The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-07-28
instructive Talk of James Stokes
Of New York.
FOR YOUNG MEN BY YOUNG MEN,
Questions Asked and Answered - All
About what2ShouId and Should Not
be Done Remarks by Old and
Young Members - Refreshments.

Mr.. James Stokes of New York was
very enthusiastically received by
large audience at Y. NJ. c. A. hall last
night at which place he kindly con-
sented to say a few words regarding
Y. NJ. c. A work as CLEANED by him IN
his many years of labor in that field
of Christian endeavOr.
After the singing of a number OF
familiar hymns by the audience and
prayer, Mr.. A. B. Wood, president OF
the Y. NJ. G. A of Honolulu, introduced
Mr.. Stokes with the following re-
marks:
Friends, you have rare opportunity
tonight of learning Of Y. NJ. c. A
work Mr.. Stokes is so well known to
you as an earnest worker in the field
that he hardly requires an introduce
ton. You will gain tonight some
knowledge of work in broader fields
than our own small sphere. 1 take
great pleasure in introducing Mr.. Jas.
Stokes of New York who will speak to
you and conduct the meeting"
Mr. Stokes spoke in substance as
follows:
Dear friends, 1 came among you as
a complete stranger, but it was not
many hours before l found that l had
some very warm friends. l do not
wish to take to myself any of the words
of kindness that just been spoken by
your esteemed President. l wish there
was some one here tonight to sound the
praises of my friends Mr.. Brainer and
Bishop Potter who, twenty-five years
ago laid the foundation for Y NJ. c. A.
work.
The labors of these men led to the
Convention in Boston little later and
it was decided permanently that the
Christian work started by them should
be a work for the young men and by
the young men 1t was to be the right
arm of the church. What time was
left from the duties due in this direc-
ton and in that of the home should be
given by members to work in the new
field.
''Now 1 want to say something about
the International Committee Which is
really the Executive body of the Y. M.
G. A. I have before me a lot of pam
phlets laid out before me constituting
what the boys would call lay out and
| will read you little out of some of
them to give you an idea of what the
international Committee is.
''At first the meetings of this body
were held once in a year, but now they
are held once in every two years, which
is really the better plan. You are
aware that there is an effort now being
made to have the Legislature once in
two years.
''At this conventions the work is all
laid out and there is no delay. A GER
tain length of time is required for
this and that and such must be COM
pleted on the second or the chance is
lost. There is no time for honor or
glory. 1t is all work and members
must be ready to jump to the floor and
say what they have to say as soon as
their time arrives.
I'm the year intervening between
each convention year book is publish
ed by the International Committee.
In this is contained all the points ne
cessary for the information of branches
of the Y. M. G. A. and has proven of
invaluable assistance.
Here [ find the number of assOcia
tons in the United States to be 1868
and in Canada Sc, making a total of
1449. In Berlin there is l. in Argentine
1, in Brazil 3 and in Hawaii 5. You
pc pie in Honolulu are doing we'll re-
markedly. There are 5764 associations
throughout the world
Just a word as to the standing of
the Y. NJ. G.. A. as was demonstrated
by the great London jubilee in 1894.
Everything was thrown open to us and
we received favors received by the
most favored alone on special occa-
siOnS. The grandest occasion was on
the last night when Albert Hall was
thrown open to us and an audience of
10000 people assembled to attend the
meeting. 1t was upon this night that
Antoinette Sterling sang to us. When
this vast audience arose and sang the
Doxology I thought that I had never
been witness of anything so impress
sive.'
At this point Mr.. Stokes proceeded
to answer some questions propounded
by members of the association, the
first of which was the following:
why is it necessary that the general
secretary should be a qualified man."
Answer-"So that he may be able to
act in any emergency that might arise"
What is the natural duty of every
member ?"
Answer-"To do all he can toward
the upbuilding of the work consistent
with his other duties in the church
and home. Take warning and never
overdO things but carry everything
along in a quiet even strain"
why is it that the active members
of the association do not take a more
active part?"
Just here there was a general discus
sion on the part of the older members
of the association.
Other questions were asked and then
Mr.. Stokes dweIt for a short time upon
the work among the railroad men with
Cornelius Vanderbilt as a prominent
but modest worker; of the work in
colleges where young fellows just en-
tering were given hearty handshake
and a cordial welcome by Y NJ G. A
men. Then followed other questions
and answers.
Has not the physical tended to