Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-04-14

Young Mems Christian association was held
Sunday evening in the College street church.
There was probably the largest audience
present that has ever attended an annual
meeting of the association. The exercises
opened with q selection Lift your Glad
Voices" bv double quartette from the
college CLEO club. Rev c. +. Carter read
selections of scriptures, and prayer wns
offered by Rev, Edward Hawes, d. d. A
hymn was then sung by the congregation.
Retiring President Van Patten then gave
his annual address, which was IL part as
follows:
PRESIDENT VAN Patterns ADDRESS.
For the twenty sixth time the Young
Mems Christian association has invited its
friends to come together TO listen to such
report as may be made of its work for tho
wear In tho growth of a plant we look for
some indication of increase from DAY to
day, or week to week; OF child FROM
month 10 month: of institutions from year
10 wear: and of nations from decade TO dec
ade. So now that we rs an institution
have come to one of the times for annual
review, and for comparison OF our work.
our members and our prospects with our
position one year ago, we are gG'i TO be
able to show evidences of growth and of in-
creasing usefulness.
For seven years | have had the hon or aud
privilege of speaking for the association as
Its president, and as tonight l thus speak
for the last time before relinquishing the
office to my successor / am sure you VIII
bear with me if | am some what more per
,onal than l should otherwise be.
The speaker then contrasted Burlington
as it was IS years ago, when he came to
aV,I / il FAg
with its numerous monuments to the generos-
ity OF those benefactors who have contri b.
uted to establishing tho educational,
rsligious, benevolent, and public institutions
.haU characterize the Queen City. Flo
poke especially of the growth OF the asso-
cation since tie employment OF the first
secretary 10 years ago, referred to the
generous response of all citizens for financial
and, the encouragement that should be felt
IN looking forward to the work of the
coming year, and stated that the aim will
in tho future as in the past be work for
Young men by young men. There are
three dimensions, says Phillips Brooks, OF
full human life; its length, its breadth,
It's height, and the object OF the association
is to enable all young men to attain this all
around symmetrical development.
mo stronger tribute to the influence of
the Young Mems Christian association have
/ ever heard than that given by promi-
nent business man who contrasted the char
acter OF the young men of our city ~
Or % years ago with those OF to-day. The
manifest Improvement in morals, and in
views and ideals of life he believed to be
argely due to the influence OF the associa-
ton. he association is often seid to be do
ing work of prevention and so 1T is, but
~ s.,I- - 9,l-x -
,truction With this view tho Importance
md the inspiration Of the work for boys in
The Junior department is clearly shown"
Mr. Van Patlen then spoke especially OF
that department and Of its value. The ply
steal and religious departments were also
spoken of and Secretary Gibson and Phys
cal Director Cook were pleasantly referred
to in tins connection for the share that they
have had i'll the good work done OF tn,
sduca civnal department Mr.. Van Patter
said. ''Plans for the future contemplate
still wider extension of their work. 1t il
hoped that what is known as University eX
tension work, which is attracting so muct
attention AID is so successful in many
places, be undertaken here and, if SO, tn,
association viii be ready and eager to CO
operate to the best of its ability
Continuing, he said, 81 cannot lay dowr
my office Us president without expressing
Io.nethIng of Iny hopes and desires for it
The gifts just received have put its futur,
beyond question so fur finance is con
,erned. What is its future to be, in an
other sense 1t will be, dear friends, what
you and l make it, not less, not moro
In such a place as Burlington an insti
lutional church in any full sense, canno
be maintained. But here is the mission o
she association. IL is and is to be NOR
and more the institution of all the churche,
to do their Institutional work. Here il
Burlington I believe that the associatio,
has been tho great factor III bringing abou
delightful spirit Of unity. But ! mos
aarnestly .ssirc 10 see tins grew until tEt
obligation is felt by every member of GU
churches to have nis name on the roll o
mem beers Of the association, and OF ever,
woman to belong to tho v oman's AuXil
larry"
The speaker stated that he had Away
had tho feeling that lie was called to tn
rork, and he had never doubted its success
tic felt that his successor came to the offic
with the same feeling. 81 have kept til
Dlce, - he snid, ''us long as there SCENE
to be an obligation requiring it, determine,
not to lay it down until ! felt there wa
no shadow across the future. IL
nm in some measure worthy OF tn
KIND words that have been said OF what
nave done as president Of this association
wish to testify that but Il small porto
rigE.iu!iy uelonss to me. There are man.
particular persons might ! speak Of but
would weary you with SO long a list
must acknowledge, however, the goo
services of our general secretaries and o
our present corps OF paid officers
After few cordial words addressed t
the new president, Principal 5. W. Lsndor
MIR. Van Patten closed 10y saying; " An
now with the prayer that our God Wi
abundanty bless His work and your wor
md be the guido and helper at all times,
rolinquish TO you, sir, tho office of presder
Of the Burlington Young Mems Chrstia
association.
General SeorstaIy's Report.
The FIRST part Of Secretary Gibsons =,
port was devoted to II statement of IT,
aocals and entertainments Of tina past yen
with the attendance al EACH There wei
seven lectures given with an average a
tendance of j38, and three practical tall
with an average attendance of -. IT
physical department has been a feature