to help
others, work enough can be found for him in one of the several
departments of social or spiritual life.
Should he fall sick, a committee of the Association visit and care for
him, and, if necessary, watch with him. There have been many cases where
young men have been carefully tended during a long illness, and a few
where even the funeral expenses have been borne by the Association, and
even burial given to the body in the Association lot at Forest Hills
Cemetery. This is no fancy sketch. Many, many actual Johns are here
pictured, and many souls will, by-and-by, be found thanking God that he
put it into the hearts of his servants to establish the Young Men's
Christian Association.
But whence this well-appointed building? Within the first year of its
life, a building fund was projected, and, as far as we know, this was
absolutely the first step in this direction taken by any Association,
either in this country or elsewhere. A library fund was also started at
the same time.
A few subscriptions towards
a building were obtained,
which, in 1858, amounted to $1,200
In 1859-60 were added 1,644
In 1873 (for altering and
furnishing), 5,700
In 1873-74, 4,400
In 1874-75, 7,800
In 1882, the estate of Daniel
P. Stone gave 25,000
Inspired by this, a meeting
of citizens was held at the
Brunswick, where committees
on finance were appointed,
and the result was a subscription
of 175,000 $220,744
_By will have been bequeathed_:
By Charles H. Cook, 300
" Miss Nabby Joy, 5,000
" J. Sullivan Warren, 13,059
" Dr. George E. Hatton, 5,000 23,359
_And by subscriptions in connection with, Fairs_:
1859--Chinese Fair, 4,787
1873--Bazaar of Nations, 12,246 17,033
--------
$261,136
We have mentioned "Fairs." These have been three in number; each being
held in the Music Hall, and owed their success, not only to the energy
of the young men, but to the hearty sympathy and untiring exertions of
the ladies of the Boston churches.
The first was held in 1858, and netted $9,650
The second was called the Chinese
Fair, all the decorations being Chinese,--a
pagoda reaching fifty-six
feet to the very height of the hall,
which netted 33,000
The third was the most elaborate--the
Bazaar of the Nations; the Music
Hall being made to represent a street
of foreign houses, where, by persons
in costume, the goods of the different
nations were sold. It came in
the spring and immediately after the
fire, but netted 28,673
--------
$71,323
It is certainly to the credit of the Association that up to 1882, when
the large subscription of $200,000 was secured, the amount raised
through the exertions of the young men and the ladies exceeded by more
than $10,000 all moneys subscribed.
[Illustration: IN THE GYM]
The influence of the Boston Association has not been merely local.
Through Mr. L.P. Rowland, long its general secretary, and now the
veteran secretary of the United States, in his capacity of corresponding
secretary of the international committee, the first State work was done
and Associations formed in all parts of Massachusetts. The present
Boston building is now the headquarters of the Massachusetts committee,
where the State secretary may always be reached. The secretary of the
Association is a member of the State committee, a present member of the
board, and an ex-president is now chairman of the same. In national
matters, also, the Boston Association has responded to every call. In
the early days of the war a drill-club was organized by one of its
board, and he, as well as a large number of his men, went into service.
And at the call of Mr. Stuart, of Philadelphia, the committee of the
Christian Commission was represented by an ex-president and an army
committee formed in the Association, which sent the large sum in money
of $333,237.49, and immense stores of all kinds to the field.
The same committee acted as almoners at the time of Chicago's great
fire, and also when the Western woods fires caused such suffering.
Without boasting, for much more might have been done, the Boston
Association has no cause to be ashamed of its history. Beginning with
all ready to criticize, and many disapproving, the Association has
worked itself into the confidence of the community; and the Reverend
Joseph Cook, who was introduced as a lecturer to Boston under its
auspices, thus speaks of the Association at the close of its
quarter-century. He says:--
"First, That there is a vast amount of work which should be done for
young men in cities, and that, as the proportion of the American
population living in cities had increased since the opening of this
century from one twenty-fifth to one fifth, the importance is great and
growing.
"Second, That neither individual churches taken separately, nor
individual denominations taken separately, can do this work easily or
adequately.
"Third, That all the evangelical denominations united in a city can do
this work easily by the organization of a Young Men's Christian
Association as their representative."
A short time ago a committee of conference, made up of eight leading
city clergymen and as many laymen, two of each denomination, unanimously
passed the following resolutions:--
"_Resolved_, That the great and peculiar dangers to which young men are
exposed in this, as in other cities, clearly calls, for the work of the
Young Men's Christian Association.
"_Resolved_, That the Association represents the Church working through
its young men for the redemption of young men, and, therefore, it is
entitled to the continued confidence, support, and co-operation of the
churches."
After long years of patient and steady work, the Boston Young Men's
Christian Association has secured the confidence of the Christian
community to the extent of more than $300,000, in the palpable form of
stone and brick, which beautifies one of the finest sites in our city.
It stands also as a monument of the liberality of Christian Boston and
her appreciation of this great work for young men in the Master's name.
* * * * *
THE OHIO FLOODS.
BY THE HON. GEORGE E. JENKS.
