St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-04-05
IOL. NO. 3O10.
ANNIVERSARY.
The Y. VI. c. A. Reaches its Forfeit
Milestone,

Milestone,
The fortieth anniversary of the Y. M.
{. A. was observed by a union meeting
in Music Hall last Sunday evening which
was largely attended by our townspeo-
pie. The congregational singing was led
by chorus choir and the Mahogany
Quartette sang one selection. The scrip
lures were read by Rev. A. |. Davis, after
which prayer was offered by Rev H. M.
Douglas.
The first address was given by {. H.
Horton, the president of the association.
He called especial attention to the fact
that the organization needed at the pres
ent time better financial support and
he hoped those that did not contribute
would do so when the opportunity was
offered
He said the annual cost Of supporting
the Y. M. {. A. was about $28O0 Aside
from the rentals of Music Hall the only
source of income was from contributions
of the people and from the lecture course.
In the last eight years the subscriptions
have decreased from $1,000 to 5000 and
for the last two years the lecture course
has not had any surplus. Mr.. Horton
commented upon the high character of
the course and the great men that have
come here under its auspices, and said
that the lecture course had created a
reputation for this town all over the
| United States. He believed the people
wanted to sustain the Y. M. c. A. and,
in closing, thanked them for their inter
est i'll the work.
Secretary Smith followed with an ear
nest and vigorous address upon the val
lie OF a y. Nj. {. A. to a community. He
said he was proud to be connected with
such an organization and he wanted
every member to have a similar pride.
1t has won the confidence of the world
and is power for good in every part Of
the civilized globe. Our own organiza-
tion, he said, was public institution
and belonged to every citizen. II they
would support him in his endeavors to
keep the work along he promised to give
to it his very best efforts. He spoke of
the method that would be adopted to
raise money for the work and urged the
people to give the association their
hearty support
Rev. 7, Tyrie said there was no more
important Christian work than the work
under discussion tonight. We were deal
ing with one of, if not the most, impor-
tant element in the communicative
for young men, He often wondered if
the Young men had any idea OF the value
OF life and the opportunities they pos
sessed. The young men have always
been in the van i'll all movements. Mr..
lyric then cited several cases, the con-
version of Moody, the first start in life
given Edison the remarkable public ca
reer of Presidents Garfield and Lincoln,
and the conversion of Livingstone, the
African explorer. The Y. NJ. c. A. is not
antagonistic to the church, but is an
ally OF the church 1t grew out of the
church and has turned the feet of thou
sands OF young men into the church who
never entered church before. Let us
give the st. ohnsbury association our
prayers, our sympathles, and above all
our money. With these three it's work
will be perpetuated.
The closing address was given by Rev.
DR.. A. H. Heath. He believed in the Y.
M. {. A. because it furnished a place for
the young men Just at that period in
life when there seemed to be no other
place for them. 1t has a directing force
that is applied to the newborn desires
OF boyish heart. The association goes
out into the streets to do active work
and thus reaches the masses. He had
watched the work in the cities and seen
the good they had accomplished He
thanked God there were no slums in St.
Johnsbury, but there were young men
here who had no sympathy with any
Christian work. 1t will be shame if
the work of the st. Iohnsbury associa-
tion is crippled by a lack of funds and
thus be prevented from rescung the
young men. The association is an ally
OF the church because it brings into it
the very best forces for Christian work.
Even ii 1t holds its own and does a mega
tive work it can accomplish great deal.
The speaker illustrated this point by
citing the fact that some of the greatest
battles were won by defensive plan OF
action while the enemy lost their lives
by vain assaults. He urged the St.
Johnsbury association to stand for the
right and hold back the tides of evil In
the course of his address he referred very
plainly TO the intemperance in this town
and said there was plenty of work to do
along this line.
The closing prayer was given by Rev.
F, Appleton and Rev Henry Fairbanks
pronounced the benedctiou.