The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-11
roR OUR roUy0 MEN.
A Resum. OF the Work st the 4. III. "
outlook for tho Future.

A Resume OF the Work st tine H. me- ~ ne
outlook for tho Future.
When Mr.. Alexander Candlish entered
mon his duties as general secretary OF the
young Mans Christian Association on marcn
IL 1891. the organization had b9I member.
sirca them tho institution has been grow
inc .te.d,Iy and at the regular montniy
Meeting Of the board of directors held IN
tho rarlor of the Association building 90
last TUESDAY evening Secretary Canon,n
could report. with certain amoun. % 49,
deserved pride, that bis srduous woik oui-
inc ths mast sighteen months had not oeen
in vain. and that during that time by actuai
count the man bership had rolled mp 70 s3f.
Whsn the institution lost its executYe
had hv the death OF the lamented ID. L.
Wlkinson in December 1890. the board OF
directors were at sea where TO nno tue inost
suitable successor. Some OF the directors
advoeated the selection of young man
from this CITY whom they thought TO De
hast fitted TO take charge Of the Leadership
of the Richmond young men. Others VINO
took a broader view on the subject. favored
the appolntment OF q man who had GER
tam amount of experience IN aseoclsli9n
work and who had been educated 70 the
difficult and responsible task OF managing
the institution TO the best interest or all
standing when MIR. c. ilish took hold OK
the administration to give the newcomer
as much leeway as possible TO enable MIN
10 prove to the directors and members wne-
thsr be possessed the desired executive
ability. Since then Mr.. Candlish has MADE
numerous suggestions as 10 the oetaiis "
the management from time to time anu the
members of the board. placing the 1uIiest
confidence in the abilities OF their executive
officer. in every instance Endorsed his views.
In taking this position they did not make
mistake as the events OF the past eighteen
months have clearly proven.
FORMERLY all the monthly meetings OF
the board were rather dreaded by Its men,
beers, for they hardly brought before them
ANYTHING else but the difficult problem, bow
to raise the money to keep the INSTITUTION
overcome to great extent, and much
better spirit prevails at the meetings or
the directors. While the Association Is not
vet self-sustaining, and will not be prooa-
bly for some time TO come. 1t 10 great
deal easier to collect the necessary funds
outside of membership fees. The citizens
of Richmond have become convinced that
money given to the Association Is well In
vested. and the success of the insttution
largely assists the directors on their visits
among our business men, who are at pres
ent more willing to go into their pockets
than in former years.
Last Tuesdays meeting Of the board was
in every respect successful one. The at
tendance was large. and even the members
who live out of town during the summer
months we're present. Mr.. Howard Swine
ford had made personal sacrifice in post
poning his return to his farm near Drewry.s
Bluff in Chesterfield county until after mid;
night and MIR. John II. West had ordered
his carriage TO take him TO Bon Air at the
close of the meeting.
AS usual good deal of routine business
was transacted. number of bills ordered
TO be paid. etc. Mr.. John K. West was
elected treasurer OF the Association 70 M
the vacancy caused by the resignation Of
Mr.. s. II. Bowman at the time OF his re-
moval to Washington.
Mr.. Candlish submitted a statement as TO
the amount of money which he thought
ought to be raised outside OF membership
fees between now and the end of the fiscal
year on February /, 1898, TO cover necessary
expenses and secure a small surplus in
bank for unforeseen expenditures. The
amount was considered comparatively small
and the board expect TO raise 1t without
great difficulty.
The secretary reported that the gymna-
SUM had been overhauIed and was in tho
rough repair. ready for the beginning of the
season. Its membership promises to be
large, good many addluons having alreauy
been made. He also submitted his report
as to the educational classes, which will be
opened on September 18th, and to which.
up to that day September 9th. forty three
mem bers had entered their names.
The religious work in the Association was
also discussed at some length, and Mr..
Candlish briefly laid before the board the
result in the work during the past Formerly
the best average attendance at the young
mems meetings on Sunday afternoon was
thirty-fve. During the past year or
so the attendance has hardly ever been less
than 100, even on the hottest Sundays
during the present summer. The secretary
impressed the members of the board with
the necessity of their presence at these
meetings, and expressed the hope that
hereafter the board would always be repre-
scented by some of its members at these
meetings.
pRIkEIP4I9.