Several causes are assigned for the excessive rise of water in the Ohio
valley. This water-shed is accredited with an area of two hundred
thousand square miles, and it lies upon the border-line of hot and cold
temperatures. It is subject to heavy storms, and sometimes, in winter,
to large accumulations of snow. It is presumable also, the rainfall is
greater than the average of the country. When, following great deposits
of snow, warm, heavy, and prolonged rains occur, excessive floods must
be the result. Add to these coincidents the fact that forests, once
existing, are now so nearly annihilated that little protection is
offered against a rapid dissolution of the snow, and the sudden freezing
of the earth in an interval of the late storm preventing absorption of
rain falling thereafter. The waters thus produced fall into the main
streams without hindrance, like rain from roofs of buildings. An
aggregation of waters in this valley, rising from fifty to seventy-one
feet, is of annual occurrence, intensified according to excesses and
completeness of coincidents.
The damage arising from the Ohio flood of 1882 has been estimated at
twelve millions of dollars; that of 1883 at thirty-five to forty
millions of dollars. If these estimates are approximately correct, what
must have been the damage from the flood of 1884!
There are other causes for the floods in the Ohio valley, and in all
Southern streams, that have been but little considered, which exercise
undoubted and immense influence in solving the peculiarities of the
question under consideration, and afford striking contrasts in different
sections of this country.
There are two water systems presented in North America. North of about
the forty-first degree of latitude probably the southern limit of the
once glacial region--a _reservoir system_ prevails toward the headwaters
of all the streams. It includes New England, New York, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, and to the Rocky Mountains divide, and all
of the British Provinces to the Arctic Circle. It also somewhat occurs
on the western slope of the Rockies. This region is notable for the
great lake system, and the immense number of smaller lakes and
ponds--natural inland reservoirs, supposed to be largely of glacial
formation to hold back considerable portions of the cumulative waters
upon any given water-shed, and serving to restrain the outflow, even
after they are filled. These basins exercise a happy and protective
influence in many ways.
South of the forty-first parallel, the rivers have no _reservoirs_ to
hold any part of the flow from their water-shed. Within this vast area
few lakes or ponds exist. The superabundance of water has no restraint,
but at once takes to the bottom lands. To this southern system the Ohio
River notably belongs, with all its tributaries. Within its two hundred
thousand square miles of area, scarcely a natural reservoir is to be
found. No other part of the country is so devoid of basins. Its feeders
drain the western slopes of the Alleghany and Cumberland
Mountains--Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, representing sixty
thousand square miles, the southern portions of Ohio, Indiana, and
Illinois, and most of Kentucky and Tennessee. These States are without
lakes or ponds. Nothing intervenes to hold back any portion of the vast
flow from these coincidents of nature before spoken of, and therefore
the excessive floods of last year and this. Such results must continue
to follow.
During the summer droughts the other extreme prevails. For lack of a
reservoir system to withhold and control the flow of water, the river
falls from flood-tide--seventy-one feet--to points so low as to
seriously impede or prevent navigation. Sometimes even the smallest
steamers and barges fail to pass between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, and
coal famines have not been unfrequent, resulting from difficult
navigation. An equable flow of this stream is impossible. It will always
be subject to these extremes. Nothing but an extensive method of filling
or diking is likely to prevent the inundation of cities and villages
that are not seventy feet above low-water mark, with attending suffering
and destruction of life and property. All Southern rivers are liable to
like extremes.
In contrast, it may be noted that the St. Lawrence River but slightly
varies its flow, above Montreal, because of the restraining power of the
Great Lakes, its feeders. The upper Mississippi rises not to excess
because of the thousands of lakes and lakelets in Wisconsin, Minnesota,
and Dakota, its sources. The floods occur in its southern portion,
chiefly below St. Louis. But for this reservoir system its navigation in
the upper portion would be seriously impeded in summer seasons.
Disastrous floods can scarcely occur on the St. John's, St. Croix,
Penobscot, Kennebec, Androscoggin, Saco, Piscataqua, Merrimack,
Connecticut, or Hudson Rivers, except from damming of the ice in winter
or springtime (and that cause is of rare occurrence), such is the
elaborate system of reservoirs about the headwaters of these streams.
This northern country is greatly benefited by these excavations
occurring from geological causes.
The Merrimack River has a water-shed of about four thousand square miles
miles--one fiftieth part of that of the Ohio. It has the Winnipiseogee,
Squam, and Newfound Lakes, and hundreds of ponds to fill, that store a
large amount of water, before any considerable rise can take place in
the river, and then they restrain the flow. No excess of water comes
through the Winnipiseogee River, though it is the outlet of a water-shed
nearly as great as of the Pemigewasset. The freshets of the Merrimack
come chiefly from the last-named stream and minor tributaries. Without
these reservoirs, the manufacturing establishments at Lawrence, Lowell,
and Manchester, would cease to be operated by water-power during the
summer droughts. The highest flow of water in the Merrimack known in
forty-six years, as measured at the Lowell dam, was thirteen and
seven-twelfths feet. This occurred in 1852. Only a few times have
freshets exceeded ten feet rise over that dam.