Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-06
Y. M. G. A, ANNIVERSARY.

Wcmbershtp hlows Large increase.
The Young Mons Christian Assooia
.iun. celebrated its 18th anniversary
Sunday aiternoonin Grace Methodist
Episcopal Church. President Alfred
Gawthrop presided and addresses we're
made by Vice President William X.
Crosby and the Reys. Hubert W. Wells,
rector Of St. Andrews Protestant Epis-
copal Church, and Robert A. Elwood,
pastor of Oliyet Presbyterian Church.
General Secretary William HssWilliams
and the Revs, William. W3rKiug and
John Shape we're on the platform. Por.
traits Of Joseph Pyle and charles Baird,
who had bsen presidents OF the associa-
tion, we're oil the platform. The singing
was conducted by Mrs. Thomas BEN
son, assisted by Grace Sunday. school
Orchestra. Prayer was offered by the
Rev. Or. King. 1900 @s
Vice. President Crosby, ID his ad-
dreus, presented report OF the assooia-
tion. showing a marked growth. He
said in Fart. ~ p
1.-THE membership during the year
has more than doubled. May'lst records
a membership of 430 seniors and 102
iuniora, total. 532, againsr l47 seniors
and 60 juniors, total 207, One year ago,
making the present menibership we'll
nigh three times as large as it was IL
months ago. This is o magnificent
record for whichlwe aredeyBhtly thank
full 10 the giver of all good things. The
attendance at the building from Sep
tembee LIST, 1900, after the Improvement
were completed, to May lst, 1901. eight
months, was AZ, 253; average daily at
tendance 200 showing very large in
crease In this direction; all going to
show an Increased interest in the asso.
citation and its work. The physical de-
partment reports total'attendRnce 8, 285,
a large increase; number OF baths taken
by members, 5,769. also an increase.
"Ws are also glad to say that the
business men Of the city ore availing
themselves of the advantages of the
gymnasium, bowling alley and the game
room; so yousee this important departs
ment Of our work is prospecting and
doing what 1t can to improve the
physique of the members. ~t...
The educational department, we
think, is still In its infancy, but we
look for growth and development along
this line; 81 students are enrolled in
the olnsses, against 20 last year. We
think there is an opportunity right here
for the association to do good helpful
work to boys and young men Of our
city who need such help, and who wish
to improve themselves inethose eduoa-
tional branches which the association
has taken up,suoh as arithmetic, gram
mar, spelling, mechanical drawing and
penmanship With, perhaps, other classes
to follow in other branches OF study.
The religious department of our
work has not been neglected, but good
work has been done in this direction
also, Valuable and important as the
physical and intellectual features of
the work are. we believe that the
spiritual and religious are Of much
greater Importance, and it issour aim
and desire In this secular and practical
age to keep the spiritual and religious
work OF the association well to the
front Number OF gospel meetings held.
53; total attendance at these meetings,
8, 432; average Attendance, 155; against
So the year beforei number OF men ex-
pressing a DESIRE to lead a Christian
life at services OF the association, .134 N
against II the year before num68r Of
men who have made a public profession
OF religion and unitedIwir the church,
81; against 8 last year, showing that,
the divine blessing has attended the
toitbsvbo ciokt puUipRth Wy reuo laosucth-
tien.u - .5,ycp5r 4.r ~
Mr.. Crosby spoke In terms of APP
probation of the cooperation OF, the
clergymen and citizens generally in be-
half of the association. He returned
thanks also to the Ladies' Auxiliary.
The Rev. Mr.. Wells made powerful
address on Service and the City. -
He held that men should follow the
same ethical standards lie their relation
TO the city as they do In their business
and social relation. A neglected factor
10 all our religious work 10 the bringing
to bear upon civic matters the spirit
Of Jesus Christ. This must be remedied.
the system by which it must be reme-
died must be such that not only the
dark places are gone into, but Chriatian
men must go into the market places
where all men oongregate, and proclaim
the gospel to make a nobler, cleaner
and more Christike city. He had \
sought in vain for an organization of
men in this city banded together for
reform work. This is . glorious oppor-
tunity for the Young Mems Christian
4 Association to work for, cleansing aud
improving this city.
The Rev. Mr.. Elwood spoke of 1.-THE
Value of Young Men, and said IL
young man was grounded in Jesus
Christ his value was great, but IL
grounded in self, his value was little.
Z .s