The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-21
IT IS Fifteen YEARS old
Anniversary Of Railroad Young Mems
Christian Association.
SPLENDID PROGRAMME GIVEN
Addresses Delivered by F. S. Goodman
aud G. A. warburtOn. of New York.
Annual Report of Secretary
r. w. Pcarsali.

Fifteen years ago yesterday the Rail-
road department of the Young Mems
Christian association was formed, and
last night the anniversary was fitting
ly celebrated. The report of Secretary
F.. w. Pearsall. printed below, shows
that the association is proceeding in
gratifying and flourishing manner.
The programme last night was an eX-
cellent one. The platform was decorat-
ed with potted plants, behind which sat
the presiding officer. A. Fl. Masters.
and General Manager w. F. Hallstead
and Freight Agent William Frink. of
the Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern railroad, and A. W. Dickson as
guests of honor. The hall was filled
with members, their wives and daugh-
ters, and many invited people.
Bauer's orchestra rendered an over
ture as the beginning of the celebration,
and an anniversary hymn was sung
afterward. A. W. Dickson offered pray
er, after which the male chorus, COM
prising w. w. Jones, +. ID. Glover. ].
II. Hartman, William Whitman and
John Jones, sang "Annie Laurie"
There was another selection by Bauer's
orchestra and the chairman introduced
f. s. Goodman, secretary of the Rail-
road Young Mems Christian associa-
Is a pleasing speaker and delivered an
earnest and thoughtful address, en-
couraging the members and unfolding
to them the advantages of being on the
right side. A selection by the orchestra
preceded the introduction of G. A.
WarDurton, general secretary of the
New York State association.
Ills address was an appeal for up
rightness and was intersEersed with
pleasing anecdotes. The male chorus
sang "The Lights at Home" and the
programme concluded with the Dox-
ology. A half hour was devoted then
to the enjoyment Of refreshments.
THE ANNUAL REPORT.
Secretary Pearsalrs report for the
year ended Is careful review and is
very interesting. 1t Is as follows:
The record of the year lust ended is a
record of work faithfully done by the com
mittees In charge of its different depart-
ments. Much Of the work has been done
under difhculties which have been rem
workers. Notwithstanding this the fig
ures show several encouraging facts,
The building was used to a greater eX-
tent than during any previous year in its
history. Two hundred and nineteen thou
sand one hundred (2l9,O0O) IL the reported
total attendance for the year, an aver.
age for every weey day Of six hundred and
thirty-two (632) and Sunday average Of
three hundred and twenty-seven lS27
I9gether with this increase In the at
the number of baths from STA last year to
b.l52 during the year Just ended an in
crease or about ~ per cent, and an m
crease In the use of the library from which
]. l54 books We're drawn last year and l,53l
this year. an increase of about 30 per cent.
The library was used by 2A Of our mem-
bers. The figures also show a slight in
crease In the attendance at the Sunday
meetings and at the members rallies. We
began the year with 5l7 members and that
number was gradually increased until
on Dec. |. 1895. We reported 552
NEED OF A BUILDING.
Probably two hundred of these men
Joined with the expectation that the Rail
road Department would secure a new
building to accommodate its growing
work. In this they have been disappont-
ed and from five hundred and fifty two on
ship has fallen to three hundred and eigh-
ty-two (3s2). The normal membership for
| building such as We now occupy Is not
over three hundred and 1t will not be sur
prising If the membership drops to that
figure. unless a new building is forthcom-
Ing. 1t Is not surprising that men who
Joined to secure the privileges announced
In our printed matter should fail to re-
new their membership when 1t Is often i'm
possible to get q seat in our reading room
and social room and on Saturday the two
tub baths and one shower are entirely in
adequate to supply the demand upon them.
Lack Of accommodations Is largely. II
not entirely, responsible also for the fall
| ing Off in the attendance at the educa-
| tional classes. The game room was used
as a class room during the winter and II
| has been necessary many times to ask the
| players to leave their games in order to
begin the class exercises. OF course such
| conditions are not favorable to growth and
the result is shown In a decrease of abou,
| 40 per cent. from last years attendance
when the classes were held in the large
| hall which 1t has been necessary to use for
| other purposes during the past winter
| The wOrk-done by the classes has helped
| to make the pupils better employees and
their appreciation of the tuition given
A foreman of one of the car shops eX.
pressed a high appreciation of the value
| of the instruction given In the mechanical
draughting class and said that those OF
his men who took the course were made
difference In the work done In his shop.
RELIGIOUS WORK.
The religious work has been successfully
conducted during the past year by the sew
eral committees having 1t in charge.
The Sunday meeting is ususally ad
dressed by some minister or prominen,
lay worker and occasionally it is CON
Quoted by the railroad men themselves.
The Railroad Male chorus, under the
leadership of Professor W. w. Jones, ha.
4 rendered valuable service in these meet
ings and the association is under obliga
tions to them.
The most encouraging fact in connection