The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-03-14
FOUR RoUsING MEETINGS.
President Blum's Annual-H0w the
Day Was bserved-Secretar
Sheriff n Hustler.

| Nlne years ago, uttle handful Of young men
got together and organized the Canton Young
Mems Christian Association. Il was bard
struggle for some years to maintain an exist
ence, but pluck, energy and perseverance won
the contest and today $50 young men have
their names upon the membership of the asso-
citation. The ninth anniversary celebration
was held Sunday and the young men and the
churches united to make II success. And it
was success. The celebration was the larg-
est and the best ever held. The speakers were
unusually good and all of the exercises Of the
various meetings were exceedingly interest.
ing.
In the afternoon Mr.. Charles II. Patton of
Cleveland addressed the young men at the as.
sociation hall and in the evening four general
mass meetings were held. The presidents
report was read at each Of these ard eloquent
addresses delivered.
DR.. Bashford, president of Delaware college,
Charles II. Potter, a banker and evangelist of
Cleveland, T. j. kirkpatrick of Springfield
editor Of the Farm and Fireside, and II. X.
Kaskey of Youngstown, were the orators who
addressed the great audiences that assembled
respectively in the Tabernacle, Trinity Luth.
eran church, First Baptist and First Methodist
churches. 1t is estimated that nearly 5000
people attended the different meetings Sunday
evening.
The Mems Meeting.
The young men gave Mr.. Potter royal well
come at association hall Sunday afternoon, and
Mr.. Potter gave the young men very straight
and helpful talk Hespoke for ma nhood-true,
honest, noble, christian manhood. Hewas tired
Of SO much sham Christianity, and wanted
something that extends below the surface To
his mind 1t was more important that young
man have the true spirit Of Christ within his
heart, than that he have the latest cut Of coat
upon his back, or the latest style of collar
about his neck. He wanted purity of heart
and thought and life and less worship of man.
mon.
President II. c. Bium's Annual Report.
President Herman G. Blum's annual report
was read at each Of the four meetings. 1t was
a comprehensive and exhaustive paper, ex-
ceedngly well written and very instructive
We give below a synopsis of the report
A little more than fifty years ago a dry goods
clerk in the city ofLondon, impressed with the
needs and the temptations OF his class, called
together in friendly conference, a number Of
his fellow clerks imbued with the same ideas,
and on the sixth day of June, 1874, in little
upper room" was witnessed the beginning of
what has proven to be one of the most re-
markable religious movements of an age, rich
ly fraught with great achievements for God
and man.
OUR LOCAL WORK.
We feel that the year whose close we cele-
? brate tonight has been one Of the very best in
our history.
Entering as we did, in period of general f..
nancial distress and uncertainty, with deficit
hanging over us that required four figures for
its expression, with decimated membership,
with many of our best workers more or less
disheartened at the gloomy prospect before us,
we feel that we have reason to be thankful
that we are permitted to report substantial pro-
gress in nearly every department.
Much of this effort was directed toward the
increase of our membership, and methods to
this end were new and unique, and what is
better STILL eminently successful.
The outcome of these various methods was
the securing of 313 new members during the
year.
An analysis of the various vOcations of these
313 men may be of interest as indicating the
classes of young men we reach: Ninety-five or
nearly one-third ofthe entire number come from
the trades covering some forty different pur-
suits and representing nearly every honorable
line of work. One hundred and twenty come
from the business world. Twenty.six come
from the professional world. Fifty-eight are
students and fourteen classified as mot en-
ployed."
These figures are thoroughly representative
of the general make up of our membership and
show that we are reaching all classes OF self re-
specting men.
The increase in membership Just referred to
was naturally followed by marked increase
in attendance at the building and in the use of
the various privileges offered.
The total evening attendance, exclusive OF
, entertainments and receptions, was 81, 1855 an
average of 103 per evening, as against an aver
age Of 72 for the preceding year.
! Three public receptions were given with a
total attendance of 2, 1885, eight members en-
tertainments with POPS in attendance.
The physical department of our work has
never been so thoroughly successful or so gen.
generally appreciated and made use of as dur
ing this past year.
Fifty-fve men per day took various forms of
exercise and the total attendance for the year
was 6,43s, as against 9,l91 for the preceding
year, an increase of so percent. The number
of baths taken was $50.
An encouraging increase in the attendance
at the religious meetings Of the association is
also noted The young mems meeting held
every Sunday afternoon had a total attend
ance OF 3,065, an average of 63 the Bible study
a total Of 6s6, an average of Is and an increase
of 25 and so percent respectively.
The total attendance at the building. day
and night and for all purposes reached the
magnificent figure of 90,05l.
EDUCATIONAL WORK.
Eighty-one were entered in classes in book
keeping, elementary and advanced mechanical
dTawingand vocal music.
These branches just named were taken up in
response to clearly defined demand.
In the past more than one young man has
found these classes opening up avenues for em-
ployment or for increased usefulness in his
chosen vocation and many noTe may be helped
in the same way.
1t is said that the average young man leaves
school at 13 or II years of age. lfthis be true
1t becomes apparent how poorly equipped he is-
for fighting life's battles in this day of sharp
competition. The Young Mems Christian AS
sociation has been quick to recognize his
needs along this line and to provide for him
facilities for self improvement which, If hon
estly made use OF, cannot fail but make him a
better clerk, better mechanic, a better citizen.