The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-11-09
ANNUAL REPORT
Of the President of the Henderson
Y. M. G. A., Read at the Ami
versary Exercises in the Meth
odist EpiscopalChurch Sunday
Night.

versary Exercises in the Meth
odist Episcopal Church Sunday
Night.
Another year has come and gone,
but until our General Secretary came
in May, so little was done that l do
not think it worth my while to give a
detailed account of it. However, l
would say we held our Sunday gospel
meetings regularly, and kept the rooms
| open-eXcept six weeks. Let me say
Just here that we found that General
Secretary was an absolute necessity
for the proper management Of \ Dung
Mems Christian Association.
| say this because some seem to
think his very unimportant position.
Experience teaches us that there must
be some one to direct the work. Some
one around whom the entire work
must revolve. Since the time referred
to the attendance at the rooms has
been on the increase from week to
week. The daily attendance for Sep
TENDER was g.; for October IS, and
better yet our young men seem to feel
more at home in the rooms than ever
before.
Since May we have held "A gospel
meetings, with an attendance Of SS4
men. An average Of 81 at each meet
ing. Twenty-one committee and board
meetings; meetings of Women s
Auxiliary; 2 receptions were given by
ladies; 81 young men furnished to
wait on the sick all night, and this my
friends is real Christian work. "Inas-
much as We have done it unto one Of
the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me-
Hotels are visited and lists of differ
ent churches and Y. M. c. A. services
addressed to guests arriving on Satur-
day and early Sabbath. Invitations to
Young mems service are distributed
weekly.
There are people who think a Gen
eral Secretary gets ''tat'' salary and
does practically nothing in return. Let
us take birds eye view Of the work
of our popular, aggressive and conse-
Grated Secretary and see how this is:
lie has made 75S calls; has written 3G5
letters; made a visits to the sick;
present at % religious services; planned
all printed matter-32 forms in all
| mapped out all work Of committees,
and attended all committee meetings,
amounting to %, including auxiliary
meetings, and kept record Of same;
kept reading room in shape, handling
1872 periodicals weekly; planned, super
intended and canvassed for baths and
put in other improvements; circulated
| or sold 81 religious books; secured IA
| subscribers to Rams Horn; gave away
| a large number Of tracts; assisted in
revivals; preached for four churches !
times. Conducted 5 prayer meetings;
gave public address in interest Of Y.
NJ c. A. work; kept up office work
and attended the rooms, and was al
ways on the lookout to give every one
a cordial handshake and smile Of
welcome, making all feel at home
Beside there are many things a secre.
tary does that can rot be written.
1t is a special source Of delight tc
see the increasing number Of youn5
men visiting the rooms. We empha.
size the fact that our rooms are kept
open every day in the week for the
benefit of the young men. There are
several places in our town with oper
doors-with screens in front-to dras
men down to ruin and degradation. anl
so far as l know this is the only public
home for young men in our town whose
doors are always open, and where they
are surrounded by elevating and home
like influences. Christian men an(
women of Henderson. it's for you t
say whether this one home shall bt
kept open for our boys. Now, fellow
members of the Association, it is nc
for us to sit idly by and see our Sec
rotary do ali the work. but each one O
us must do his part. Then if we will
only 90 forward in the footsteps of the
young man of Gallilee we shall Ger
tainly have abundant success and saw
the young men Of our town for Chris
and the church.
Respectfully submitted.
+. r. HARRIS.
President.