Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-03

times, will be The most successful in the
history of our organization.
THE GENERAL sEcnETARY's REPORT.
The report of General Secretary Dow
followed. He said in part;
During the nine months have been
connected with this association | have
become convinced of two things. viz
That Wilmington offers larger lield for
association work than any city ! am
acquainted with, and that the facilities for
promoting the work are totally inadequate
to secure the best results. Now that tho
field Is large, is easily demonstrated when
we consider the industries Of the city. IT
will DO readily seen that they arc such as
employ men only, andthus tho population
is largely made up of men whom the asso'
citation ought to reach. In fact, the most
conservative estimate of the population of
Wilmington is between 60 0U ana $4,000.
Allowing III of every Thousand to be
elassod US men between the years Of 10 and
30 years rs the tenth census of the United
States shows, we have from 1l,0OU to l2,UOO
young men between these ages and when
we consider the comparatively small num-
Der OF young men i'll the churches we will
get some idea of the opportunity for .
work by young men for young
that the facilities are inadequate for
the successful promotion of the work
how many times | have heard it said since
have been here that we do not show
sufficient return for the money expended
to encourage the people to support the or
gani2ation. This is Il very erroneous I'M
preston. do not believe there is an asso-
citation to day that can show better or
more encouraging results, with compara-
tive equipment, than the association of
this city. Although but five years old five
young men have been sent out into the
work and when you stop to consider the
large number of lives thHt will be in
tluenced for good through the instrument
tality of these active Christian workers
you must say that of itself is return
enough. But that is u small part of the
good work done. Aside from the large
number who have been influenced to Join
the church of their choice great many
protesting Christians have been quickened
and are more active in church work be-
cause OF their connection with the asso-
citation. Then, too, there is another cause
which, aside from all | have mentioned,
warrants even a more liberal expenditure
of money than has ever been subscribed
IN the history of the association. |
speak OF the fact that the building is open
every week day ana evening in the year,
aud Sunday afternoon. thus furnishing
place for any young man OF good Charac-
ter TO spend his evenings. That this is APP
preciated will be seen when tell you that
the reception committees report of the
evening attendance. with conservative
estimate of the daily attendance, shows
that fully 10000 visits had been made to
our building during the year. This of
ITSELF leaving out Christian influences,
warrants the expenditure. The reception
committee reports four receptions held
during the year with an attendance Of
s94. In addition to these there was an ex-
cursion TO Cape May from which S46.l0
was realized. In spite of the hard work
of the membership committee there has
been falling off of members. This attrib-
ute wholly to the fact that so many of our
men have been out of employment. Our
membership January 3lst last was $50.
If, however, was to count the large num-
Der who have promised to renew IL would
| swell the number to over 400.
After the reports had been read the
hymn awake My Soul" was sung.
PLEASING ADDRESSES.
Admirable addresses were delivered
| by the Revs. S. b. Moeser and Merritt
Hulburd, ID. ID. The former spoke on
the question ais Christianity Played
| OutW and the latter on as the Young
Mems Christian Association a Rival OF
an Assistant of the Christian Church ?''
Both speeches were eulogistic of the Y
NJ. @. A, The addresses were inter.
spersed with collection and the hymn
Jesus, Lover of My Soul"
JOSEPH PYLE's GENEROUS OFFER.
At the conclusion of DR.. Hulburd'G
remarks President Pyle again advocated
a new building for the association and
asked all who would try to the best Of
their ability to secure 1t to rise and in.
stantly many persons stood up. Next
he volunteered to contribute 81 900 pro
vided four other persons would give
$1,000 each. He said he would give il
as thank offering and would con
tribute it by Thanksgiving and added
that he would give the association unit
then to secure four persons who would
by name he asked them il they woulC
do all they could in the matter and all
with the exception of William X
Crosby, said they would. Mr.. Crosby
did not think $4,000 would go faI
towards building hall and though
there were present few people who coult
comply with the terms of Mr.. Pyle
offer. He believed they could maxi
quicker progress by calling meeting
Of business men for tho considera
ton of the question and said hi
would be one OF so men to give $1,000
each. Mr.. Pyle replied that he woult
meet Mr.. Crosby's demand for quicke
work and would cheerfully be one o
10 persons to give $4,000 each at once
This generous offer ELECTED considerabl,
applause. Subsequently Mr.. Pyle agail
alluded to the efforts of the Ladies
Auxiliary to start building fund anC
limited that small beginnings are not t.
be despised. He renewed his first offe
and repeated that he would let it stan'
until Thanksgiving.
"Oh, Gould l Speak," was the con
Guiding him. Mr.. Hendricks pronounced
the benediction.