Morning journal and courier., 1884-10-22
THE Y. M. O. A.

ment of Its Usefulness.
 The Young Mems Christian association of this city has just entered upon-the twentieth
 year of it's existence. Following are facts of
 general interest regarding the association
 from the report of the general secretary, MT.
 Williams. Much good work has been accom-
 plished during the year despite break of
 over two months pending the securing of
 new general secretary, including the estab
 lishment of various working committees.
 With IA, 900 young workingmen in the city
 there is good field of work for the associa-
 ton. To provide for the social nature of
 young men special efforts have been made
 and games are provided at the rooms, the par
 lors opened to young men, several recep-
 tions have been held and select entertain
 ments and valuable courses of lectures have
 been given. The receptions had total at
 tendance of nearly 1000. The reading room
 is growing in popularity and is much ire
 quented by young men. The total attend
 ance for nine months and half was fl 383, or
 an average daily of 165. In the employment
 department 70 applied for work and IS were
 helped to temporary or permanent employ
 ment. The boarding house register works
 well and serves good end. Between 50 and
 60 have been directed to proper homes in the
 past ysar. At the evening classes mechani-
 cal drawing, bookkeeping and penmanship
 were taught and eighty young men were ben
 efted. MT. F. E. Beach, one of the Y. NJ.
 70. A. members, taught mechanical drawing;
 w. H. Brown, of Yale Art school, penman-
 ship, and John Bartholomew bookkeeping
 For the promotion of the physical condi-
 tion of the young men of New Haven, our
 association has but few advantages. Here it
 is sadly lacking. No association is complete
 without well equipped gymnasium, and we
 trust that the time is not far distant when
 we can offer the young men of this city spe-
 cial advantages for physical culture. A few
 dumb-bells and Indian clubs have been used spasmodically by some of our members. In September rambling club was organized,
 and has taken several long walks These will be continued for some weeks yet this fall. The greatest possible endeavor under existing circumstances has been made to give moral turn to all the work done by the
 association. The young men, believe, who are actively engaged in our work endeavor to impress those with whom they come in contact of the i'm portance of living for noble purposes and setting theirs aim high. For the benefit of those who have been in the rooms evenings
 
 secretary has conducted on many evenings ''family prayers" But someone may now
 ask, "What is the great work of your asso- citation! Why employ the social, mental,
 physical and moral agencies?" That young
 men may be led to the Christ and into the church and strengthened in their spiritual condition. Here is where the great effort has been put forth in our spiritual work that we may bring young men to a knowledge of their sins and an acceptance of Jesus Christ. During the entire year two religious meetings have been sustained by the devotional com mittee-one on Monday evenings, open to everyone, and one on Saturday evenings for young men only. Our monday meeting has been held every week day dur ing the year and fairly attended. These meetings will be reported by the devotional committee; suffice to say that in these meetings Ghe young mems especially have souls been led to Christ, and we believe ly converted. From these meetings four
 have been led into the Christian church. Many have inquired the way of eternal life and have been dealt with.
 Realizing the need of more personal Chris tian workers, workers training class was organized in January. The class has had an average attendance of eight. The lines of
 study pursued have been such as to prepare young men to better handle the word in per- sonal work. This class meets Thursday evenings at 8 o'clock. Not as much outside l work has been done by the association as in former years. The calls on the time of the general secretary for out service have been ! numerous and he has responded to them as l far as he could Members of the association have visited East Haven, Cedar Hill, Sunday 1 school at Hamden. Farther than that the association has not done outside work The l secretary has had charge of the services at l the hospital the third Sunday evening of each month. But the spiritual work | mostly has been confined to our | rooms and meetings for our special class. With all our detailed work, we have | had many things of a general character to \ attend to. There have been seven meetings | of the board with an average attendance of 8. The usual monthly business meetings ! have been held as formerly, by taking a few ! minutes from the prayer meeting the third Monday night of each month. We hope to | do away with this Journalism and have regu- ! lar bi-monthly meetings of the members of ! the association. In the secretarial line we | have had some experience the past year, The | 1st of March, Mr..H. c. Hardy, of Water 1 town, N. Y., was called to become our as sistant secretary. This position Mr Hardy | held until the 10th of June The latter part | of March MT. F. H. Willis spent few days
 with us studying the work before accepting 1 the general secretaryship at Plainfeld, N. J. ! In July MT. F. w. Little, of Boston, was with us looking into our work, with a view of entering the association field In Sep tember MT. c. M. Bryant spent week here
 studying for the secretaryship. MT Bryant
 has since entered upon his duties as assist | ant secretary at Lowell, Mass Your secretary has attended during the last year
 the State convention of New Jersey, April | IT and IS, the secretaries conference (by the kindness of the board) at Montreal, June Il to 15, and the State convention at Bristol October to ,. All three gatherings were strengthening and beneficial Some nine ar ten delegates represented our association at l the Bristol convention Members of the as ] sociation have also visited Ansonia and Meri l den This inter-visitation should be en- l couraged in our association In closing the secretary gave answers to many inquiries ! sent out to workers, showing some of the 1 great benefits accomplished by the Y. M. c. I work