The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-11
The TWENTIETH
ANNIVERSARY
RAILROAD Y. M. G. A. is TWEEN
TY YEARS OLD.
A Celebration Was Held Last Night
in the Association Rooms--Secre-
tary Adair Reported the Wonder
full Progress Made During the Past
Year and an Address Was Made
by General Secretary Warburton,
of New York-Prizcs Awarded
Winners in Membership Contest.

The local branch of the Railroad
Young Mems Christian association has
had phenomenal growth and has
prospered wonderfully during tho past
year under the management OF its
secretary, w. w. Adair This fact was
forcibly impressed last night upon the
large audience which gathered in the
association hall to attend the exercises
in connection with the celebration of
the twentieth anniversary of the or
ganiaaton of the Scranton branch.
The hall had been prettily and taste
fully decorated for the occasion and a
selected orchestra, under the leader
ship Of Professor II. j. Bauer. was
seated in front of the stage, the front
Of which was banked with palms.
number of the leading officials OF the
Lackawanna road had been invited to
attend. but the disagreeablc weather
undoubtedly kept them away. EN-
Genaral Manager W. u. Ilallstcad.
however. was present aid occupied IL
prominent place on the platform.
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
After u stirring rendition of that
splendid old hymn, coward. Chris
ian soldiers" by the audience, and a
icrVGnt prayer by Rcv. James Ben
ninSer. pastor of the Hampton Street
Methodist Episcopal church, Secretary
Adair was introduced by Frank T..
Bryant, who was presiding. and in an
informal way presented his annual re-
port.
He told of the great and unparal-
lelled increase in membership and in
the amount of dues received during
the year, but said that this did not
tell all that had been done. "1'hc
best result" said he, sis in the men
themselves, who came in touch
with the work, bringing new life and
encouragement into the organizations"
He spoke in the kindlest terms Of
the manner in which the Lackawanna
company has encouraged and fostered
the-work in every possible way.
The statistical report which was
printed on the programmes. showed
that the membership had been in
creased during the past year from 3l2
to S27. The receipts for the year were
S5115.65, as compared with s3.SO7S4 for
the previous year. The total attend
ance at the building during the year
was 223S3o. The total attendance at
entertainments during the year was
1.l16, as compared with CO. during the
year before. showing the increase in
interest in the social work. The num-
her of beds used during the fiscal year
1H99-l90O was OPS. as compared with
1885 during the year Just passed.
PRIZES PRESENTED.
When Mr. Adair had finished, the
chairman presented the first and third
prizes won in the membership contest
to the successful contestants. The first
prize, a gold watch, was won by A. o.
Leonard, and the third prize, a dress
suit case, was won by $. s. Lonnc. The
winner of the second prize. IA $40 gold
piece, was j. GillGan, who was unable
To be present
The address of tho evening was made
by George A. Warburton, general sec
rctary of the New York city railroad
association and an association worker
of much renown..
Three elements combined he said, to
make the Railroad Young Mems Chris
tian association the successful and
helpful organization that it is today.
The first of these, he said was the
fact that it originated among the men
themselves. 1t was not something
which tho companies got the men To
adopt, but rather something which the
men started aud in which the men
themselves insisted the companies
should cooperate.
The second element of strength, he
thought, was the fact that the COM
panies contribute to the welfare of the
organization, and at the same time to
the welfare Of their employees.
The third element of strength, he
S.tr ut t,.iI
the parent organization. the Young
Mems Christian association. The Young
Mems Christian association, he said
contributed strong and manly men to
carry on the railroad work and not
only men, but methods.
He said that he believed it would not
be very long before there would be a
new Railroad Young Mems Christian
association building in Scranton. The
railroad company, he said could not
go back on the work already done and
if it wanted that work continued a.
new building was absolutely necessary.
The exercises were brought to a close
with the singing of My Country, it's
of Thee"
A DOG AND PONY SHOW EXTRA.