The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-01-12

the N. Il. church Sunday evening:
The hops or despair Of any country o.
community lies with its rising generation
This proposition Is almost automatic
Man is bundle Of habits. Where one mar
of mature years is found who combines
earnest desire and sufficient power Of will t.
reform his habits there are hundreds wht
are practically incompetent to do SO. Th'
young men of to-day will be the directors Of
human Affairs tomorrow, and as good or bad
predominates in their ranks now. so 1t viii
10 likely to predominant in intensified degree
In the men of affairs q few years hence.
Owosso has within her borders more
young men than towns Of this size usually
have. Does Owosso fully realize her re-
sponsibiity? These young men are for the
most part honorably employed during the
day. In the evening, how? Their leisure
time; how does Owoss0 invite them to spend
thats Nineteen saloons are open early and
late with boisterous welcome for ALL One
fnds satisfaction there and influences others
to go, and so it Is with the pool rooms, card
rooms, private club rooms and other ques-
tionable resorts Astounding here Even the
beautiful Armory building, erected and
opened under such favorably suspicious
circumstances must be very zealOusly
guarded by the authorities of the place to
keep 1t from degenerating into mere loaf
ing place, il not to something worse. 1t is
hoped that its influence will continue to be
helpful and good.
Now, what is Owosso doing to actively
counteract evil Influences? What oppor-
tunities does she afford Dung men to spend
their leisure time amid eleyating surround
ingss She has supplied churches generously
and they are doing grand work. but it is
impossible for them to be as as practically
aggressive with young men as the situation
demands. He may go to church Sunday
evening and feel greatly moved to better
things. but Monday evening and Tuesday
and the rest the old influence may prove
stronger than his own will and he Is back
in the old groove again. But Owosso has
provided one institution which is organized
for the sole purpose of elevating young men
and think we may assume that the Y. M.
G. A. is the only organization in the city
adequately equipped for the real needs of
young men. Its rooms are open every day
and evening and young men may always be
assured of a warm welcome there. The
preamble of the constitution reads:
I'VE, the subscribers, actuated by de-
sire to improve the spiritual, intellectual,
social and physical condition of the young
mon residing in or visiting this city or
vicinity, and to promote evangelical religion
among them, unite in forming an assOcia-
ton therefor"
And section of article III reads:
1T shall be the duties of the members to
seek to bring young men of Ow0sso under
elevating aud Christian influences by such
means as shall be deemed best by the Board
of Directors or by the Association and to en-
gage efr0m time to time in such special or
occasional labors as tend to the furtherance
of the object Of the Association"
Every member becomes missionary, :,
quietly exerting an influence for good among
his associates. Owosso's Y. M. G. A. is
equipped with good working gymnasium,
and splendid system of baths-these agen-
'cieo to promote the physical condition of
young men. A comfortable room, well
supplied with interesting games; numerous
socials and receptions in which the Ladies'
Auxiliary always lead, tend to supply the
social needs. A large reading room well
supplied with all the best periodicals, a good
library, represent the effort TO supply intel
lectual food. The presence of the General
Secretary, thorough Christian young man,
ever ready to sympathize and counsel with
young men;and the Sunday gospel meetings
FOR men. are the visible spiritual agencies In
the work. Is not this logical organiza-
tiOnf 1t attracts young men, physically,
socially, Intellectually and spiritually. 1t |
in no way conflicts with the work of the
church, but should be and is a an important |
ally to all The churches.
The Owosso Y.M.C. A. has been marked |
success from the beginning. 1t has grown
from charter membership of twelve at Its |
Nov. IL, 1887, to an actual |
of 23S at the present time. OF |
this number, los are active and 1873 are
associate members. In point of member |
ship Owosso ranks fifth among the associa-
tions of the state, Detroit. Grand Rapids,
Kalamazoo. Saginaw alone outranking us.
The total attendance at the Association |
rooms during the past year was 27,375, or
an average Of exactly Is for every day of |
the year. The fact that rs young men
visited these rooms every day evidences the |
need Of the rooms. One could only con-
lecture where these rs young men might |
eventually resort IL the Y. M. G. A. rooms |
were not available to them.
Three hundred fourteen attended IS ses-
sions Of the Bible class, held at the Asso- |
citation rooms by General Secretary Camp |
bell, or an average Of about thirteen at each |
session. The aggregate attendance at the
50 mems gospel meetings held Sunday
afternoons at the rooms was 3.175 or an
average of "a at each meeting. To illustrate |
tho a00roeaiva uof,,ro NJ tbo NJ n