Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-25
second Annual Meeting.
Young Women's ChristIan Association


 New Haven.
 The annual meeting of the Y. W. c. asso- citation, held yesterday (Wednesday) after noon in the parlor of the Church of the Re- l deemer, called together many of our earnest | Christian women. The president, Mrs. H. l B. Bigelow, opened the meeting with reading 1 of scriptures, and Mrs. s. M. Whiting led in ! prayer. The report of the last annual meet l ing was read by the recording secretary and | accepted. The reading of the constitution and l bylaws by the corresponding secretary fol- | lowed.
 The treasurer's report, next presented, showed decided increase upon the receipts of the previous year for current expenses, and over $11 ,00o contributed towards the purchase of home. slight balance over expenses was reported. A full and interest ing report of the years work was then read by the recording secretary, showing results which surpassed the expectation of the most sanguine, and strikingly contrasting the present aspect of the work with that present ed twelve months ago. It will appear in full in the annual report and deserves careful reading.
 Following this a paper was read by Miss B. W. Hume upon 'fThe aim and purpose of the Association, " which we give below. The appointment of nominating committee and presentation of managers names by the chairman followed, after which the meeting closed with singing and the Lords prayer. Those present must have been impressed anew with the value of our Y. W. c. asso- citation, and with the importance of it's work. When our citizens fully understand the purpose of the association they will give it most generous support They have given much during the past year, but it is hoped the opening year will not be allowed to close elected: President, Mrs. H. B. Bigelow vice presidents, Mrs. J. D. Dana, Mrs. H. B. Allen, Mrs. F. R. Bliss, Mrs. W. W. Low treasurer, Mrs. E. M. Reed recording retary, Miss l.. R. Bliss corresponding sec retary. Mrs. D. M. Jerome.
 | THE AIM AND PURPOSE OF OUR ASSOCIATION. The double question which confronts every benevolent and philanthropic body is this: t'What are you doing, and what do you \ intend to do ?" This is a very practical question for any society, and our Y. w. 0. | Association welcomes the query which gives it an opportunity to express definitely it's aim and purpose. The secretary's report ! our work, with glimpse of present results. The object of this paper is to express briefly the underlying purpose in all our reports. Our aim is this To elevate, help, and com ! fort worthy young women, especially those | upon whom is laid the necessity of self-sup- port. We seek to elevate them hysically,
 intellectually, morally and spiritually. Just where legal restrictions and the moral law in scribe the words, "Thou shalt not!" we
 stand with the hopeful assurance, "Here are | better things you may doi'' That our young
 women need not look with regret upon for
 bidden apples which they forbear to pluck, | we strive to fill their hands with richer riper fruit.
 | Let me be more definite We wish to ex-
 tend hand to every girl and young woman who is halting at any point of her life where two roads meet. When idleness begins to
 look inviting and presents itself as one of the | privileges of the favored, we seek to awaken | an interest at once in some useful employ
 ment and set forth the nobility of labor. When we find those whose tastes are leading
 them to possess alone the "outward adorning which is but for moment," we hold close
 before them the jewel of knowledge, and
 make the possibility of it's attainment so
 practicable 8 thing that the hand which held
 bauble drops it to secure @ priceless gem. Practical knowledge which meets the wants of their every day lives do we offer to young women such education shall make them
 better women, better members of society, and shall furnish them with more reliable
 means of self-support.
 To counteract taste for corrupt literature we provide wholesome reading in the form
 of books and papers, both entertaining and \ instructing. When fondness for evenings
 spent upon the street or ill undesirable
 places of amusement begins to enter the in
 nocent hearts of our working girls, we offer | other and higher attractions. We throw open a well lighted and inviting reading
 room; we persuade them to join evening
 classes taught by bright, noble hearted young ! women we furnish 8 pleasant, homelike parIor for their use, and invite to weekly
 entertainment which is at once pleasing and beneficial. Thus the inherent desire for
 pleasure is satisfied, and taste formed for
 that which is true and good. We SOW this | good seed even in the hearts of children, that | the weeds of harmful habits may have no | soil to thrive upon. If we find young women
 downcast and discouraged, feeling that life is dark and dreary, we would clasp them in the arms of Christian sympathy; we would l make them feel the power of helpful friend | ship, and prove to them that life may be. ! come blessing. Where we see them grop- ing after truth, we lead them to the social | gathering for prayer or Bible study, and ! point them to the Lamb of God.
 | We reach the climax of our purpose to | elevate, in carrying on all this noble work l in the sheltered, sacred precincts of a i Christian home. A home which shall be | temporarily open to those who can in no
 other way secure healthful, helpful sur | roundings within their means. While 1t is not our intention to provide free board and lodging to any who can pay reasonable sum | for the same, we rejoice that no worthy | young women who now come to our city as | strangers, and none who are temporarily | thrown out of employment, can knock at the | door of our association home in vain. What | they need and ask of us for the 'Love of | Christ, we help them to secure ''in His | name"
 Is not our aim noble, our purpose true? Possibly we here met by those who ! sanction our aim with the lnterroga- | ton. "Do you really carry it out?' I need | only refer once more to the secretary's re- port to convince the candid inquirer that we are accomplishing more than the most san- l guine might have thought would be possible.
 We cannot touch upon this point without | mak1ng gEaLeIu1 acknOWIeugnenb OI Our past l generous support.
 How largely and fully we can carry out | our plans depends upon few conditions. | Every department of the work has reached
 the point where it is ready to expand if proper accommodation and appliances are obtainable But the association goes forward
 with halting step because of it's debt. It dare
 not greatly increase it pace while carrying
 such burden. When our citizens will come | forward and clear the debt when they will ! furnish the committees with still larger
 means, the association will take bold and
 rapid strides along the various lines of work | opening up to it with marked encouragement and success.
 Another need is, more personal effort and
 influence exerted upon those who seek our | offered benefits. We have superintendent who moulds the clay of uniformed character
 into genuine womanhood in full accord with | our highest aim and purpose but the ex | tension of business in New Haven is drawing to our city class much too large to be
 moulded by contact with one two faith full workers. There is material enough to supply each one upon our Managing Con- mittee, and all the members of our associa- | 4L,o oI,,,