Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-06

II
few more such meetings as that held by the
/ ioJdS Meas Christian ASSOCIATION in tie par
Tors Of the association last hight and the new
building for which the members are longing
will soon naterillize. But the young men
| don't wan. to wait for years, and that meeting
Was an annual, so that there will probably
be something done soon to hasten the natural
course of events, as tue association has deter
mined to make it possible to erect a new home
III the shortest space OF time without encum-
boring the members with load 0, debt.
The meeting was called to order soon after 8
O'Clock, and Mr. r. ii. Warner. one of the d.
rectoTs was called TO the chair in the absence
of the president. Ir. W. B. Gurley, who
detained at home by cold. Mr.. Geo.
| W. wheeler Offered prayer. and there was
/ singing before the minutes of the last meeting
were read by Recording Secretary Lichliter.
He read also a long list OF applicants FOR men,
brr-hip Of the various grades, numbering
eiShty-slx In all, and these were elected at
once.
TEE F1SAScIAL REPORT.
Mr.. s. W. Woodward of the finance commit
tee made a report. showing the state of the
fiscal atlaIrs Of the association. At the begin
ming or the year the Indebtedness amounted
tn : Sill but ii was thoii2ht wise to increase
me wr-k u tLe association and the annual
budget for all purposes was swolled to Sill, coo,
tht expenses being n actual figures Sll,6i.
ic meet this expenditure the receipts from all
sus Ces we!> 81 so. which made a deficit of
S3GS. increasing the debt. with interest, to
s2.ii9. OF the receipts $1,000 came from
membership dues or over 20 per cent of the
total receii Is This association comes nearer
to paying ior Itself from lis annual dues than
any other In the country. The contributions
received from outside sources during the year
amounted To SLIT. Had it not been for the
expenditure incurred in lifting up the athletic
pn-k, which amounted TO about III 800, the as
sociation would ea-Iiy have been able to clear
OFT the debt, which WAS largely legacy OF
former years, and the speedy liquidation Of
which means the coming OF the greatly needed
new building. Four years ago the member
ship numbered Col and the expenses were
s6.lUO. ratio per capita OF about S9.l5
During the past year the membership has
been ,-3o and the expenses sll,694, ratio of
9y.4S.
Mr.. W. A. Wells presented the report of the
committee on religious work, which seemed
10 be very gratifying 20 the members present
The report stated that the average attendance
at the various services, held in the parlors Of
tie ASSOCIATION, showed an increase over last
year, particularly the Sunday afternoon meet
luSs, which were made very successful by the
efforts OF a number of excellent speakers from
outside. The tuesday evening meetings, led
by the young men themselves, We're very use
ful in giving them confidence, and it was found
that ii Large percentage q those in attendance
were enthusiastic freqUenters OF the gymnasium,
showing that the athletes did not allow their en-
thusiasm for musc.e developing run away with
their better natCIcs. There were, during the
year. siXty-tyo prUiessed conversions, OF which
Ihirty-Iive were added to the regular churches
OF The city.
Mr. Woodward thought this report worthy
OF especial praise. for 1t showed that the COM
mittee has not only cared for the religious work
OF the association diligently, but had shown IL
great amount OF zeal IL following up the young
men, whose thoughts had been diverted into re-
ligious channels. II every church in the city,
he added. could make showing like that each
wear of sixty-two conversions, it would be i
noble work indeed.
Mr.. q. ". Wheeler read the report Of the
committee OF jail work. He said that the num-
bers in Attendance upon the meetings and SER
vices held at the Jail had increased, but for this
the committee did not congratulate itself, for
1t showed but an increase in the criminal popu-
iatiOn of the city. Every year there has been
a period OF great religious excitement among
| the prisoners, and this year one Is expected to
| occur in about a month. The average number
| OF prisoners In attendance upon the me tiugs
increased from rs eight years ago to over 800
| last year. There had been oz services held,
| with an average attendance Of 255 persons, and
| u total attendance during the year OF IL. 100.
| 1t was estimated that over 40 had been con-
| yerted, but this was conservative estimate,
| and IL was probable that over 81 or 60 had
reached that state Of mind. 1t was recon-
mended that hereafter the training class, under
the charge OF the general secretary, Mr.. Pugh,
| should take hold Of these Jail meetings on one
Sunday in each month.
| PHYSICAL AND EDUCATIONAL WORK.
| Mr.. +. g. Walker read carefully prepared
| report from the committee on gymnasium
showing the success OF the project to establish
a park for athletic purposes. This had been
done and the association is now in possession
| of fine park at the corner of 18th and U
| streets fitted with all conveniences and ap-
| pliance5 for out-of-dOor sports. But there was
| one objection, and to this large part of the
| report was devoted. Feeble members. who
had not excelled in athletics and were only
eager for little outdoor exercise, felt crowded
| of tie track and field by the more active men,
| experts and those training for events. They
therefore contented themselves with sitting
| still III the stand and they received benefit
| from the park The grounds should be rather
\ for the use of the many feeble ones who did
| not dare to dlsport themselves IN public than
| the few experts who trained for exhibitions.
! The gymnasium work has continued. with an
increase In attendance, until the 40 lockers all
that can possibly be built DO not afford room
| enough for those IN practice there. The place
| is now far from being satisfactory. being poorly
| lighted and ventilated and badly arranged SO
that there is ALWAYS a crowd. Its use, 100 as a
| meeting room, when the regular hall is too
small Tor that purpose, sadly interferes with
| the work.
| After q hymn had been sung Mr.. IT. Lemon
| read the report OF tine committee on educa-
| tiOnai work that had been prepared by tie sec
Rotary of the committee. MIR. j. s. Wescott Mr.
| Lemon had but recently been added to the
| committee. The report showed that there had
/ been forty-two pupils III attendance upon the
| Classes. "a total attendance OF Is 34i aver
| age attendance of eighteen in each class. at a
\ total cost tC the association Of S63Z. 55 In the
\ coming year the work would be extended, the
| studies increased To ten and the typewriting
! department, the most popular, increased so
! that pupils might have from four to twelve
| hours u week.
The report Of the literary society was pre-
! scented by its president Mr.. G.. w. Drew who
| went into the history of the organization with
some particularly. He indicated that efforts
| were being made to arrange II series of Joint
| debates with the Young Mems Association OF
Baltimore. Philadelphia, New York and Nor
folk. and 1t was quite probable that success
| would follow Tho society would undoubt-
eddy meet that from the baltimore society in u
few weeks. hero mad been fifty meetings. a
total attendance of 2.3l7 and an average at
| tendance oil IS, a marked increase of late
| There are now forty-iOur members enrolled
Mr.. f.. ". Woodruff presented u brief report
from the committee rooms, which showed
that ali proper and necessary repairs and
care for the rooms had been looked after dill
gently during the year. The report ended with
a solemn recommendation that the direct tors
| tuke prODer stems for the erection of a m VA