The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-04-22
q. NJ. c. A.
Great Meeting at City Hall Yesterday
Afternoon.

UreaI MooSinS Ill Clty Hail yesterday
Afternoon
The Annual Meeting of the Society-Ad.
| dresses by President Payson, Secretary
Garland and General Secretary Gordon
of Boston-A Most Successful Gather
| ing.
A large audience assem- bled at City
Hall yesterday afternoon to listen to the
exercises of the forty-second anniversary
of the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton. The following gentlemen were Oh
the platform: Mayor Baxter, James
Logan Gordon of Boston, President
Edgar r. Payson and General Secretary
E.T. Garland. of the Portland associa-
tion, Rev. DIR. W. H. Fem, Rev. e. c. Rog-
ers, Rev. r. T. Hack, Rev. Matt S..
Hughes. Rev. WIS. Aver, Rev. Dwight
Nj. Pratt, Rev. L, S. Bean, Rev. e. p.
| Woodward.
A B HALL was musical director to the
chorus.
Chief Usher William 4. Neal was pres
ent. The chiefs of divisions took their
old places, the assistant ushers were
there, and SO were the door keepers.
There was very little for them to do, but
they were there. and SO was large part
of the Mills choir.
After singing of "All hail the power
of Jesus's name," blythe congregation,
led by the choir, prayer was offered by
Rev. Rollin Il. Hack, and Rev. W. S..
Aver read selections from the scripture.
Revive us Again" was then sung by
the choir, the congregation rising.
President Payson then delivered the
| following address:
PRESIDENT PAYSON'S ADDRESS.
We feel greatly honored in having so
large and repre- sentative an audience
| present this afternoon. and extend cor
dial welcome to you all, believing that
every one in this large assembly is a
friend of the Young Mems Christian As
citation of Portland.
| For 43 years this organization has ex-
erted a helpful and beneficent influence
over the lives and characters of the
| young men of this community.
During these many years there have
| been times of prosperity, but more often
times of adversely But, by the guild
ance of God and the blessing.of His
Spirit, the work has never ceased, and
| an open hand of welcome has ever been
extended to every young man entering
| it's rooms
This afternoon as we come together
| again to observe another anniversary it
is an occasion of great Joy to us that we
are able to report year OF unequalled
prosperity. Never before was the asso-
| citation in a more fourishing condition,
never before did it rejoice in a more
promising outlook for wide extended
usefulness in the near future.
| 1t is powerful testimonial to the
worth of the association in the hearts of
| the people of Portland, that without one
cent of endowment, with no fixed source
Of income it has received such cordial
support during all these years. 1t is a
sure indication that the association
stands for something definite and worthy
of support; that it meets recognized
and pressing need in modern city life,
that is met by no other substitute; that
it promotes the highest welfare of young
ennobling life and character. "a
1t is true that in Portland the associa-
ton has never filled SO large sphere of
usefulness as it ought. 1t has been able
to offer but few of the attractions that
modern association work demands, and
which are absolutely essential in order
to reach and hold that large class of
young men who are never brought under
positive religious influences. But we
believe that the time is near at hand
when all these agencies for carrying on
the work will be at our command. and
the 7. NJ. C. A. Of our city will occupy
that position which belongs to it, and
that it will accomplish a large and
effective work among the thousands of
young men in our midst.
Our work for the past year has been
exceedingly gratifying along such lines
as we have opportunities for carrying it
out Our mem bership May 1st, 1894 was
1902 today it is 1856. Adding to this the
mem bership in our Ladies Auxiliary $50,
it brings the totRl mem bership of the
institution up to nearly eleven hundred.
Our Sunday afternoon mems meetings
have been OF unusual interest and power
during the whole year, on several occas-
ions from twelve to twenty young men
have risen and in a manly way expressed
determination to lead Christian life
The total mum Der making such confess
ion has far exceeded the record OF any
since the work begun: there having been
on an average four young men for each
Sunday during the year.
LOo AluSA VI CuD LUZ our pros
perity cannot be credited to our General
Secretary whose life is in the work, and
who is man of God thoroughly fur
nished unto all good works.
| He has gathered around him a body
of assistants that would be credit to
any association in the land. A reception
committee of 20 young men, some OF
whom report to the rooms every night in
the week, to greet young men and stran-
gers coming into the rooms. A member
ship committee of young men represent
ing seventeen of the churches of our city.
Both of these committees are thoroughly
organized and by them is being accom-
piAhed great work by young men fo1
young men.
10 all of these, to our most excellent
Ladies Auxiliary and to all who have
| helped us by their money, their prayers,
by speaking a good word for us, or i'll
| any way, we express our gratitude at this
| time, and place.
In regard to our plans of the future, we
| believe that Portland should be looked
up to by all the cities in our state, and
especially in the provision that she