The Portland daily press., 1882-04-27
Y. M. G. A.
Meeting Held Last Evening in its Interest

State street Congregational church contained
good representative audience last evening Oh
the occasion of public meeting held in the IN
terest of the Portland Young Mems Christian
| Association, and in character it compensated
| the board of management for their efforts II
bshalf of this most excellent of local institu
| tions in bringing about series of meetings de-
| signed to increase public interest and to secure
| means to enlarge the work in the association
| here. A neatly prepared invitation to attend
was. received by nearly all the available famlt
les in Portland, and a generous response was
the result. Such large gathering OF the pes'
element OF society is indicative of the great ap'
probation existing lin this community OF the
Young Mems Christian Association, and it also
shows desire to aid either by presence OF
otherwise, a furtherance of all schemes for lts
advancement. The association has reached
stage in its career when larger and more COM
modicus quarters are imperatively demanded;
hence the public appeal for substantial aid IN
that respect. The meeting last evening was q
success in the latter particular, we are happy
to state, and it is confidently expected that the
second one, to be held tonight in the Chestnut
street NJ. e. church, will be equally If not
more successful.
DR.. Carlton KimbalI, President of the Asso-
citation, conducted the evenings exercises,
which consisted of addresses by S. M. Sayford
of Massachusetts,, Mr.. M. K. Remington OIL
Fall River and others. Rev. DIR. McWhinnie
offered PRAYER and Rev. Asa Dalton read APP
propriate scriptural passages. DR.. Kimball
made few Introductory remarks concerning
the benefit of associations of this kind in every
community, and took occasion to state the prin-
cipal object of the two meetings about to be
held. He introduced Secretary Winter, who
reminded the audience of the Importance OF
meeting the immediate wants OF the assocIa-
ton OF this city, by giving it more scope for
action. 1t is now in very cramped quarters
and its facilities entirely inadequate for the re-
quirements.
Mr.. s. M. Sayford, Estate Secretary for Mas
sachusetts spoke at some length upon associa-
ton work, with which he is largely conversant.
He addressed the audience in an effective
m amer, and showed, by statement Of facts
the wonderful influence for good OF the Y. NJ.
G. A. everywhere. He iquoted the Rev. Jo-
seph Cook and other authorities on the impor-
lance of maintaining these associations, for
the reason as set forth by those gentlemen that
they are not club-rooms, but places which do
more to save young men than any other means.
Some people think that too much money is
spent in Y. NJ G. Associations, but when it is
remembered that the work performed by these
same societies is the reclamation OF young
men, such statement cannot lind weight,
when it is remembered how much money is
spent in creating palaces OF vice, IN gliding,
decorating and in every way rendering attrac-
tine these places where the young men will be
taken in. But this does not seem to occasion
much thought until somebody's SON. is in
trouble; until somebody's child begin to go
the downward path. Mr. Sayford also spoke
OF his experience in visiting the present rooms
of the Y. NJ G. Association here. He consid-
cred them decidedly unattractive,. and places
which the average young man would naturally
avoid. He stated that the work OF the associ-
atoms in the country has been in operation 30
years, and has increased, so that now there
were over 400 associations in ex1stence-even
in Jerusalem, Nazareth and cities of Bible
history. He related instances to illustrate the
beneficial results of Y. M. @. A. work in all
parts Of the world Mr.. Sayford dwelt partic-
ularly on the methods employed by Christian
people to get the young men to rally in the
rooms, and gave it as his conviction that the
true means is to have the association living in
an atmosphere of home life and comforts.
He mentioned the means now being en-
ployed to interest the college men at Amherst
in religious matters Seventy-ive men he said
are now canvassing constantly, from freshmen
to senior. Another good outcome OF associa-
ton work, said the gentleman, is the establish.
ment of the commercial travellers ticket issued
by Y. M. G. Associations. These tickets en-
title their bearers to all the privileges OF any
ASSOCIATION wherever the travellers may happen
to be and are conducive to much and lasting
good. The establishment of reading-rooms in
railroad stations and supplied with good read
ing material by the Y M. G. Association in
large cities is another growth OF equal inn
portance. There are over 1,000,00O railroad
men in the country, men who do the hardest
and most dangerous of work, and men who
are exposed to the greatest OF temptations
These people were wholly neglected until the
Young Mems Christian Association united in
their strength and set about doing good.
Mr. M. K. Remington of Fall River then de-
livered an address to the audience upon the
duties of Business men and those whom the
Lord had blessed with abundance in relation to
the Christian associations. 1t is the privilege
of merchants, he said, to see that the cause OF
Christian religion is above that OF all others
and he knew of no more effective way than
tions. He agreed with Mr. Sayford that the
present quarters of the Portland association
were decidedly disproportionate to the
requirements. He looked about tho city
with the eyes of business man; he
side, well. dressed. clean, tidy young. men on
the public thoroughfares, and thought as no
doubt many Portland people do that no city
ought to have more prosperous CHRISTIAN as
ISOLATION than this. Yet when he visited the
rooms and found he had to climb three flights
of stairs to get to them and when there lind
homesick reading room and cramped quarters
he was of the opinion that it took great deal
of piety to get young men there. He failed to
see pictures or anything that would tempt
young men from those other resorts where light
warmth, beautiful statuary, pictures and every,
thing calculated to attract young men, abound
in generous profusion. The rooms here will
not do the work intended, they fail to attract
Young men do not go to church for various
reasons, hence it is wise to have "halfway
place" between the street and the church, and
this place is the Young Mems Christian Assoc
citation rooms. They are stepping stones to the
church, and no fairer, safer, or surer means
can be used You will get them in time. Mr..
Remington expressed hope that Portland
would soon give the young men suitable quar-
tsrs for the enlargement of the work and he
called upon the audience earnestly to aid the
efficient management in a substantial way. A
collection was taken and the meeting adjourn
ed until this evening at the Chestnut street nj.
e. church. During the exercises, which were
very interesting, excellent music was contribu-
ted by the choir Everybody will be sure to
attend this evening All are welcome.