The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-27

! agency of the church in reaching and in
! tluencing the young men who throng our
! CITY. Our membership and the young
men who attend the various meetings,
| talks, lectures, receptions, etc., represent
many nationalities and classes of men.
Young men are constantly coming and
! going, and during the past twelve months
many have been influenced by us, who to-
day are scattered throughout the world.
! The association has sought to provide in
Oakland a social headquarters for young
men, where they can spend their leisure
time not only in pleasant intercourse
under good influences but with every helm
for mind, body and spiritual life
1T consults not only the tastes of Young
men in this respect but also their needs.
For the social it has healthful and at
tractive amusements; to the studious it
offers well-stocked reading-room, educa-
tional classes and lectures; for those seek
ing physical exercise and healthfuI recrea-
ton it presents the gymnasium with
trained instructor. Around all the asso-
citation seeks to throw sound moral and
religious influences. prevention is better
than cure" IL the great principle under
lying the work of the Young Mems Chris
t1an Association.
THE year 1895 witnessed som substan-
tlal developments IL the association which
would take too much time to enlarge
upon, so l can only give few details, but
they will show in some degree the magni-
tude of the work. This compiling of
figures, however, is only as an index
finger pointing 10 results that cannot be
computed. When we report that such a
number have come into the building dur
ing the year or that so many have at
tended our lectures, the numbers convey
to our mind some idea of the value set
upon the privileges offered, but eternit V
alone can reveal the true magnitude, the
far-reaching importance of the work
I'm the sixty seven religious meetings
held in the building during the present
! year, there were present 10, 541 men. Com
pare these figures with 1894, when only
1900 attended religious meetings, and we
see the advance made in the strictly reli-
gious WORK.
"In the evening educational classes we
have 1913 students enrolled in eleven
branches of practical study. The attrac.
lions found In the gymnasium and bath.
rooms are found to be potent factors with
the one great object of the work in view.
Cleanliness was not the least of the viz
tues practiced by the members, for 7O2C
baths were taken, an average of twenty a
/ day.
"Our present needs are: First, more
general moral support from Christian
| people. Hundred of Christian men in
| Oakland who might sustain a membership
! from year to year do rot.
'Second, more contributors to the funds
of the general work. Last year only thirty.
four persons outside the mem bership aided
| the association financially.
| ITO meet current obligations the trustees
were compelled to borrow during the year.
| This coming year they feel that this
ought not to be done, and they therefore
! hope to raise much larger amount OF
money. The business management of the
association is vested in board OF trustees
| composed of fifteen Christian business
men, of whom ]. Edward Collins is presi.
dent, and the affairs of the institution are
conducted on strictly business principles. u