The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-10
ELEVEN YEARS GOOD WORK.
CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION CELE-
DRATEs IT'S ANNIVERSARY,

history OF 4. VI. 4. A. Work In Sa-
vannah - What Was Done Last
Year-Rev. w. E. Evans Address
on Christianity and CuIture-The
Associations Outlook.
Wesley Monumental church was well
filed last night with members of the
Young Mems Christian Association and
their friends, who had assembled for the
purpose of celebrating the eleventh ami
versary of the association.
An interesting programme, consisting of
songs and addresses, was arranged, and
the exercises were well carried out. The
services were begun with a song, after
which prayer was offered by Rev. ]. Y.
Fair of the Independent Presbyterian
church. A male choir, consisting of
twenty-five voices, sang Father in Hea-
ven," the solo portion of which was by
MIR. Frank Keilbach. Rev. A. M. Will
Jams read the scriptural lesson.
The report of the years work If the
association was read by the president,
Mr.. C. NJ. Gilbert. With reference to
the association, it was noted that the
present is the third in this city. The first
was that organized Jan %, 1855. The
quarters of this pioneer association were
at Bull and Broughton streets. 1t had a
free reading room, with a number of pa
pers and magazines, among which were
the local papers.
our present work Is established on a
much larger scale than our predecessors. &"
said the president. 1--WE organized in 1885
Our work has grown, and we now have
a building which gives the work more
prominency. Our membership is composed
OF active and associate membership for
mer being members of evangelical
churches, and the latter are young men
who are not members of any churches, but
who are of good moral characters. We are
pleased to report that during the past
year, there has been a decided growth in
our membership, and more interest has
been manifested in the work of the present
year than at any time previous. In support
of this, we would say that there had been
an average daily attendance at the build
ing for the year, of over 100 young men
The total attendance of all persons who
have entered the building at the different
occasions, such as entertainments, has not
been less than 4O0OO.'
Going more into detail, the president
stated some of the things ACCOMPLISHED
during the year for the spiritual. intel
lectual, physical and social welfare of the
young men of Savannah. Under the spir-
ltual line of our work. we may say that
a meeting has been held every Sunday
OF these meetings during the year. all
but one have been for young men ex-
clusively-the exception being the day for
prayer, when both young men and young
ladies attend. The attendance for the
mems meetings averaged forty-seven for
the year, while S15 attended the mixed
meeting. Our general secretary has con-
Quoted Bible training class thirty-one
Sundays, with an Average attendance Of
six. He also organized beginners class
about the middle of the year, which had
an average attendance of seven young
men. The week Of prayer in November
observed by young men throughout the
world was also observed by u.s. and at
the weeks meetings there was an aver
age attendance of nineteen persons. Our
meetings have all had the effect of up-
building young men in Christian life and
of starting many in actual Christian
work"
The president reviewed the intellectual
advantages which are to be had and the
work which the educational classes have
neen successful in accomplishing. The
library consists of books and periodicals.
and lecture courses were conducted dur
ing the year which were literally attend
ed by the members and friends of the
association. Several individual instances
were related, many of which showed what
can really be accomplished by those who
feel inclined to enter the association for
advantages it offers.
An important feature of the report was
that in relation to the physical work done
during the year. The physical department
mas Tor ITS aim, of course, the general de-
velopment of the body. A bicycle club
was formed, consisting of seventy-five
members. The most popular exercise,
however, was probably that of indoor base
bail. Fifteen match games were PLAYED
with an average of 2S1 visitors The re.
port concluded with a reference to the
social accomplishments of the association.
With well chosen words, Rev. w. c.
Schaeffer introduced Rev. w. E. Evans. D.
D., of Columbia, S. c., whom he stated was
one of his former colleagues in Virginia.
The address of the evening was to be made
by DIR. Evans. He had selected as his sub
Ject, christianity and Culture" and a
profound discourse was clearly and forci-
bly, delivered by the able divine. The ad-
dress resolved itself into a discussion as to
how Christianity is affected by modern civ
ilization The contention of the speaker
throughout was that the learned men of
the world are upon the side of the Chris
tan workers and he riveted every point
with arguments clothed in forcible Ian
guage. The different departments of learn
ing were taken up Individually and facts
were produced by the speaker to demon
strate that the people are believers in the
doctrines of the Bible. The address was
elevating, and was listened to by the au
dience with rapt attention.
The conclusion of the service was a fer
vent prayer by Rev. John d. Jordan, pas
tor OF the First Baptist church. Without
exception, the young men feel a deep pride
in the work they have done, and they re-
ceived many congratulations on its pro
gress.
-S-<oS-s-