The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-11
THE SECRETARIES MEET
PRELIMINARr TO the coyyEyTJoN
Or .he Young Mems Christian Association.
which Assemblies To-Day-severaI Able
Pspers-Thosc Who Are Here.

As q preliminary meeting 10 the state Con-
vention the fifth annual convention of the
general and assistant secretaries and physical
directors Of the Virginia Young Mems Chris
tian Associations was opened yesterday after
noon at $3.50 o'clock in the directors room OF
the Association Luilding. The exercises were
opened with prayer service.
On motion of Mr.. McCaughey Mr. II. o. VIII
lians was appointed chairman Of the confer
ence and on motion OF M. w. ID. Voorhees,,
of Norfolk. Mr. }. L. Alice. Jr.. was elected
secretary. The following secretaries reported
present: II. O. Williams. State secretary; J..
T. Dadmun. assistant State secretary; W. b.
Haight, assistant State secretary; J. T..
Grubb secretary of the railroad branch al
shenandoah: W. f. McCaughey general secre-
tary of Lynchbury: j. i. Att e. Jr.. general
secretary Of Danvlle A. b. Paul. general
secretary Of Portsmouth; A. Candllsh,
general secretary OF Richmond; w. y.
Voorhees,. general secretary OF Norioik
Il. - Alichaels. secretary railroad branch
Of Richmond. Fred. A. Gains. of PortsmOth
Lee c. Ellingt n; J.. II. Hall. general secre-
tary of Pulaski James J.. Templeton. as
slstant secretary Of stanton: /. h, Wood
house. of Staunton: Bertram Cousins. as
sstant secretary OF Norfolk Charles ). Dor
rance, acting secretary OF Petersburg g. /.
Foster, OF Norfolk II. +. Smith, physical
director If Richmond W J.. Radcliffe, gene
raj secretary Of Harrisonburg W. VI. Baker.
of Richmond.
The first paper to be read was by Mr..
Thomas A. Johnson. of Roanoke, on 'finan-
cial Difficulties How Best 10 Overcome
Them" Mr. Johnson having not yet arrived
his paper was laid over. Sir. ". D. Noor-
hees Of Norfolk, read paper on the topic
ttlorr For ~ tho (,avoral Cporatnrv ResUUUgf-
Die for the Success of the Association! Iho
PAPER was as follows
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY.
No set of rulescan be prescribed whereby il
can be set forth Just bow TAR tie reapohslDh-
ity rests upon tAe general secretary lof lAo
success OF the work. The word properly
means possessing tie ability TO RESPOND. --oiu
BeacOnsfeld SAID. The wav TO succeed is -
he ready when your opportunity CONES.
Many A candidate tOr the secretary sAlp mas
read with fear and trembling the llterLa-
ti0nalpamphlet entitled The Ohceahu W DIX
of q General Secretary, and many more nave
been induced through reading IL 10 give up
"A long-cherished desire 20 become "a general
secretary. Why do You ask. Because no
finds there ara qualifications required WAch,
if he does not possess. he Will be held reapCn-
sb.e for the work # 10 does not succeed.
II We illustrate by contrast we WOMB say
the condition OF the Association as past. is
for tie successful work OF bis church. Inc
secretary is lust as responsible and the same
Oblieati rs rest upon him as tie success or an
army rests ON upon the ability OIL ITS general.
The secretary is the inspiring genus OF the
ASSOCIATION, and u he does not possess lAe eA-
ecutiye ability OF 10 general in originating plans
and oreauiZIg his men int committees Tor
faithful work be viii soon le led to tlnk That
the lord has not called hlm % wOrAIOr youns
men, am inclined t. the opinion JluL Me
rs secretaries are apt % think we are tAe
hardest working set OF men ia tAe WoIu'
when the fact is there are many OF ur dlfec-
tors and members VINO wofk JIsI 81 a.
lard as we DO and as many hours.
THIS leads as o. think that because
We work bard success ought to crown
our efforts. Success comes quickest 10 tle
man who work. the hardest, but we must
possess the ability and requirements Oh ths
secretarls ship, or work a5 we may we VII
not be successful. If were asked 10 answer
this question in ono sentence / would say
that the secretary Is entirely respons.Die lot
the success oil the Association II ho does not
possees tLr ability Ofsetting other men toWork.
Mr. Mo0dv's OttTeneated saying. yel h,He
the less true should be the motto Of every
General secretary lie says had rather
nut ten men 20 work than do the " Tx OF ten
men If could" From tho very nature OF
the organization this talent is required above
all others. IL the secretary does not possess
enough personal magnetism to gather around
him set of young men VINO Will ne
Glad TO follow his advice and carry Out
h,s plans for the welfare OF the young men
IN the community should say he Was ah
utter failure as n secretary. ito must not
only do the thinking and originate plans II
the Association. but he must set me example
as well. Not that be should 90 all Tic W9i n,
but when the proper time comes ne 7Aou.d
~ NV.
the Association. both IN theory and practice.
lie should manifest deeper interest I'D the
souls OF the young men of the community
than auy other member ia the Association.
lie is the leader. and II ho does not set the eA-
ample who are The young men TO loHo"t III
greeting members and strangers no eh uld seI
an example which the members Oh me lecep-
ton committee could profit 10y following.
This principle should be followed in all de-
pertmouts of the work. In short, the secrc-
iory sboul be the best all-round
worker in the association. II lie is mex
peruced or indifferent 10 any department
the Association Will DO weak at that point. no
branch " the work should escape his Htten-
ton. nor can he Afford 10 slight any depart
meut because be does not appen 20 nave
personal taste for such WORK. J ne secretary
il responsible SD far as he keeps pace With
the improvements and pr gress OF tho WoiA.
lie should not fail 20 attend the state ahu lu-
ternatiOna me tlngs or neglect 10 ecqualnJ
himself with the proceedings OF these gather
iHes ia case it ls impossible 10 attend. Lack
Of proper training Tor tie waIk has beeu inc
cause Of failure IN many cases. In tLls ddy
and generation with orr schools and CORES
poudelce courses Instituted for the special
purpose OF iustrucung young men lor .his
work there Is no excuse Tor any secretary
pleading Ignorance of right methods.
l.u viii observe from the suggestions
male that the responsibility is placed
almost entirely upon the general secretary.
where believe II rests. If q man posses es
the Qualifications and has corsecrated Aln-
self t. work for young men there Is ho
reoson why he should not succeed There
are secretaries who have failed IN one place
and succeeded ia another but these are i-o-
lated cases where some peculiar local cOLdl-
tiou has governed circumstances 81 sucn az
extent that failure was inevitable. IL God
has laid his finger upon young man and the
-ereDbim has touched his lips with live
coal from Oh OF the altar OF God and given
MN burning desire for the souls OF men
there is 10 such thing as failure.
The sixteenth annual state Convention Of
the Aoung Mems Christian Association OK
Kiroiniu will be opened this afternoon at the
Second Baptist church at 1880 O'Clock. The
attendance promises to be very large one
ard oulte "A number oi delegates began 90
arrive ~ early as yesterday morning l. p TO
late last evening the following representa-
tives IN associations from other parts OF the
State reported Al the Association building
and were assigned 10 homes in the families OF
r,tigsns of Richmond. }. l.. Atee, Jr., OF
e. Nfsi loo