The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-09

which. Walter l.. Douglass, secretary
OF the Young Mems Christian assosia-
ton. of PnilHdslphis, delivered u brief
Tut earnest aud telling address.
In the morning at the Penn Avenue
Baptist church, l.. NJ. Horton gave
the report and George A.. Warburton.
general secretary OF the Railroad
Young Mems Christian Association, Of
New York city. delivered an address
that was well received. AT the Green
Ridge Presbyterian church the report
was read by W. &. PArke and W. b
Millar, secretary OF the S,vsnty-.hirl
street branch, New York, was the
speaker. General secretary, f +. See.
Of Brooklyn. spoke at the Washburn
Street Presbyterian church, aud Ar
thur Lewis, state secretary OF N9w
Jersey at the Dunmore Presbyterian
church. S. NJ. Bard, OF Wilkes Barre,
was the speaker al the Jackson Street
Baptist church, and George Il Many.
sesrstary Of the Scranton association
spoks in the Providence Mstnodist
Episcopal church.
The report read in the churches was
prepared by A W. dickson, president
Of the Scranton Young Mems Christian
association. 1t was M follows:
II REPORT FOR THE YEAR.
During the year just brought to Il close,
the Scranton Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION has lived, moved and had its
being without any special or wonderful
happenings. Work In its various depart
ments has been prosecuted quietly, hut we
stuck efficiently, along old lines, and some
new ones. and tho blessing OF God has
rested upon all efforts made by the board
Of management, its secretaries and its
committees.
It has been a year Of peace. The prayer
of the Psalmist, Peace Be Within Thy
Walls" hos been abundantly answered Of
God, even II the prosperity for which He
prayed has not been as fully realized as
We might have wished, but no jar has dis
turbed the harmony which ought TO OBJ.
tain in a Christian association, aud the
message which w have heard from the
beginning that we should love one an
other We have tried to heed and obey, and
rs a consequence the service has been d
delight, aud only d delight because OF
Christian sympathy and fellowship.
IL has been a year Of activity. At nc
time during your presidents memory has
tue building been more f%requeuted, or its
facilities more largely usrd. On account,
possibly, of the prevailing dizziness in bust
ness and consequent lack Of employment,
our rooms have been thronged as never
before, the daily average OF attendance
being 493.
The building has demonstrated its use.
tulness as never before, and many a young
man far from home has found q cordial
greeting, a hearty hand shake, and a com,
fnrfa hla nlaaa m raat or cfuAu fha IA; I'd
impossible to him. You will agree with
me that ours Is the most cosmopolitan
building in our city when l suggest thai
some thirteen organizations religious
commercial, charitable and musical center
IN and call 1t home, and IN general sucl
accommodation 10 entirely free. The dali,
attendance at the reading room alone hal
been 3I5. Who can estimate the value O
such a place, under Ach influences, in
city whore bad places and bad influence
fboundl
EDUCATION WORK
A word as to the educational work o
the year. We have undertaken and car
ried on u more extended work in this di
rection than usual. The excellent worl
on educational lines pursued in other year
has suggested greater possibilities, Their
beiug NO limit, excepting lack OF mean
and facilities. Teachers can be had, stu
dents are willing and anxious to be taught
and it has seemed to he the word Of tb
Lord that we go forward in this direction
We lind that nearly IS per cent. OF thos
attending our classes came into the asso
! citation expressly because Of educations
opportunities. 1t is II happy omen and
prophecy of good Of onr city when its har
working young men spend their evening
in study and self.improvent. / am glad I
take this public opportunity to thank th
faithful men who, at personal sacrifice
have made our educational work possibl
and profitable by giving Of time and talen
in this service. ! would respectfully refe
to the excellent report Of ouf secretary 70
statistics concerning this department.
We are fortunate In our physical depart
ment. Director Weston is u man for tn
> time and for the place. Good influence
and good order go hand in hand in on
gymnasium, and, So far rs possible, wit
t the equipment at hand, nothing but tn
, best work is done. The daily average {
visitors TO this department Is over on
, hundred and forty, and ninety men TAX
dnily exercise During the year bat
4 rooms have been improved and extended
and orders have been given for large
, heating capacity. The bathing depart
nent is now as 1t shQnld be. One improve
, ment In the gymnasium proper is urgentl
needed, and that is the removal OF th
pillars which obstruct and interfere, an
should be replaced with a system Of tru'
support for the hall above, thus leavin
2 the whole room free from obstruction.
! The outdoor sports SO pleasant au az
l junct to the work OF thil department we
7 particularly successful and pleasing lai
suIhmrr, and large plans are 10 the min
, and on the heart OF our director for III
coming season. The lack OF a good athlet
Geld near 10y and under orr W control
seriously felt.
SOCIAL WORK DONE.
Is The social work has been under the d
h rection of a most excellent reception cor
& mitter, who have used hospitality wlthol
grudging, aud who found exercise 10 Il
happy art OF entertaining and thus hay
! learned how to do god and to commun
cate. Here is IN open door for our agre,
able young men, which cannot be close
, while a stranger stands outside awaitir
: an invitation 60 come In and participate
onr pleasant things.
Five grand social receptions have bet
u given with an average attendance OF 81
: in addition to numerous Informal gathe
iDgs Of which no record OF attendance hi
been kept.
" But after MI, the religious or spiritu
r. side Of our work is Of prime importanc
l. aud it gives me great satisfaction to no
10 that that side has been kept most plain
l. in view.
r. The gospel meetings Sunday Afternoon
10 have been we'll attended, and the Wol
y has been proclaimed with earnestness al
le fidelity. This department has, Of cour'
Oh been under the direct control OF the GEL
eral secretary, who has lound other go
le and true yoke fellows to assist him.
~ these afternoon meetings tifty.four you
men have been led to inquire the way, al
X OF these. Twenty-Five give good eviasn
OF change OF heart. over 81, 900 inVit
lions to these meeting have been d
~ tributed.
am glad to mention the secretary
Bible class as a very successful and c
lightfui gathering for Bible study. ] u
derstand that most of the class have I.i
chased a Bible students outfit. and I