The Portland daily press., 1894-05-14

whitman of Colby, Rev. w. S. Ayres,
Rev. M. 8. Hughes and General Secre-
tary Gale of Notwithstanding
Garland's Report.
Yesterday afternoon and evening were
marked by the very interesting anniversary
exercises of the Portland Young Mems
Christian Association. The associations
regular Sunday afternoon meeting was
made special occasion, and President
Whitman of Colby, was present and adj
dressed large audience.
In the evening, at the City hall, a very
large audience, filling floor and galleries,
gathered to listen to the anniversary exer-
cises proper.
The hall was very prettily decorated for
the occasion with bunting and streamers.
President Edgar R. Payson, presided, and
on the platform around him were gathered
many clergymen of the city; and other
friends of the association.
After the singing of ''All Hail the Power
Of Jesus's Name by the audience, Presi-
dent Payson addressed the audience briefly,
beginning by acknowledging the high COM
pliment paid to the association and its work
by SO large an attendance. This was the
forty-first anniversary of the association,
and the sons were now carrying on the
work begun by the fathers. The work had
grown and prospered, until its present home
was too small. Already fifty thousand dol
lars had been subscribed, and beautiful
and commanding location had been secured
for a building that would be one of the
city's noblest monuments. The additional
fifty thousand dollars needed would be sub
scribed readily, he believed, in ~order that
the work might go on unhampered, and for
the glory Of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev. W. H. Fem, D. D., of High street
church. made the opening prayer; and was
followed by Rev. G. E. Gate of the First
Free Baptist church, who read from the
Scriptures, selecting very appropriately the
familiar chapter beginning Eye are all sons
of,,the light
after singing by ethe audience of 'How
Firm Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord,
President Payson read a letter from Mayor
Baxter, expressing his regrets at being I'M
able to be present and preside, and his ap-
probation of the noble work which the
association is doing.
Secretary Edmund T. Garland was intro
duced to give the
REPORT OF THE GENERAL sECRE-
TARY.
Mr.. Garland began by reviewing the good
work done by the finance committee. the
Ladies' Auxiliary, and the reception COM
mfttee, whose attention had won the praise
of strangers from all parts of the world.
The aim of the association is to build up
Christian character, through educating and
religious influences. The prayer meetings,
especially those of Sunday afternoon, have
been very largely attended. The increase of
the whole work has taxed severely the
limited capacity of the present quarters.
AS part of Mr.. Garland's report the fol-
lowing facts were placed upon the pro-
gramme: Membership. May LIST, 1872; average
daily attendance at rooms, It's; average at
tendance at mems meetings, 120; average
attendance at prayer meetings 16, average
attendance at four receptions, 1865.
In the matter of finance the following
statements are made: The association
closes it's fiscal year with all bills for current
expenses paid.
Measures have been adopted so extinguish
the floating debt which has burdened the
association for several years. This debt,
which amounted to $4,000 September LIST, has
been reduced to $780,
the retiring president, Mr.. Theodore H.
johnson, spoke pleasantly of the work
during the last three years. There was
much hard work, but it was not all on the
president. The boys themselves were active
and enthusiastic laborers, and have made
Portland's Y. M. G. A. one of the best Or
gained in New England. The work was
well worth the time and effort.
The next introduction was a surprise to
the audience, as the programme did not
provide for it. Mr.. Payson than said that
he would present one of the representative
men of Maine in both educational and re-
ligious work, President Whitman of Colby.
MI. Whitman said that the Y. M. G. A.
was one of the greatest of the special
agencies for the elevation of man. Many
people derided special agencies. But some
times those who called the loudest for the
fool killer were the ones who had to do the
| most lodging when the fool killer arrived
(Applause0 Abraham Lincoln was asked
how long a mans legs should be to make a
good soldier. "Long enough to reach the
ground was the great Presidents answer.
| (LaughterD So as to special agencies for
saving men. There should be enough to
accomplish the work.
THE CIVIL WORK
done by an association like the Y. M. G. A.
should not be forgotten. In saving man
for heaven you are saving him for earth
also.
Rev. W. S. Ayres, pastor of the First
Baptist church, upon being introduced,
spoke Interestingly of the religious interest
among the educated young men of the
present day. A recent count has shown that
out of 5000 youngmen in American institu-
lions of higher learning, $4,000 are profess
ing Christians. Twenty-Five years ago one
Yale student out of ten was Christian.
Now the ratio is two out of five. In:Willimas
college the ratio was one out of two, and
now it is four out of five.
Rev. Matt. s. Hughes. spoke upon one
article of his own creed which was belief in
| the Y.M.C. A.,which is carrying on work for
| a much neglected class. A hundred years ago
| the young ladies might have been called the
| neglected class, but now we are inclined to
| go to the other extreme and forget the
| young men. At the present time the young