The Portland daily press., 1878-11-12
r. ". M. O. A.
Quar- ter Centennial Anniversary.

Twenty-Five years ago the Portland Young
Mems Christian Association was organized
under the following circumstances:
A meeting of gentlemen connected with the
evangelical churches of this city was held in
the Federal Street Baptist church on the
evening of October a. 1853 At this meeting
it was decided to form a Young Men's
Christian Association and a committee was
appointed to prepare constitution to be pre-
sented at future meeting. At a meeting held
in the Third Parish vestry, November 2, 1858,
a constitution was presented and adopted. On
the 9th of November the election of officers
occurred in the same place, which resulted in
the choice of the following gentlemen:
Presldent-Wm. w Woodbury..
Vice observation-disclosures o. Barnes, John G.
Tolford, VIM. G. Robinson, G j. Morris.
Corresponding Secretary-Dr. Israel T.
Dana.
Recording Secretary-Geo. E. Small.
Treasurer-George Lord.
Librarian-George ii. Wilson.
Board of Managers-Amasa Fitch, Ezra
Carter, Jr.. Henry Baker, VIM. D. Little, j.
K. Morse. James erie, w. G. Barrows, Moses
Lyford.
In commemoration of the Association having
reached the twenty-fifth year of its age appro-
pirate anniversary exercises were observed at the
State St. Congregational church last evening.
Notwithstanding the threatening looks of the
weather there was very large attendance,
nearly filling the church. The first Cores
ponding Secretary of the Association, DR..
Israel T. Dana, very pleasantly presided. The
exercises were of high and interesting order
They were commenced with voluntary on the
organ, after which the hymn "Nearer, my
God, to Thee,'' was sung by the congregation
led by Mr.. Samuel Thurston.
(The Chorus Choir which were announced to
take part in the singing failed to respond.)
Following the singing the 145th Psalm was
read by Rev. g. s. Perkins of the Oasco st.
Free Baptist Church.
Prayer was then offered by Rsv James
McWhinnie of the Free st. Baptist church.
The Anniversary Hymn, "With thanks and
joy we meet" written by q member of the
Association, was then sung by tho audience to
the tune of Anaerica.
Rev. A. S. Ladd of Congress St. M. E.
Church then made few remarks in which he
briefly showed the need and worth of young
mems Christian associations.
A solo entitled "Palm Branches was then
nicely rendered by Miss Jennie King. Mrs. F.
81. Colby presided at the piano. Rev. A. P.
Tinker of the High St. Congregational Church
of Auburn was then introduced as 'the life
long friend and eloquent advocate of young
mems Christian associations" He proceeded
to deliver very able and interesting discourse
on Young Mems Christians Associa-
tons and their work; founded
upon the words of st. Luke as
recorded in the 9th chapter and 49th and 50th
verses, sand John answered and said,
Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy
name, and we forbade him because he followe tn
not with US. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid
him not for he that is not against us is for u.s. -
Another solo entitled "The Better Land"
was then excellently sung by Miss King.
Remarks followed from Rev. Messrs. Asa
Dalton of st. Stephens Episcopal Church and
Rev. E Y. Hincks of State st. Church. They very
forcibly presented the financial claims of the
Association. A collection OF "thank offering'
followed.
The parting hymn entitled "Faith and
Works" written by friend of the Association,
was then sung by the congregation to the tune
of "Webb," after which the bened lotion was
pronounced by Rev. Mr.. Tinker.