Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-26
ANOTHER YEAR OLDER
Fourteenth Anniversary of the
Rock Island Christian
Association.
SPECIAL SERVICES IN CHURCHES

Work OF the Past Twelve Months Pre-
sented-Secretary Freeman's Statement.
Rock Islands Young Mems Christ
ian association was II years old yes
terdav. The anniversary was OBJ
served by special services in the sew
eral churches, where addresses were
made by men prominent in the work
throughout the state, and where the
work accomplished by the local as
ISOLATION during the year was pre-
| scented.
The services in the morning were as
follows:
First Methodist-E. b. McKown
presided and Dr. Pearce led in prayer.
| The choir sung and there was a vocal
solo by Prof. Philbrook l.. w. Mes
ser. general secretary of the Chicago
/ speaking of the object of the work as
ton in its broadcast and most COM
| plete sense.
Memorial Christian-The meeting
was in charge of the pastor, Rev.
Grafton. A. G. Copeland, depart
ment secretary, spoke, taking for his
| subject, The Brown Button the
| emblem of the association. n. +.
Marsh read the annual address.
First Baptist-Rev. G. Z. Taylor,
the pastor, was in charge. l.. l.. Ev-
erly, general secretary at Dixon, was
the speaker. He took for his text a
portion of the 21st verse of the 18th
chapter of John: That they all may
| be one" The address was read by A.
ID. Sperry.
Central Presbyterian-The pastor,
Rev. Ira w. Allen, Jr., had charge.
A. NJ. Bruner spoke, taking for his
subject, "A Great Fraternity" II.
X. Walker read the address.
United Presbyterian-The service
was conducted by the pastor, Rev. ID.
l.. McNary. +. w. Freeman read the
address, and j. o. Hanna, general
secretary at Monmouth. spoke on the
subject lis the Young Man Safe?''
Broadway Presbyterian-Rev w. 5.
Marquis, the pastor, was in charge of
the meeting. Secretary John S. Free
man read the address and |. +. Brown,
state secretary, spoke.
In the evening there were largely
attended union meetings at the Broad
way and Memorial Christian churches.
At the Christian church l.. l.. Eberly,
|. f. Crown and A. G. Copeland made
addresses, their subjects being re-
spectivelv Army Work, - Isolated
Associations, and "A Model Associa
tion.'' At the Broadway A. NJ.
Bruner spoke on Needs j. A.
Hanna, of Monmouth, on Army
Work, - and l.. w. Messer on ''Invest-
ments."
The revenues of the association for
the year were $3,70S.43, and the eX-
penses were that amount less S39.63.
The liabilities are $40, 935, 40. The
membership is 1S7, ia senior and -
Junior. During the year religious
meetings and Bible classes were at
tended by 2.14S; reading room, esti-
mated a attendance, $50; gy mnasium
classes attended by l, $50; bath rooms,
2 963; visits to rooms, all purposes,
q, 900.
secretary's Annual Address.
John S. Freeman, the acting general
secretary. says in his annual address:
1T is with pleasure that we herewith
submit the 14th annual report of the
work and condition of the association
of our city. The past year has marked
n crisis in the association such as
never confronted it before. A year
ago it was found that the association
had been losing ground, both finan-
cially and in the estimation of the |
business community. The loss of the |
latter being brought about by the fail |
ure to pay our debts. which were nu-
merous and in many cases large, and |
which were rapidly filling the craft for |
it's final plunge. A reorganization of |
the work was affected on Oct. >, 1897, |
and, as usual in such emergen-
cies, all of the ballast and extra rig
ging were heaved overheard and the /
pumps set at work. This operation
has proved effective, and it is pleas
ure to report at this time that the
financial receipts for the year have
exceeded the expenses, showing n
slight balance on the safe side of the
sheet Another encouraging feature
is the fact of a decided increase in
mem bership over the previous year.
Under the existing conditions it has
been no easy matter TO build up the
mem bership, but it is the hope that
as good showing may be made in
the coming year, and that when our
next annual report is made the men,
bership will have reached $50.
Strange, and sad, perhaps, but never
theless true is it, that the success
of work of this character, precise
" like a work of an opposite ma
ture, hinges largely upon a few
dollars and is unhInged for the
want of them. While it has taken
effort on the part of the
board and a few others TO raise bv
the sum of 81, 800 dur
ng the past year for the maintenance :
IF this work. our friends of the base ;
ball club were able in the short space
IF three or four DAYS to raise and col
ect the sum of -, 900 with which to
,quip park for sporting purposes. a
We believe that when christian people |
become as enthusiastic in saving