The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-14

Joshua Peterkin, ID. ID.
we give in full the very interesting adj
dress Of President Taylor. from which IT
will be seen that the Association has done
fine work during the past year:
Ladies and Gentlemen,-it becomes my
dutv TO present to YOU an account OF another
wears work Of the Young Mems Christian
Association. The facts upon which Mr.
Iyons's report Of last year were based, and
the aims OF the Association, remain un-
changed. but the work has so enlarged this
year that It hardly seems the same IN some
particulars.
The Association, rs its name indicates, de-
sires to work mainly for and among young
men. Richmond, with its 10000 inhabitants
(at least 1000 Of which are young men), Is
the field. The influences against US are vast.
The alllrements Of vice and the pleasing
forms OF dissipation are made so atlractiyet TO
Young men that but comparatively few are
able to resist. The plan OF labor has been
TO Systematically divide all the work, pla-
cling each department under the care OF an
efficient committee.
Our work is divided into religious and
secular features, and adapted to the spirit
ual, mental, and social nature OF young
men.
TIE RELIGIOUS WORK.
The chief end OF our organization is the
salvation Of young men. To accomplish
this object we have instituted and sustained
Young mems meeting, a young mems
! Riblc-class, workers training-class,
song service, and a Sunday teachers
study.
Every Saturday night the hotels have
/ been visited and invitations addressed to
guests, giving the name and location OF
| churches. with invitations 10 attend divine
worship. 4 committee has been stationed
on street corners certain nights in the
week giving out invitations to stran-
gers 10 visit the rooms. Out OF
! this devotional work grand results
have sprung, the issues OF which reach into
eternity. Young men have been converted
and Joined tie church; those cold in the
/ church have been rekindled to active work.
/ Young men in needy circumstances have
applied for assistance, and ere going away
have received the pearl Of greatest price.
So the good work has been going on noise
| lessly, without show or ostenIation, and the
good seed has been som beside many
waters by dilisent hands and ferYent
hearts.
THE SECULAR WORK.
The hardest task OF the Association is not
to keep Young men, but first TO attract them
to orr rooms. The social features OF the
Work: They consist for the masses in the
Star course OF lectures and entertain
ments: for the young men we have social
rennions. evening receptions, suppers, and
various other means OF amusements. But
above all these is that cordial hand-to-hand
fellowship that our Reception Committee
have 30 well developed, in which strong
and enduring friendships are formed, con-
fidences exchanged, and sympathies en-
listed.
our educational work embraces 4 large
library and reading-room, classes, ana a
debating society for the development oi
Young men. Especial mention is due Pro-
lessor English for bis admirable lectures
on geography and history, which were
given without charge. In conclusion, lcl
Inc refer to the establishment OF the Church
nm branch, conceived under favorable err
cumstqnccs. fathercd by the n0ble-hearted
and self-sacrGcing ladies OF that hill, WIG
hope may enter into the reward oil then
labors.
II has grown to splendid proportion anc
grand inilnonce. To my fellow-workerS ol
the Board OF Directors, TO the merchants ol
Richmond. and last. but by no means least
to the ladies, | return my heartfelt thank'
for their kind assistance. Our genera
secretary, Mr.. /. +. Newman, rendered
his resignation, which was accepted by th'
Board. We have lost good and zealou.
worker. 4 committee has Jeen appolnteL
=. to select his successor.
STATISTICAL REPORT
from January /, 1852, to January l, 1883
During that period the following meet
, ings. classes, lectures, entertainments, %c'
were held:
, - Young mems meetings-attendance, :,
! $40; average, 30.
|. AZ meetings Of Bible class-attendance, l,
1886; average, 2S.
. 81 international Lesson study-attendahce
, sos; average. 10. 49,
sc committee meetlngs-attendance, 4O'
average, II. 90
9S clasSes-attendance 1,SA3; average, IL
% lectures aud entertainments - attend
ance. 1860; average, $50.
, Attendance at reading-room, 14,'62
/ Total attendance, G2, ,1Sj; daily average
199.
Books drawn from library, 1884; book
5 added, (abouO 200. ,,.,,
Present membership Gncluding branch
LILO. 80, ,...,.-;,
church, D.
FINANCIAL REPORT.
Amount Of cash received from May l2th TO- .d dai9
General fUad...........'.'''''' ''''''''''''S0'55 ,
d, Library fund, ,....- ,.'''''''''''''''' Szo ,
Churcii-Illll branch. o's
-, =