The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-06
Y. M. c. A.
THE ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES AT
CITY HALL.
Report of General Secretary Winter.

Donahoe presided at the organ with great abil.
ity. The programme as published yesterday
was carefully carried out. The following Is
the report of General Secretary Winter:
SECRETARY WINTERS REPORT.
M. President, Felloao Mem bers and Friends.
1t has been said of the British Empire that
upon its dominions the sun never sets The
same may be said concerning the extent 81
territory covered by the Young Mems Chris
tian Association.
1t may astonish some OF you to learn that
there is no part of the world which has not its
Young Mems Christian Associaiion-that the
chain now extends around the entire globe
embracing within its Christian bond people of
every cline and tongue
Young Mems Christian Associations can be
found in nearly all the principal towns in the
United States and Dominion of Canada, in
priest-ridden Mexico, ssin Old England, bonnie
Scotland, the Emerald Isle, in Catholic France
and Spain, and in Germany, amid the noun
tains of Switzerland, in Holland, in Denmark,
in Norway and Sweden, in Belgium, among
the sturdy natives OF Prussia, in Austria in
Rome ITSELF in the land of tho Car, in the Gel
estial Empire, in Japan, so long boted and
barred, along India's coral strand, in far off
katf1r land, in Madagascar, in the land of the
Pharaohs, in Mahomedan Turkey, in South
Ameriea,in Australasia, in the Hawaiian King
dom, in the land where Christianity first saw
itSuts oven III tn6 TOWN. OF Nazareth itself. and
In Damascus and Jerusalem.
1t is estimated there .are at the present time
about 5000 associations throughout the world,
nearly 1000 OF which comprise the American
group. The aggregate membership of these
associations approximates 100000.
1t is only about 80 years since the first assocl-
alton was organized, in London, England, by
young man named George Williams who,
with heart full OF love to Christ, found him.
self surrounded by many irrsligicus and disso-
lutte companions. Daysafterscay, by exampleand
precept, be preached Christ to the saving OF
many souls.
Thus was laid the foundation OF the Young
Mems ChristianjA Association, which about a year
and half ago, held its Ninth Triennial Con-
ference in Exeter Hall, London, England,
where representatives from all lands 10 the
number Of i've hundred were welcomed to
London by this same George Williams, the
founder, who presided at the first meeting of
the conference.
The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress gave a
reception to the delegates, aud a large
number OF invited guests, at the Mansion
House, during which the Mayor took occasion
te say that there was no more powerful agency
for the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom
in the world than the Young Mems Christian
Association.
The venerable Earl of Shaftesbury, presi.
dent OF the London association, and other
prominent personsges spoke Of the value and
importance of this organization.
There are now in the United States and
British Provinces, 272 young men employed as
General Secretaries, giving all their time to
association work. At the close of the war
there were but three OF these paid Secretaries.
The property owned by the various associations
on the continent amounts in value 10 about
81 100000.
OUR POSITION DEFINED.
So much for the extent of territory covered
and the inceptionlof the organization. Now
let is define our pcsition-in other words our
character and aims.
The most peculiar ideas prevail among
these who have never taken the trouble to in
vestigate the matter.
The question might be asked what relation
does the Young Mems Christian Association
sustain to the church? My answer is-the
same relation that the arm sustains to the
body.
The Young Mems Christian Association is
not an independent body, but simply an arm
of the church, reaching out to lift up the
men. Whatever wrong impressions some
men may have of the work, it does not alter
the fact that the great mass of Y. NJ. G. A.
workers are the most faithful to their own
churches. Young Mems Christian Associa-
tions are not substitutes for, nor rivals Of, the
churches of Christ. We held the obligations
and duty of our members to the churches with
which they are connected as superior to those
due the association. We maintain that every
Christian young man should have home in
the church; that he cannot afford to live with
out it. The church has need of him, and he
has need of the church. 1t is impossible for
him to become without its aid what he may be-
come with it. Whatever else then he NAV
neglect, he cannot fail in this, and gain for
himself the best Christian character or 10 for
the Master the full work of life. III young
man is not active in his own church he is not
good for much anywhere else. No young man
can hold office or vote in the association unless
he is a member of Christian church.
We recognize and uphold the ministry, and
are not in sympathy with any movement that
disseminates anfi-ehurch views. We seek to
reach the young men OF our city and throw
around them such influences as will lead them
to the churches. The Young Mems Christian
Association is, in intention, and no less in
fact, doing the work, so to speak, of recruit
ing officer for the churches, attracting young
men from every quarter, upon whom otherwise
they could not hope to obtain a hold. It is the
link which spans over and bridges the gap in
young mans life when home is left behind
with the church of his boyhood.
This break of continuity is the most critical
time, and With all the forces of evil in full ac-
tivity, might become permanent breach were
it not for the association. Il holds out to tho
young man hand, and gives him hearty vel
come to spend his first evening with them. It
has been well remarked that much, humanity
speaking, depends upon where that first even
ing Is spent. An impetus to the life may then
be given, in accordance with which the man
becomes, under God, s'a pillar in His house."
or waster OF Gods gifts and destroyer of
himself and of others.
One young man, whose life had been full OF
sin, said that the first invitation of any kind
he received after entering Portland from his
country home was from grey-haired man, and
his invitation was to visit place of questiona-
Bile resort. He subsequently, received an invi-
tation TO visit the Young Mems Christian As
c0f1ofi0n Qnd I'd a
member Of one of our churches.
The Young Mems Christian Association is
not charity society for the free distribu-
ton OF money to every tramp who may chance
to come along, but it does aim to aid worthy
young men in such a manner as will enable
them to help themselves. Tt is a mistake to
suppose that our association is a lecture course.
We sometimes hear il said 81 am unable to at
tend the lecture, and will, therefore, dscon-
tinue my subscription Remember, friends,
that your subscription is for OUR entire work,
Of which the lecture course is only single fea-
ture. IL you get full equivalent for your
money in this feature, SO much the better; but
ii you are unable to go to the lectures don't
discontinue your subscription Cd this account.
The Young Mems Christian Association is
not distinctlvely temperance society, though
II Will always heartily support any work which
promises to be effective in reforming men. The
work Of the Y. NJ. G. A. is not entirely that of
holding religious services. The temporal wei
fare of young men is as much orr concern as
the spiritual. Indeed, we intend to lead up
to the one through and by means Of the other.
Our desire is TO benefit young men; and we
know no way OF doing this, with mere imme-
date or effectual results, than by rnanifestiDg
an interest in their present condition and well
fare. This we are constantly doing by finding
employment for the deserving; by directing
them to good boarding places; by friendly
counsel in trouble; by visitations Of the sick;
by admitting them free of charge to all lee
lures and entertainments held under our aus
pices by free evening classes; by the use Of a
library, and by opening freely TO young men
attractive rooms for reading and social con
verse.
The Young Mems Christian Association 49,,
In short, an organization whose object Is to
seek out yonng men, to extend to them sym
pathy in encouragement; to lend a helping
hand, if needed, to surround them with good
influences, to draw them out of bad and into
good company, out Of the saloon and into the
house OF God; and finally win them to Christ
MISCELLANEOUS WORK.
We occasionally receive letters from anxious
parents and others requesting as to look up
some young man who has just taken up his
residence in this city, make his acquaintance
and invite him to the association rooms.
The following is O sample Of many OF the
letters received:
zone of my noighbor's sons - has gone
from home for the first time TO Portland feel
that you might benefit him and guide him In the
marrow way by using your influence upon him