The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-09

association was held April IS, 1853. in the
vestry OF the Mathewson street Methodist
church. Mr.. Amos G. Barstow WAS
elected chaiIman and Mr.. ii. M. Clemons
secretary. Ihe subject discussed was:
do We Need and Shall We Proceed To
Organize a Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION"
At the third meeting held May o il was
VOTED THAT IL was expedient to form n
Young Mems Christian association" A
COMMITTEES was appointed TO look up the
matter and TO report on the
workings OF such organizations else
where. June 18Th this report was given
and the methods in vogue in the New
York aud Bosom associations were given.
o. October 10. 1853, was held the meet
ing when the Y. M. G. A. of Providence
WAS formally organized. Hon. Amos G..
Barstow was elected pr tsident aud Henry
M. Crapston 3, cretary. The charter OF
the organization was obtained IN January
OF the following year.
Its First Home.
In the meantime the different commit
tees appointed had been hard at work.
aud on January "a. 1854. the Y. M. C. A..
looms were opened IN what was known
as Hoppin hall. 10 Westminster street.
The association continued in these rooms
until Jan. I, 1861.
Daring the war the association took an
active part. Companies l and X OF the
18th Rhode Island regiment and Com
pany A. OF the 12th Rhode Island were
formed from the association.
The association moved its headquarters
t. % Weybosset street In 1861. From
1875 TO 1871 the association was deeply In
debt. Mr.. Brownell. the president
duriag that period, managed To re-
duce the debt, amounting to 5000,
considerably. During the next year the
present system OF sustaining membership
WIS introduced and $50 sustaining men,
bers were obtained during that year.
Another Change OF Quarters.
In 1881 the association moved into its
quarters at 276 Westminster, in the
Music Hall building. Here under the
presidency Of Mr.. A. b. McCuller
everything sesmed to prosper. On
gentlemen met 10 talk of procuring a
building for the association. aud Mr..
Rowland Hazard wa appointed chairman
of an advisory committee. During
the winter OF 1886 the subscrip-
ton Committee took preliminary
steps to raisi g the needed funds. Tue
first subscriDtion was $40. 900 made by
Mr.. Heury ]. Steere. o. May o. 1887
almost the whole snm outside of a
few thousand dollars had been pledged.
On March IL, 1889. the ground was
broken for the new building, and on
August II. the corner sto 10 was laid. |
The building was formally opened Novem-
Der 10. following. Mr.. II. s. 1arbell,
superintendent OF public schools, was
president OF the association at this time,
Mr.. Rowland Hazard, president OF the
board OF trustees. Mr.. Tarbell
cises. Mr.. Hazard me ntioned the
fact that Buffalo aud New York city
were the only two places having YIN {. A.
organizations before Providence. He
dwelt upon the increased work OF the
association and OF its value In any com |
muniiy.
Present Condition of the association.
The association is at present in a -four
ishing condition. The last annual re-
port shovel n membership OF over two
thousand. During the past year the most
important event has been the 2od an-
nual conference of the general secreta-
rles OF the Y. NJ. G. A. $50 delegates
were entertained aud a most successful
convention y as held. The financial con
dition OF the association is good. or
he 500, 500 debt on the building. over
Sll,OV0 has been subscribed toward pay. |
ment. while there is no Increased indebt. |
ness In current expenses. During the
year the association has received $1,000
in beqlesL Evening classes have
beet held during the winter for
which only n slight fee has been charged
and the work in this direction has been
very succetstu. lbreo hundred aud
tbirty-two young men attended during
the last year. Tue usual work In the line
OF entertainments. receptions. mission aud
other religious work has been acco NJ.
plished. Edward M. Pierce, VI. d., is
present president Of the association.
Thee have been nineteen presidents
as folio $: ls53-55, Amos G. Barstow;
1888. Johu k%innsOury: lS5s-59. Joseph {,
Hartsnurn. ls59-G2. r merry LINN; ls62-63,
VIII am NJ. RDdman; 1896, John w.
Vernon; 1865 Go. j. iialsey de Wolf; is6s-TO,
Fraucis ". Carpenter; 1S7U.12,
John Kendr CT; ls72-75. Thomas W.
Chase; 1895 -. Stephen Browneli;
ls5s-73. tuarles "A. Hopkins. ls1gsl,
George Il r.. hinckiey; 1ssl-s3, A. Is VI
Crillis; lSS3-S5. Amos u. Bowen; lSS5-S1,
Char e. + Taylor: 1857 80, BepjsmH r.
Arnold; 1851 81, Horace >. rarbeil; 1891 g3,
William A. Spiers.
The association will also celebrate the
~birtndartof George Will ms. the founder
OF the Y. NJ. Z. a. Ia 1874 ia London.
which occurs Oct. IL
Matter of some Moment.