Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-10
GOOD SIGNS OF PROSPERITY CITED.
The Association is Spreading Out in Every
Direction, the World Over,
With Great Vigor.
TWO MORE BRANCHES NOW NEEDED
Encouraging Addresses Made by Rev. Dr.. Purves and
Rev. q. c. Applegsrth.

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United Presbyterian Church, Allegheny.
The seating capacity of the First Presby
terian Church was sorely taxed to accom-
modate the people present. The Allegheny
church, too, was well filled. Combined, the
two would have made monster meeting.
The fact of necessity for holding joint
meetings was in itself a sufficient indication
OF the growth and influence Of the associa-
ton. This years annual meeting was the
largest ever held. The association has
branched out in its work most wonderfully,
and, according to the prospectus of the
speakers, all things augur we'll for still
brighter future.
An organ voluntary, anthem by the choir,
Scripture reading by Rev. DR.. A. H. Nor
cross and prayer by Rev. Oliver j. Thatch-
er were the Introductory features of the
Pittsburg meeting, which led up to the read
ing OF the annual report.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
inson, was absent from the city, and the re-
The Association President, Mr. J F. Rob-
port was read by Vice President Ben amin
Thaw. After a short introduction, the re-
port reads substantially as follows:
To this audience little need be said for the
existence of the Young Mems Christian Associ-
alton. Your presence here and the attendance
of as many at the joint meeting in our sister
city atIests your sympathy with the work and
indicates desire for information as to what is
being done in our own city and elsewhere by
the Young Mems Christian Association,
1t may not be known to you all that men
have gone from our own land to direct the
work in Japan. in China and in India. and that
in the city of Tokyo, Japan, there are two As
sociation buildings.the cost of which was borne
chiefly by friends in this country. Not quite
so far away, in the city of Paris the mainte-
nance of the Young Mems Christian Associa.
Jion work and the prospect, a good one, of a
building are largely due to the practical aid of
American friends. These foreign branches of
the work are supervised by the Worlds Com
lnittee, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzer-
land.
In our own country the International Com
nittee located in New York City, has control
OF the general extension of the work and is
doing great work for the cause of Christ in
the newer portions of our land by means of
Railroad Associations, and in the older States
by means of their travelling College Secretaries.
Let me recite to you what, through the infu-
ence of the International Committee, is being
done along the line of one railroad in our great
West The Union Pacific Railroad Company,
after years experiment In small way, have
authorized the outlay of $4,000 for permanent
investment in the way of equlppng rooms or
buildings at II different points, with yearly
Salary list for secretaries to give their time to
the work OF $1,000.
PENNSYLVANIA IN THE ADVANCE.
Thirty-two States now maintain State -
Plantations, fostering existing associations and
establishing ones. Pennsylvania led the
advance in this direction, being the first to en-
ploy State Secretary, Mr.. S. A. Taggart, who
addressed US last year, having filed that po-
sition most acceptably for many years. He is
now in the employ of the International Com
mittee dong effective service in furthering the
extension work of that committee.
As mentioned in The report rendered at this
meeting year ago. a committee known as the
Committee on State and International Work
had lust been appointed. its object being TO
present this extension work to young men not
accustomed to giving and to secure from them
contributions for its maintenance. You will
be interested to know that this committee have
during the past year secured from 5S young
lnen in our membership, in amounts ranging
from so cents TO $50, the sum of $40, In annual
pledges, two-thlrds of this being IL amounts of
IS or less In this connection, but IN addition
10 the foregoing. $40 was contributed by six
of our members to the Tokyo buildings pre-
viously mentioned.
II is the custom for each State to hold annu-
ally a convention for mutual information and
encouragement. The associations of PennSyl-
rvania held their 23d convention at Danville.
two weeks ago The convention was the largest
ever held in this State, 547 accredited delegates
being present: 235 of these were from college
associations; the largest single delegation, mum.
OerIng 49, came from the 1nuian Industrial
School at Carlisle.
TEACHINGS OF A CONVENTION.
The power of the gospel and the influence of
q Christian education were clearly demon
strated by this delegation of Indians and par
tlcularly by the speeches of individuals among
them There were present at this convention,
from our own association and branches, q dele
gates, and the reports made by them, at the
members meeting week ago, gave evidence
90 the value of such convention.
And now. what of the past year at home?
For six years we have enjoyed the advantages
of having our own building, and in no other six
wears of our existence has such progress been
made Our building, when erected, was a
model in design and was deemed amply large
for many years, but its capacity has long been
overtaXed, both in the reading room and gym
nasium and also in the educational class room,
and the attendance at the members course of
entertainments given in Old City Hall by
reason of the limited capacity OF the building,
averaged the past year ,2l7 persons.
An encouraging feature of our work is the
membership, which has had steady growth
each year since our building was occupied We
can report this year gain Of 50, lItsle greater
than last year, making our actual membership
at the close of this year, OCTOBER 81, l944, and,
including branches, 2692
GREAT NEED OF A PLAYGROUND.
The report goes on to state that since the
association had to give up Its athletic
grounds on North avenue, Allegheny,
loaned by the Denny estate, it has greatly
Jelt the need of some prominent place for
outdoor amusements.
The meetings during the year have been
largely attended. The total attendance at
the meetings, not including the social
gatherings, was 165 143. OF this number
the gymnasium brought 4, ,693. the evening
classes 5, ,345, and religious meetings 1887.
The East End, Lawrenceville and Penn
avenue branches have greatly prospered
durinp the year. The East End branch now
has suitable rooms in Liberty Hall, and has
ypeut sc, 500 fitting them up. 1t is now pro-
nosed 70 spend So, 500 more to fit up the
3bird floor as a gymnasium.
Southside and Manchester are now the
-uo localities toward which the attention OF
sbe association is directed, and it is hoped
,bo+ each of these sections of the CITY will
soon have branch.
The report stated that Is years ago there
xrsre in the State Is working associations.
,n6 tbey held no property, and but three
General Secretaries. Now there are 127
Dssociations, owning property valued at
81 9ao 465. employing 95 men in all depart
,,Isnts of the work and having a membership
of %, 900.
Glowing tribute was paid to ex-General
Secretary Orr, and also to his successor, j.
B. Griggs.
MIR. APPLEGARTH's ADDRESS.
Rev. Henry c. Applegarth, Jr., delivered
on address. following the reading of the re-
Dort His subject was "Manliness Said
lie. ,sWhat the world wants is manly men.
N,pliness is not gcoGy-goOdy- y-ness or dandy
-,andv-ness. 1t is these things that are dis
yustinp. And what will more cause 4 re-
SuIsion of feeling than 10 see q womanly