Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-02-20
THE SOCIAL RECEPTION
Addresses Made and Facts Gives

vile by Mr.. J. D. Cowan at his hos,
pitable home last night. His psrlors
were crowded with our best known
business and profes- ional gentlemen,
and the ocCa ion was thoroughly en-
joyed by the large number of gentle.
men who came together. After some
pleasant music and social intercourse,
President Hnmes introduced Mr.. Cree,
pleasantly alluding to the kindness of
Mr.. Cowan In giving the gentlemen Of
Knoxville an opportunity to know
each other socially, and asked their
attention to such statements as Mr..
Cree might make In regard to the
work In connection with which he
was already so well known Ia our
community. Before Mr.. Cree spoke
Rev. Mr.. Eager led In prayer.
Mr.. Cree, travelling secretary of the
international committee, said: at is
only some thirty years since the first
Young Mems Christian association
was organized, yet there are to day
over 1000 associations. They are 10.
Gated la all the comm erciaI cities OF
the world. La this country there are
,044 associations, with membership
Of nearly 100000, owning buildings
worth nearly three million dollars
and employing about $50 general Sec
retaries." He gave an explanation in
regard to the international committee,
which is composed of twenty five gen.
tlemen chosen from different parts of
the United States and Canada, FIVE of
xxrlan in hA
Mr.. Cephas Brsinard, a prominent
lawyer of New York, is chairman
Other members are Mr.. VIM. H.
Dodge. the millionaire merchant, Mr.
Morris X. Jesup, weIl-known
banker and railroad man, Mr.. Cor
nelius VandeIbilt, vice president OF
the New York Central railroad,
Mr.. James Stokes, large manufac.
turer Mr.. E. B. Monroe, a bank er,
Mr.. B. G. Wetmore. lawyer Mr..
VIM. Libbey, now In Europe, and
Mr.. h. r. McBurGey, the efficient
general secretary OF the New York as.
sociation. Ten secretaries are EN-.
ployed by the committee. Each asso.
cialion is independent, but the inter.
national committee has an advisory
supervision Of the whole work, which
has grown under their management,
In the last fourteen years from Sc asso-
Citations to 1,044. Mr. Cree then spok g
of the work the committee was doing
among railroad men, of whom there
are 800 0C0 in this coun'ry, and re-
ferred to the testimony as to the
efficiency of the work, given by Mr.
Garrett, president of the Baltimore
and Ohio, Mr.. Jewett, president of the
Erie, Mr.. Thaw, of the Pennsylvania,
Mr.. Vanderbilt Of the New York Cen.
tral, an Others, and stated that TWEEN
ty-six secretaries paid Ia full or
in part by railroad companies
are now employed boxing after
the railroad association work.
He gave an interesting report of the
effort now making in connection with
the 100, 900 numerical travellers of our
country, whom he referred to as
sharp, intelligent, gentle manly class
of young bussine's men, difficult to
reach with association agencies, but
one of The most import ant classes 10
be reached. He referred briefly tothe
effort among the 800 1000 German
speaking young men and the 800 ,0C0
colored young men, in each Of which
or secretary. He said the association
work In Knoxville has been largely a
religious work, but the idea of associa- =
tion work embraced the spiritual, F,
mental. moral, social and physical
welfare of young men of religious
work these are young mems prayer
meeting, bible class, song service, bible
reading, cottage meetings; jail service
aud general union religious work.
The moral agencies were, Q good
reading room, Supplied with the cur
rent literature, a pArl0r for music and
social recreation, Hs referred to our
excellent public library as an educator
Of young people well worthy OF sup
port.
The mental agencies were, a course of
lectures, and familiar talks by profess
sional and business men, classes for
writing, bookkeeping etc. ...
The social agencies were, receptions,
with readings, music, sterioptieaD ex-
hibitions, etc.
y. Physical, a good gymnasium
He referred TO lie work for boys as
an important one, and stated that the
association in few of the larger cities
alone had secured employ ment for over
s, 200 men during the past year
To carry on the varied features of
assc CATION work IN city il was found
that a general secretary was
necessary, young man who
was fitted FIR aud trained to
the association work who would
give all his tine 10 definite work in
behalf of young men. he said there
are now $50 secretaries employed in
about l20 cities, ranging from 5000 in
population and upward. The business
OF a secretary il to arrange the work,
secure and de yeIop the work ere, aud
keep the association in eff eient work
ing condition.
Mr.. James COgan, OF the state ex-
ecutiye committee, spoke of The work
among colleges. He ssid:~ 80
"The colltgs work OF the Young
Mems Cnristlan association Was first
undertaken by the international con-
ventiop, which met in n chmend in
1875 1'ne discussion was opened by a
paper from President Anderson, of
Rochester university. No definite
work was then undertaken until The
Louisville convention Of 1877. AT
that convention ab Il twenty five col
lege delegates met for conference in
regard to The christian work in our in
stitutions of Learnt g As result of
this meeting MIR. i. d. Wishard, of
Piiuceton college was appointed col
lege eecretary Of the iuIernational COM
mittee and Immediately entered upon
his work. As result OF this work
about sixty ass citations have been
,rm,d. and about ii i've HUNDRED con-
versions have been reported from the
college associations,
Much interest was evinced on the
suhieot and many uuesti ans were asked