The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-09

A Pleasant Combination OF BUSINESS
and Pleasure-Annual Reports.

AT the Y. NJ. G. A. rooms last evening the
last of the notify assemblies that have been
held during the past winter. was held In con.
junction with the annual meeting OF the as.
sociation. At s o'clock the meeting was
called to order by v. Richard Foss, ESQ.,,
president of the association.
The first number on the entertainment was
"The Forester" by George a. Thomas, ESQ.
He was vigorous applauded, and give bis
laughing song for an encore. A banjo duet
came next on the programme This was en-
cored and second number given to the sat
isfaction of the audience
Miss Emily Fisher gave an interesting ac-
count OF her Sunday school experience, de-
lighting the audience.
A piano solo by Miss Eveleth was the next
number. Miss Thompson song SIN Old
Madrid" very acceptably. after which the re-
port of the directors was read by Mr.. T. f.
Mcdonald, the general secretary of the as
ISOLATION. Mr.. Foss prefaced the report by
short address, expressing the great obliga
tion OF the association to Mr.. Mcdonald
stating that while the report purported to bt
from the directors it was in reality that O
the executive officer of the association, Mr.
Mcdonald himself The report is as fol
lows:
DIRECTORS REPORT
1t is impossible to give an idea of life by
the use Of mathematical terms, and to give
an idea Of the work of our association by an
array Of figures is, therefore, out of the ques-
tioD, and time and space will not permit Of
elaboration, so this report will have to be
taken for what 1t is, synopsis Of the work
that can be reduced to figures and that can
be briefly mentioned so as to enable you to
something In the manner in which natural.
lists reconstruct an animal with only one
stray bone as starting point.
Ii we begin at the entrance and 60 around,
We will probably do as well as in any other
way, so the reading room comes first. That
the excellent assortment of the best current
literature provided Is appreciated, Is shown
by the large attendance of young men. This
gratifying feature shows the wisdom of the
course adopted in the management Of the
department.
Contrary to the custom in mary associa.
items. the parlor is not merely looked at but
freely used, and this can be said Of all the
rooms we occupy.
Now as to particular features of our work.
The reception committee Is on duty re-
gularly to welcome and entertain strangers
and visitors, aud does much to add to the
pleasantness Of the rooms.
The work OF the educational committee
has been well done and shows progress. Five
classes were taught during the season, PEN
manship, bookkeeping, commercial cor.
resp0ndence and arithmetic and vocal music,
all under the direction of competent teachers.
About ninety young men were enrolled. and
the classes were continued for two terms OF
three months each; the average attendance
for the first being as follows: Penmanship,
IS; bookkeeping, 19i arithmetic. p; cor
respondence, 13; vocal music, 26; and for the
second term z. 9, Z, 8 and respectively. The
low average Of the second term Is to be
lamented, but there seems to be difficulty
In Keeping up the classes after the Interrupt
tion of the holidays. This is not peculiar
with US, but very general everywhere.
The lecture and social committees have
given nineteen lectures and receptions dur
ing the winter. Three courses OF lectures
the stereopticon, medical and star, with
average attendances Of 140, 107 and 95, have
been carried on. all the talent being local
Our healty thanks are due the gentlemen
who have lectured for us, and so impaired
pleasure and profit to so many.
The social committee receptions have been
attended by an average of 1S0. and have In
every way been grand success. The com
mittee has done exceptionally good work
and 1t has been much appreciated. The de,
votional committee has carried out the work
assigned to 1t very successfully. The young
mems gospel meeting has been attended by
an average Of 80 for the year, including the
summer months, when the attendance Is very
conversion, and many more have been con
yersed with. Eight have been referred tt
the churches of their choice.
A young mems prayer meeting was held
part OF the year on Sunday mornings with ar
| average attendance at 80 meetings of IL.
a. frof ffair ola 10 m q 1
| evenings each week which has an average at
| tendance Of five. The class Is organized for
business and offers no Inducements to those
| who do not mean business.
| Two Sunday school teachers classes, one
| for the primary and the other for the ad-
| yanced department. are held In our room:
taught by the city pastors,
| We have been enabled to place a few
| young men In good positions and did time
permit could be of greater help to them and
| To employers along this line. 1t Is hoped
/ that we may make this more of feature.
The boarding house register Is freely con
| suited and Is OF great service to stranger;
| coming to II Q city.
In January boys department was organ
lied. with 10 members, which has now grown
| to 81 members. the average attendance at the
boys weekly meetings being 50 for the thret
| months since organization.
| The boys reading and recreation room wa:
nicely fitted up. by the Woman's Auxiliary
| The Auxiliary Is also of great service In pro
| viding entertainments for the boys In addi
| tion to its other work.
| During the year the Auxiliary has beer
active along various lines. In the fall q fai
was held for the benefit Of the Auxiliar,
| funds, and the success of the enterprise Is
matter of history. The Auxiliary has OF
hand for this purpose about $500.
| In regard to the new building Mr.. Nc
Donald said that nothing had been done be
cause the committee wished to have soliC
ground to stand on. He said that severa
substantial pledges had already been mad
and more were expected In the near future
| The treasurer's report showed receipts o.
S4.43l13. including balance of $36.52 from
last year. The year closes with a balancl
Of S102.34 in favor Of the association.