The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-05-01

The fill anniversary of the Young
Mems Christian Association was cele-
braLed last night In the Central Pres.
byterlan Church. Floral decorations
were arranged about the church taste.
fully and delightful music was fur
nished by the church choir. The exer-
cises opened with an anthem by the
choir, when Rey. q. i. Hendricks read
the scripture, choosing psalms anu
NIX for the lesson of the evening.
Rev: W. 7. Swartz prayed ending with
the Lords PRAYER.
President Pyle then presented his
annual report, during which he said
With profound gratitude to God, |
bid you welcome to this fifth anniver-
saiy of the Y. VI. G. A. We feel thnnk-
full that health and strength haG been
granted us as individuals, and a rea.
sonable degree OF prosperity has been
given Us as an association. Tho year
OF 1898 4 will pass Into history as a
year OF sorrow. distress and gloom. A
year In which manufacturing indus
tries were suspended and thousands
OF workmen seeking In vain for work
Our association has suffered
in membership and finances. The de-
preston was at one time so serious
that, with bills pressing and payment
demanded. with an empty treasury
and no prospect OF an Increase In col.
lection. the directors felt that the life
OF the association was at stake.
The depressing times have caused a
smull decrease In the membership OF
the association, but not to an extent
feared. The membership now Includes
207 active and 1859 associate members,
or total OF 376.
Harry Emm ons submitted his re-
port as treasurer of the association.
The expenditures were $5,3O5 80 and
receipts s5,3oS.57 leaving balance OF
$3.lS.
The estimated expenses Of the cur.
rent year is $4,000, of which sum $3.50
have been secured by subscription,
leaving $500 to provided for.
Secretary Davis report said the
work here was great but tho facilities
are totally Inadequate for the work.
but there lie scarcely any association
elsewhere thet can show better results
with similar equipment. Although
but live years Old this association has
put seven young men into the Y Mo
A. work. and In addition a largo NUM-
Der hAve been influenced to Join the
church, and a still greater number
have been qulckGned Into active work.
ers. lhirty.Hye thousand yisitors
have been brought into touch with re-
tious have been held, at which there
were S9i persons present and $40. 10 In
money were contributed to the treas.
ury funds.
The physical department is doing
well and is popular pnrt OF the y NJ
@. A. work. During the year 1896 per-
sons have exercised in tile gymnasium
In answer to letters on this subject
twenty-three persons have reported as
being benefited physically by the gym.
naslun. twenty.elgllt hayo bean bene-
lifted religiously and fifteen have
Joined the church as a result of the
nssoci ation's work.
Following the reports, addresses
were made by Reys. Merritt. Hubbard
and $. b. Meeser and President Pyle
then took the floor. lie spoke briefly
OF the movement for O nav hall. Al
ludlng to the funds In hand. held by
the Ladies' Auxiliary Society, as a
basis of the building fund. he asked
everybody who was willing to help in
collecting funds to stand up All the
members OF the association and many
others responded. In order to start
the fund lie announced that he would
give $1,000 for that purpose II four
other persons could be found to give
$1,000 each.
W. X. Crosby, In response to Mr..
Pyle's proposition. said 5000 would
not amount to much in building II hall;
he proposed to be one OF ilrty persons
to give 1900 each, and proposed a
public meeting at which tho matter
should be discussed.
President Pyle Immediately respond
ed that he would meet Mr.. Crosby's
demand for quicker work and wou Id
| cheelfully be one CT ten perso 8 ia
give 5000 at once IL tie other nine
could be found. lie made his lfrsi
offer a permanent one by giving the
directors until Thanksgiving Day t.
] lind four other persons who woulC
subscribe $1,000 each to the building
fund.