New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-21
THE YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSOCL4TTON
or NEW- YORK.


YEAR.
The 14th annual report Of the above Society Is to
hand It dates 1866: "a year of steady progress ana
hopeful success" Avoiding all side issues or dstractng
questions the single aim OF all exerton has been, now
best 10 reach with kindly sympathy the great bulk Of our
city young men, and to elevate them morally socially
and physically IN true Christian manhood. The work
has now become more practical experience has shown
whit should be DONE and what should be left undone.
brief synopsis Of the principal features OF this good work
can only be here given The report says that God mas
sgnay blessed the efforts Of this Society, guiding Its
members In hearty and earnest cooperation. He has
given them more than before the sincere sympathy
and confidence Of the pastors and churches and Of many
| good men Of ripe ago and experience. Hence, this
association has become recognized as power Tor good
| TO be encouraged, strengthened and developed
| During the last year many careful myestiga
lions have been made MS to the number ana
| conditions OF young men in the city, their en-
| ploymcnt their homes the few means at present
ior helping and elevatlng them and the Immense anu c,
rbe array Of temptations which surround te G va -
awaken the greatest interest and surprise We haNe
collected In pamphlet form, together with some sugges
tons ms TO the design ana scope Of the Association US
proper means OF meeting great want WIN tne crazy
Increased OF living during the last few years he Po
stlon of young crowded In boardngh0uses mas pc
como aud more discouTaging coming mostly rom
country foreign homes, frlendess ana alone IN geal
city, away from parental restraint they have easily ana
naturally given way to the temptation OF finding SUD
stltute FOR home I'm the bright, CHEEKY rooms WHERE VIZ
IS most attractive. These are almost the only SlB
places where they find free ana cordial welcome.
The necessity for some cOunterattract0n, devised on
liberal scale, seemed immediate, ana the Boaig ueo1
mined at once to carry out me pGSct 80 og &
the uses OF the AssOclatlonhe plan TO lncude every
INNS nt liberal charter was granted to the Asso-
citation by the late Legislature OF the state, fixing thor
hoard Of Trustees Of the "Buding Fund.- who should
acrry hold the real estate to be purchased for the sole
benefit OF young men In our city. The Constitution ara
By-Laws have been amended as to conform 10 this
charter The Trustees have accepted their position and
It remains only for the Association to raise the FUNDS 10
erect building which will be true center for the work
credit to the city According 70 the terms OF SUD
sum Of hundred thousand dollars has been subscribed
Already there has been liberal response 10 the appeal OF
the members. and Large subscribed as to make II
certain that the entire sum will coon be raised ,
The Committees OF the Board have worked steadily ana
successfully The Finance Committee have found the
application for large sums for the building id 10 inter
fere somewhat with their work while the Increasing eX-
penses OF the Association have called for larger income
than in former years but they have met with increasing
lbcralty and sympathy among the friends or the Ass9-
citation. The Library Committee have made
limited accommodation Will allow. They express regret
the small increase OF the library during Tie ast year
The necessity OF fully acquainng the pubic WIN me
condition and wants Of young mon III me ety. thIo9Eh
papers prepared 10y the Association, WITH spccil refer
the Building fund, has thrown an unusual amount
OF labor upon the Printing and Publishing COnmt'ee'
The Committee on Printing and Publishing respect
fully report that the scr'ice rendered by thc dulns
the past year. has been limited by the somewhat narrow
finances of the Association Under circumstance when
would allow Of the expenditure, one Of the painest duties
before Is Tho proper and lull publication Of such
literature shall net forth distinctly with due power
and force the claims Of our peculiar agency otuseuue
aud the special needs Of the cass upon whom our society
T. designed 10 operate. Bat toward the accomplishment
Of tai. branch 81 mis- ion We can do Atto or holhhB'
T&c report contains NH list Of lectures, sermons,
meetings and entertainments during Tie last year. WHEN
how well this portion Of the work has been cared
for. The work OF the year Ia this department Is most
The Executive Committee has the immediate charge OF
all operations OF the Association, and the full power Of
life and yigor To al branches OF the work
The Invitation Committee has by wise ana active meas
ltftf
the Association before large proportion on e els iUp
disfctei and il Is the intention Of tho Committee TO
visit the places Of business where young men are en-
poyed and also their boarding houses, and by personal
invitation bring them under tho influence Of The A:soca
ton where so largo proportion OF clerks arc without
friends whom they respect the direct > mpathy OF those
Of their age and occupation has wonderful iniiu-
oncc This work las been admirably seconded by The
Membership have acquainted thehstlI.s
with each new member. By having delegation at the
rooms every cyciang. ANA 10y informal receptions lot 9
new members from time to lime tio,e VINO nave Joir,u
the Association have bCcn made To feel at home the
chamen 81 the various Committees are urged 10 attend
Of the work for which those joining are best fitted
Nothing during the year has been more gratifying than
the success of the Employment committee IN ihdhs Po-
stiOns for large numherO " unemployed young men
Between 800 and 900 places have been filled, mostly 10y
strangers in the city. Who have applied at the rooms OF
tn Society. with hardly any exceptions the applicants
hayo proved worthy OF the recommendations given and
have become grateful and efficient members OF the A'so-
| citation ,,,,,...
living the Boarding house Committee have had no easy
task. They have examined and reported on large num-
OF houses and have done much 20 increase the com
fort Of those seeking board some plan to se TO
change the plan aud character of the boarding places OF
large proportion Of the young men employed IN the city
Dnrng the pp.t year the Committee Of Visitation OF the
Sick have watched aud cared for those who hold mem
bership and who have been III, and other young str-
gers here They have increased tho numbers Of the Com
nittec and begun a Systematic course visitation Of the
Hospitals in and near the city The meetings .sd under
the auspices Of the Devotional Committee at the rooms
and elsewhere, have been well attended ana greatly
blessed Many young men, who would not attend church.
have been Induced to come TO these meetings IT,.
All will be interested In tho Report OF the Church Com
brin under the Influence of some particular church every
young within It's reach; thus the efforts organized
by this Committee have brought all the churches into
SGSy d ea e % me e era2 ccy has been an
additional attraction TO the rooms; During the year
Medical Students Christian Union has been established,
and kept up with spirit. The large numbers attending
the medical colleges form almost forgotten class and
The German Branch has emoyed TO the OF For
syth and Delanccysts. The immense number OF young
Germans In our populhil0n need Chll,tlah heiP Nu
prompt means To cOunteract the temptations to dsspa-
| ton and hfidelty
The Western Branch, opened In Vnrickst,, Is the new
feature in the years work. and has proved the great Wis
dom aud necessity Of these outposs On the evening OF
Ito Inauguration In last April IL was crowded. WIN those
FOR whom 1t was intended many going away unable To
find place. The enthusiasm with which It's opening was
greeted has continued steadily Many from the neighn0r-
ing boarding houses have found IL cheerful evening
home where they can meet friends read the newspapers,
write letters ana receive sympathy ana advice Papers
and some books have been provided, lectures gwen ana
| moetlngs held Much larger rooms and wellselected
library needed side stations OF this kind wisely con
ducted are greatly to be desired in many sections of the
city An Eastern Branch to be located In the vicinity OF
Grand-3t has been planned and arrangements made Tor
s but the present state OF the funds has not Just
| fled its opening.
II has been found necessary the influence OF the
Association to weaken, far possible, some peculiar
temptations Several members Of the Board have visited
ure to tho condition OF the socalled Concert Saloons
which have proved te open door to ruin OF SO many ana
done much 70 bring these hanns of evils under the con
worst feature" female raiders" bll prepared by the
Board was introduced into the Senate strongly fortified