Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-08

The report or Secretary D. - ~ O'i'
which was read at the anniversary cele-
bration at the Opera House yesterday az
ternoon. is very interesting paper. the
Secretary first reviewed the work OF the
first eleven years of the Association NE
ue smoke of the objects which led to its
organization. of the struggles OF the hrst
few years. of the donation of the present
building and the improvements which
have since been made. He referred 10 tpe
fact that the Association has been usetui
i'm bringing together in various ways
Christians of all denominations. In the
building were organized the City Hospital
the West Virginia Home for Aged and
Friendless Women. and the meetings oil
the Woman's Union Benevolent Society
the Christian Temperance Union. are al
WAYS held there. Continuing the report
read:
1T is with a feeling Of deep gratitude
that we now present the work of the past
year a little more completely. In some re-
spects the twelfth year was the best 1t
was the largest year. ard it was year of
development. one gratifying direction
taken by the last years development, was
the very desirable addition TO our build
ing The need had been felt for n long
time and after due deliberation the Board
OF Directors decided in March last to erect
the addition containing the bowling al
leys and swimming pool. upon the unoc-
cupied ground next the south side Of the
building. The contract was let in April
and the new Department was thrown open
on September L. During the % days the
bowling alley has since been open II was
used by 3472 persons. and the number oil
members who visited the alleys simply 10
witness the bowling. was still larger
Owing to an unfortunate leak. the SWIM
ming pool has only been in use Il days, but
a total of 9lG members used Il in that time
while quality Is sought after quantity
is no; ignored and the increase in the
membership followed up and largely help
ed on by the extra attractions in the new
addition. is another but no; the least i'm
portant phase Of the development OF the
year past. Our membership was never so
large. Numbering January lst "a. The
members are from all parts of the city,
are Of all ages. represent, all religious de-
nominations and are classified by occupa-
ton as follows: Clerks and statesmen 2l5;
mechanics and woINngmen. lSj: students
l5S: merchants and manufacturers. II;
profess oaal men. o. Il should be remem-
bered that our work il not restricted 10
members. The showers OF our refreshing
are of strictly Scriptural character they
fall on the just and unjust; so in Ike man
uer. many Of the advantages of our Assoc
citation are absolutely free 10 all young
men.
Another gratifying evidence of develop
meAi was the increased financial suppor-.
Ia spite of The continued scarcity of money
W. received more in subscriptions ard
membership fees than in any previous
year. except 1855. when our building was
equipped We do not mean that we
had all that could have been judi
ciously expended or that we actually need
Cd. But we are thankful to be able TO say
The Treasurer's report shows 81 bills paid
for 1896. with the exception # loan-of
coo made on the new building. The new
addition cost $5.0O0.c0. Pain ing the exterior
of the building fresc1ing the hall, enlaig-
ing the gymnasium dressing room and OH
er repairs and improvements cost Si65.02.
The running expenses amounted 10 S.2S8.i0.
This made a total of SS,75l62 BY persist
ent effort 81. 1852 was secured. paying all
financial obligations but the loan. Those
who sympathize with young men will find
here a splendid opportunity for "A prohta4Se
investment. The Association needs an en-
dowment for the proper extension of its
work Many kindred Associations IN 9TH
en- cities are receiving munilcent gifts
VIII rot our friends remember US in their
requests. or. better SIN. make the gifts
now and enjoy the fruit Of their invest
mcnt?
There has been gain in the attend
ance of the building. At least 1860 per
sons entered the building during the year.
and made some use OF the various privi-
legcs. There are winter evenings when our
facilities are entirely inadequate TO accom-
modate the young men. we are pleased
TO record more than usual activity on the
part of many of our members. This has
been manifested in numerous ways, par
ticularly in the very successful member
ship contest One hundred and Gfty-egh;
different members served on committees
and 1l2 business and committee meetings
were held with an attendance of ZOOS.
The gymnasium more than maintained
it's popularity. and since the fall opening
has often been overcrowded. The work
was intell;gently and successfully directed
Two hundred and seventy-two classes We're
held. with a total attendance of 5.014; 2,12O
more engaged in general exercise outside
of the class. There were also 26 outings
and bicycle excursions, in which $40 mem
bers participated; 62S9 baths were taken.
An aggressive social work was carried
on. The building was pervaded by an air
of social fellowship and hundreds of young
men found clean amusement and bright
companionship. There were IS small social
functions. with an attendance of ~; seven
receptions and entertainments, with an al
tendance of 2,746; public lectures and CON
certs. with an attendance of 1850.
Educational classes for mechanical and
commercial young men were held in me
chanical drawing. German. American his
tory. bookkeeping and penmanship There
was an enrolment of 10S during the year
and % class sessions were held. There Were
in addition II musical rehearsals. The
evening classes for this season were or
ganized last fall during the excitement of
the political campaign which so largely abb
sorbed the attention of young men. This
affected the enrolment in the classes. We
look forward expectantly to larger edu-
cational work next fall. This is the COM