The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-15
Y. M. C. A. ANNIVERSARY
ANNUAL MEETING OF TIE xSsoCI-
ALTON OF RICHMOND.
Encouraging Reports From the President
work-Dircctors Elected.

~
large hall OF the Association building.
and the room was crowded TO the doors
with friends OF the institution. Mr.. S.
" Travers occupied the chair and the
s,ace was occupied by a number OF min
,sters and prominent Christian workers.
The programme consisted OF appropriate
ser,.iccs. music and the reports of the
oeicers Of the Association. The music
vas by Mrs. John II. Knowles. contralto
Mr. &. II. Cloves, baritone, and Shepherd
webb. accompanist. President Travers'
address was as follows:
La lies and Gentlemen:
This is our thirty-ninth anniversary,
and II gives me great pleasure TO have
Won hsre, and. in behalf Of the ASso-
cistion, 10 bid you welcome to our halls.
II gives me great pleasure TO state that,
in my opinion. the past year has been
the most prosperous and useful one in
The history OF the ssOciation.
TWO years ago our membership was 5g7
One year ago II was so. Now II is &C.,
During the past year We have raised for
current expenses from membership Gees
aud private subscriptions from friends OF
tho work in Richmond $500. The money
has been well spent. and every depart
inent Of our work-educatlonal. physical
social and religious. has been pushed for
ward and developed.
We are greatly encouraged that this
work for young men is being more and
more appreciated. and meeting with such
approval and support by our people.
And yet. my friends. in proportion to our
reputation, we are behind some of our
sister cities in the amount OF money we
are spending on this work. Here are the
statistics
ichmond-PCpulation. $1,000; member
ship. expended. 1920; pro rata, $3.50.
Atlanta. Ga.--Populaticn. $500; mem
bership. 1888; expended. s7.429 pro rata,
SOB.
Nashville. Emancipation. 5000;
membership. 1907; expended, $500; pro
rata. s95.
savannah. Ga.-Population. $1,000; mem
bership, 26i; expended, $O64; pro rata.
$3.50.
Norfolk. Va.-Population. $4,000; men,
bersiIp. SEQ; expended. 1923; pro rata.
$40.
Charleston. 5. C.-Population. $1,000;
membership. 456; expended. $3.50; pro
rata. 5000
Asheville. y. C.-Population. 10000: mem
bership. 405; expended, ABS; pro rata,
1850.
Thus IL will be seen that our work has
been carried on here at much less cost
per member than that OF any Of the
cities named. Taking seven Southern
cities. IL VIII be seen that Richmond
stands first in population. second in MEM
bership. and last in pro rata eXpendi-
ture. and as we believe no Association
in the South affords its members attrac-
lions superior 10 those found In this
buildings IL reflects credit upon your
board OF directors for juCicious and eco
nouical management of the money placed
IN It's hands.
And permit me to say word in behalf
Of your board Of directors. They are
busy men. as we'll as business mea. They
have contributed freely. both time and
money to this Associa ion.
There are some members on the heard
who have been there COR years. and have
been willing to stay there and labor on at
considerable personal sacrifice. trying 10
uphold this good work in the community.
They have only been able to do so by
criu- from store 10 store. Office to Office,
begging This community TO- money 10
keep zap "a work. not for their personal
benefit, but for the communtys.
Vow. as a business man. talking TO bus
mess men, / hold that this community
ought not TO compel it's servants TO do
This disagrceable work. And the board
has been willing 70 GO 1t, simply because
having looked into the merits of the
work, they believe from practical knowl-
,lc-, and as practical men, that this
work ought 10 be upheld. And they
f.rther believe that there are many prom
irert and pubHc-spirited citizens in this
r.-y who do hut little or nothing for this
work, simply because they have not care
fully Investigated its claims to their sup
port.
have been connected with the work
only about five or six years, but it has
l-au long enough 60 convince me that it
IS doing a great work for the young men
- Richmond
Us objects are Contradictions, intel
lectual. social physical. Thus it will be
seen that our aims are as mu!tiform as
th- wants Of mans complex nature.
Iu the religious field. | regard the Asso-
citation as an arm Of the church, doing
picket duty on the outer lines. and we
believe IL IFS reaching men that the church
cannot reach 50 well in any other way
Whilst this Association is for all young
me1. I believe it is Of special value to
young men without homes.
j, is a well-known fact that young men
afr DESERVING the country and fiocking to
the cities. They are coming. coming nay.
they are here and the question is. What
arc We going to do with them? The prob
abilities are hat the first year Of their
residence here viii, in a large measure,
determine whether they are TO become
hlrlen-bearers or burdens upon the com
nuuity. They come. and II they succeed
in getting employment during the day.
hey aye safe; but when night comes on
thny leave their boarding houses and go
oai-possbly with no definite object in
uew-and The result is they soon fall into
bad company and bad habits.
10 is right here that the Association
steps ia and tries TO get hold Of them by
Offering IN, advantages of a moral and
attractive club-room, freed from the per-
manus Influences Of vice, and where they
may ind both healthful pastlme and i'm
pr1f-ment.
If they want exercise. ct them so into
o-f gymnasium. or bowling-aliey
'Nr gym rasium is thoroughly equipped
WIN tae most modern and improved APP
ptrt'-s. and all under the supervision OF
Professor Horace r. Smith. a thoroughly
competent instructor who has brought
DIS department Of our work 10 a high
point N proficiency Health and strength
is the aim OF this department.
" thr young man Is seeking sociability.
he whl find ii place for this in our well
warmed and well lighted parlors. aided by
a piano and organ.
III Dc wants a quiet game or chess. he
VII find comfortable room on the third
moor. dedicated exclusively 10 this noble
ana uine-hOnOred game.
in the beginning OF this report I re-
ferred 20 our gains OF the lest year and
now / must refer TO our loss-that Of