Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-10
Y. M. G. A.
THE TwILprn ANNUAL STATE coIvyu.
TON OF vIRgIaIA.
Conference Of state sesrstariss-orgsniss-
tion Of tho Convsntion-Ths
Work Of the Past Year.
Especial telegram 70 the pi.patch.I

Especial telegram 10 the Dispatch-J
PETERSBURG, Va, February 9.--This
morning the conference OF the general
secretaries Of the Young Mems Christian 1;
Associations OF Virginia was resumed,
all the secretaries mentioned in to-dsyb
DfSpatch being present. The session
was opened with prayer, led by L. II
Hunt, OF Portsmouth, after which &. y.
| Thomas, OF Richmond, read very pr1c-
tical paper on "What Secretary Should
DO on Entering Field"
The next item on the programme vas
a paper by the State secretary, Mr.. IL.
o. Williams on "What Our Virginia
Secretaries Should Know About Perma-
ncncy" This was followed with a paper
by j. McLain Brown on Young Mems
Meetings"
This, the first secretaries conference
ever held in tho State, has been a,deci-
ded success All the discussions we're
practical aud profitable. and proved very
helpful 10 these earnest and tried work
ers i'll their peculiar work for the saliva
tion OF the young men of our State.
| There are now ten Of these secretaries,
and they have decided 10 meet annually
in conference on the day before the as
sembling Of the State Convention.
THE CONVENTION.
The twelfth annual State Convention
of the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tions of Virginia met in tho Tabb-Street
Presbyterian church this afternoon at
800 O'Clock.
Devotional exercises were conducted
by Mr. G. A. Iicklider Mr. Licklider
on taking the chair called upon each
member to state what brought him here,
and the objects sought 10 be gained by
attending the convention. Brief re-
sponsos were made 10y many members.
The State SECRETARY. Mr. IL. Q. VIII
linms, was called b the chair as tempo
rary chairman. and committees were APP
pointed on organization aud business.
Chc former committee reported the fol.
lowing organization, which was adopted:
predent. y. G. Manson. .Ir.. OF Lynch
burg; Nice.Presidents FIRST. {. h.
Willis of Richmond Second, H. c. Os-
hurno of Petersburg Third, 3. T.. Fast
burn Of Fincastle Secretary. Guy
Cochran, Of stanton Assistant Secr,,.
tary. {. VI. Lansford, of fincastle.
Alter organization "A well-wrtten rR-
per on "Dlstrct Work and District CCn-
ferences" was reai by G. W. Lunsfo al,
of Fincastlc, IN which the advantages of
such work and such conferences vas
fully explained The State Is now di-
vided into three districts. and MIR. Luns-
ford claimed that there should be fiyG
n
From this Convention was subject that
occupied the attention of the convention
for some time. Mr.. F.. ". WatkinS OF
New York, was the leader in the discus.
sion.
At p. VI. the convention adjourned
10 partake Of fiue dinner rendered 10y
the Ladies Auxiliary Association.
Al the night session IA very large COO
gregation WIS present. Praise service
WAS conducted by L. c. johnson, OF
Richmond College.
The first subject, How We Secured
Our Association Home First, by Faith 7;
Second. by Work., was then discussed
by Il. ". Clarke, %. Washington, and G.
b. Anderson. OF Lynchburg.
The second subject. "What Our Asso-
citation Has Secured for U.s. was dis
cussed (finsnrially) 10y W II. Morris, Of
Baltimore, and (spIutually) by several
delegates.
The discussions were listened to with
much interest by the large assembly.
The convention adjourned for 10 night
with prayer 10y Rev. c. Deny, OF sa-i
lem.
The State Executive Committee OF th o
Young Mems Christian Association o. V
in secret session tonight preparing the ir
report Of the work done IN the State for
the last year, which will bc read at the
afternoon session tomorrow.
The singing OF the male choir OF the
association is very fine and one OF the
most enjoyable features of the con,Hn-
ton.
WORK or THE ASSOCIATIONS.
During the past wear fourteen neV as.
sociations have been organized, and
there are now forty-one associations in
the State. Five additional men have
been employed in local work, and snyen-
teen are now employed as against tsyo in
1888. -Four associations employed gene
raj secretaries for tue first time during
the year. Six new reading.rooms were
opened, and one college, one district.
aud one general secretaries conference
we're beld. Three new buildings were
completed during the year, costing
S87. 900. and one was purchased and re-
modelled al cost Of S3, 700. Nearly
~, 900 was secured for organizing asso-
ciations. opening attractive rooms, and
employing general secretaries. There
was an increase OF fully 900 members,
anil large number OF young men were
led 10 enter the Christian life. Such
was the good work OF the associations
duIng the past year
The work for the ending year is set
forth rs follows: To arouse the public
conscience 10 the necessity OF doing
work 10 save the young men from ruin
70 strengthen and widen the work OF the ,
forty.one i>ociations elready organ-
iZed to re Dare new fields IN the work
of the general secretaries 10 open up
new points for work among railroad eni-
ployees TO organize az least five new
associations in educational institutions
aud secure building lots in ten or fifteen
associations TO develop district work
aud hold six district associations, and to
prosecute special evangelical work for
the salvation OF young men.
Tomorrow night Right Rev. A. NJ.
Randolph, Assistant Bishop Of Virginia,
will deliver an address before the ssso-
citation on the subject OF Tho Bible"
Among the distinguished association
workers from abroad who are present
and expected 10 read interesting papers
are Messrs. II. VI. Clarke aud I. A.
Harding Of Washington. +. W. Watkins
of New York, NJ. B. Williams OF Geor-
eia, W. II. Morris OF Baltimore, X. A.
Bowman OF Columbus, Ga, and g. u.
Rosser of Columbia, ). {.