Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-05-14
ANNUAL MEETING OF YOUNG MEMS CHRIS
TIAN ASSOCIATION OF STAUNTON.

ANNUAL MEETING OF YOUNG MEMS CHRIS
TIAN ASSOCIATION OF STAUNTON.
REPORTS OF THE PRESIDENT, TREAsU RER, AND
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF OFFICERS OF THE
ASSOCIATION AND DELEGATES TO THE STATE
CONVENTION.
The Fourth Annual Meeting of the Y. NJ. C..
A. of Staunton was held at their rooms in the
Grange Building on last Thursday evening.
The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev.
j. B. Haskell, Pastor Of the Lutheran Church.
The President, DR.. r. S. Hamilton, then made
his annual report, in which he congratulated
the Association, not only upon the harmony
and good feeling among the members and the
ground gained in the confidence and good will
OF the community, but also upon the substan-
tlal increase of men and means, of interest and
activity, and upon the uniform progress and
improvement of the Association in nearly all
of its departments. That now after four years
existence it had reached point when it could
no longer be looked upon with apprehension
and distrust as an experiment. but as Of right
1t ought to be permanently established insti-
tuition of this city.
During the past year there have been over 12C
accessons to the membership. And this I'M
portant fact, he took occasion to say, was due
in no small degree to the activity and zeal OF
Mr. Garrett Gooch, the chairman Of the com
mittee on nominations.
The financial condition he pronounced
healthy, and it had never before been so pros
porous and thrifty. The expenses for rent, fuel,
gas. Librarians salary, printing, &C., are not
inconsderable, and it has required vigilance
a n
Treasurer and those who control the finances
during these "hard times" to keep the expen-
ditures within easy reach Of the revenues YET
this had been done and he believed that this
was the only Association of the kind which
had been able to do so. The Associations
of Richmond and Baltimore depend upon vol
untary contributions for their current eX-
penses.
This Association started with the purpose of
making its current expenses come within its
revenue from membership, and all other funds,
however obtained, to go to the improvement OF
the Library or other extraordinary enterprises.
He gave his unqualified approval to the
change of quarters made during the year, by
which they obtained a comfortable and COM
modious Hall, warm in winter and cool in
summer, accessible, quiet, light, airy and at
tractive; easy of ventilation, and requiring
but one stove to produce sufficient warmth
The work of the Association under the direc-
ton of an earnest and active chairman OF each
of the ten regular committees, has, as whole,
been carried forward with more SYSTEM pre-
cison and regularity than ever, as well as with
increased zeal and energy.
The mission in the Sabbath School had been
carried on as in the past, but there seemed to be
room for more laborers in this field.
The Bible-class which was in operation
portion of last year has been discontinued be-
cause of the small attendance, but he believed
that such an enterprise properly organized and
conducted could not fail to awaken real inter-
est and produce good results among the young
people of the community.
The report gives resume Of the services held
during the past year, and in speaking Of the
Sunday evening meetings, says that not sin
gle meeting has been omitted for more thar
three years and the attendance is always good
A remarkable fact connected with their meet
ings is that there is always somebody present
to assist the person in charge, participation the
exercises and aid in giving diversity of interes
to them. No matter who is to lead, or what the
subject, this has never failed to be case.
A new feature adopted some or month:
ago was the invitation extended to ladies tc
attend the meetings on the first Sundayin each
month. 1t is to be hoped it will be continued
not only for the enjoyment of the ladies, but
also because Of the material interest they have
always manifested in the affairs of the ASsocia-
ton.
The thanks of the Association are due to the
ladies for their contributions and indefatigable
efforts in its behalf as expressed in their dona-
tons to the Library, and still more emphatical-
ly in the amount turned over to the Association
from the proceeds of the "Moot-court Enter
tainment,' which in it's preparation and exc
cution cost the sacrifice of much time, as well
as untold anxiety and labor.
No public lectures or readings have been
given this year for the purpose of raising funds
though Rev. DR.. Sears and Rev. J. 1. Miller and
Maj. Jed Hotchkiss have lectured before the
Association.
During the past season its services to relieve
the poor have not been called into requisitior
as much as usual. The Relief branch is how
ever better organized now than heretofore
The city is now subdivided into districts, Sc
that when an application is made for relief tn,
case can at once be referred to the supervisor o
the district, who shall at once see if the aid il
needed and if SO supply it. This system pro
tects the Association from imposition, anC
guarantees the judicious appropriation O
means.
The Library is in a thrifty condition. The
rules regulating it's use seem to be wholesome
and are low well understood by the community
New and valuable additions have been made tC
it during the year.
The report urges upon the Directory the i'm
portance of Incorporating the Association, sc
that it may legally hold and insure property
take under requests, &c.
The report expresses deep interest in the
State and international Y. M. G. A. organiza.
tions and regrets that this Association was moi
represented at the convention of the latter body
at Louisville last summer.
In electing the directory for the coming veal
the President urged the great vital importanct
of selecting active earnest christian men, who
have at heart the work and welfare of the Asso
citation, and who are willing to give 1t time
and thought, and labor. In speaking of thu
Directory of past year he said it was but simpi
justice to christian men and faithful officers
for him to testify before the Association to thei
uniform promptness, zeal, vigilance and f1deli
ty, and that whatever success this organization
had had in the past year. through the instru
mentality of human hands, was in his opinion
mainly due to the good men who had stood by
him. Besides official work in the intervals. tn,
formal meetings of the Directory have beer
the members, without exception, have beer
prompt, ready and Jealous; and in all their of
fetal business they have been industrious
faithful and judicious.
The report closed with an earnest appeal to
the members to push forward the work of the
Association and make all its resources sub
servient to the great interests of Christianity
TREASURES REPORT.
The report of the Treasurer, Mr.. John c. Scott
showed that the balance on hand at the begin.
ming Of the year was $751; that the amount re.
ceived during the year was S752.6G, making the
sum of S757.27, of which there were disbursed
during the year s7Os.23, leaving a balance O.
Si9.Ol, which belongs to the Library fund.
LIBRARIANS REPORT.
Col. James H. Skinner, Chairman of the Lii
brary committee, reported the receipts S262.0S
and the expenditures SlS3.S2, leaving an unex
pended balance of S7S.26.
During the year 155 volumes were purchased
OF which "a belong to the class of History anC
Travel, % to Biography, 4s to the head of Mis-
cellaneous, and So to Fiction. Six volume,
were donated. one by Mr.. Charles Brace, the
author, entitled the Dangerous classes of New
H0rEb-thQ oil f;xya, lio No.