Mr, J. H. Black, chairman of the committee of management, presided, and after music called upon Dr. Freeman to lead in prayer. Mr. Cunningham then introduced Dr. Mott who, after paying a tribute to the British, Canadian, Australasian, Continential, Chinese, Japanese and Indian Associations, not less than the American said that during the great war the American Young Men's Christian—_—Associations served 800,000 sailors and 4,000,- 000 soldiers. Great as was this part of its activity an even more extensive work of the American Associations was that of placing its helpful facilities at the disposal of not less than 19,000,000 soldiers and sailors of France, Italy, Russia,. Portugal, India, Poland, Czecho-Slovakia and other countries. Particular and most grateful recognition should be made of the splendid joint work the Chinese labour battalions behind the armies in France. Moreover, they should never overlook that marvellous and truly Christlike work on behalf of at least ¢,000,000 men of both sides of the war in the many lonely prisoner-of-war camps.
Happily at the end of the war they were left with a balance. The American National War Work Council of the Y. M. ©. A. had decided to devote this balance to helping to provide permanent Association buildings for serving the American Navy and Army at home and abroad, and so could devote 3200,000 gold to the project of establishing such a centre for its work in this important city. They had observed with satisfaction the wise and devoted way in which those responsible for the management of this Association had administered their trust.
This new building would furnish all of the best facilities and advantages of a popular, democratic club. It would be a lighthouse to young men coming to this port, a veritable city of refuge, an inspire ing training school in character and in service.
The corner stone was then formally Jaid with a silver trowel handed to Dr. Mott by Mr.
Adamson, the architect.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.