Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-05-17
YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSO-
CATION.
The Presidents semi Annual Report.

Breth,rn of The Toung Mems Chris,
tim dissolution The lapse OF another
six months, not only marks change IN
administration, but the end OF the frst
Year of our existence as an Association.
And What are the feelings with which
its brief history can be reviewed Does
it awaken emotions of pleasure at duty
performed and success achieved! While
all may not have been accomplished
that could have been done by the best
use of the privileges and opportunities
we enjoyed, yet it is gratifying to know
that we have attained much to be thank
full for. We have passed the ordeal
that tried our faith during the first few
months, when mere handful met from
place to place, and struggled to keep
our organization together. y more
suspicious future has dawned upon us,
and on. Association has started on q
career of prosperity and, | trust and be-
lieye, OF usefulness Our membership
now numbers forty -one, twenty-five OF
whom are aciiue members, and constl-
tute our working force. Working !
What have they done. y mere recital
OF our progress and advances during the
last six months, will not only answer
the question, but may afford encourage
ment to the weak and doubling.
Our Association has found home,
comfortable and creditable, i'll it
established public Library, containing
already about three hundred volumes,
among them many valuable and inter
esting works. In connection with the
Library is also i Reading Room, sup
piled with some of the best magazines
and periodicals published; also daily, and
quite number Of weekly newspapers,
secular and religious, representing va
rious shades of creed and opinion. Most
of the papers are received upon liberal
terms, and some gratuitously, to whose
generous editors we return thanks, and
hope their kindness may prove dread
cast upon the waters, to return 10 them
multiplied manifold. Our Reading
Room has been open TO the public every
evening, except Sundays, always well
warmed and lighted, and our belief that
it is accomplishing the purpose for
which it was instituted, is based upon
the regular attendance and enjoyment
of its privileges by class CT persons
who formerly spent their evenings in
idlcness, and in places Of far less tavora-
bic influence. We think and suggest
that it might prove resort Of pleasure
and profit to many more.
Underthe auspices of our Association,
and conducted in turn by one Of Its
members public Prayer Meeting has
been held every Sunday afternoon at -
o'clock in some one of the Churches OF
town. Also in the Rooms of the Asso
citation, a Young Mems Prayer Meeting
every Monday evening, and for the past
few mouths public Bible-Class Oh Fri
day evening, conducted by Rev. DR..
Andrews, to be continued by other
ministers of the town, each taking the
class through q series of lessons Ill turn.
We have also had occasional public adj
dresses delivered by different ministers
of the town, appropriate to the objects
and wants OF The Association, which not
only furnished instructive entertainment
To our community, but awakened an in
tcrest in our Association, from which it
received profit and patronage. All our
demands for help and support have been
literally responded to, our exercises
well attended, and our efforts fully APP
prvciated by our people. The results,
who can tell Surely if we SOW, we
shall reap if we labor, we shall not
fail to receive our reward.
An additional source Of satisfaction in
reviewing our situation, Is that while
we have been surrounded with so many
comforts and benefits, we are free from
that annoyance which SO often crlppIes
and binders similar institutions i'll their
mission of doing good-indt6fel"tSs.
While our assets are limited III amount,
our liabilities are still more so. Having
started upon the safe principle, of max
ing the money before the purchases, our
constant wants gave constant stimulus
to work, and adherence to this principle
has brought us safely and solvently thro
the most expensive crisis of lifting and
furnishing, with financial prospects fair
for the future.
For all our success and prosperity,
much credit is due TO faithful service of
the officers, and to the activity and zeal
o" the members in the discharge Of their
duties on the several committees, some
of whom by their devotion to the cause,
merited distinction, and surely proved
their faith by their works" But in our
congratulation and rejoicing, we would
not fail to return thanks to, and recog
nize our agency in the attainments made
only as humble instruments in the hands
of Him who is the source of all our
blessings and successes in life, whose
favor has been constantly invoked upon
our beloved Association, and without 4
continuance Of which we cannot hope
to prosper.
But I'VE are not all here" tonight.
Our Hall has been drapei, our mem
bers have worn the badge Of mourning.
Our little band, our short lived Assocla-
ton has been visited by a messenger
that called for, and took from us, our
fellow member and officer, ROBERT
DoUGLAs May we always revere his
memory, cherish his virtues, and try to
initiate themin our lives. And while orr
summons are withheld, and our lives
spared, if for years to come, may they
hn uaars of usefulness and devotion To