The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-02-06
Y. M. C.. A. Annual Meeting.

evening and listened to the annual re-
ports of the general secretary and the
treasurer. For the first time in several
years the latter's annual report showed
all orders paid and balance on hand.
The secretary's report showed a most
prosperous year in the work.
The board organized for the year by
electing the following officers:
President s. Stratton.
First Vice Pres.-Geo. Detwiler.
Second Vice Pres.-C. S. Williams.
Secretary-A. d. Whipple..
Treasurer-H. L. Crosby.
The new board by unanimous vote
rendered its efficient general secretary,
e. G. VanNess, his present position for
another year. The latter was then
called before the board, and notified of
its action. He accepted and during his
remarks called attention to the needs
of the work.
The budget for the year amounting
to 81, 800 was adopted.
The report of Secretary VanNess
follows:
To THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN AssoCIA-
TON, OF Owosso:-
Gentlemen:-"Iti is not permitted to
every man or woman before they die to
see the glorious fruits Of the trees they
planted, but to the eyes of the veteran
George Williams, the following facts
must seem like rehearsal Of heaven.
The Young Mems Christian Associa.
tion now belts the globe with half a
million of members and ten times that
number In some direct connection with
the organization. 1t is housed In
hundreds of solid structures which
have cost between thirty and forty
million dollars-each one cheerful
home-a place for physical develop
ment, manly instruction and training
for Christ's service. 1t has brought
thousands Of young men from impeni-
tence to Jesus Christ, and made
thousands of young christians more
like Jesus in their daily life. The
effective lay preacher Of the century,
d. L. Moody, confessed that In his
training for spiritual work he owed
more to the Young Mems Christian
Association than to any other human
agency. 1t has moulded the students
of colleges and universities, it has been
the salvation of many soldier and
sailor, it has led many into the gospel
ministry, it has taught the whole
world the beauty and power Of living
unity in Jesus Christ. The holy spirit
has set the divine seal Of His blesSin gs
on It's world wide work and to the
triune God be all the praises and all
the glory"
This splendid review of the work of
the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion is from the pen of the venerable
DR.. Theodore Cuyler as given in his
"Recollections Of Long Life" and
our hearts should be stirred as we real
lie the magnitude OF the Association
work and in view Of past attachments
look into the future so full Of possibili-
ties.
The past year has been for the
Owosso association one of advancement
and there have been many things to
give us encouragement, and for which
we have just cause for gratitude to
Him who has given US the privilege Of
being workers together with Him.
The progress has been In some re-
spects very marked, and yet In no de-
gree as great as we wish it might have
been.
A feature of special helpfulness to
the general work was the Committee
Conference last May, conducted by
State Secretary Buell. and other work
ers. or equal Importance was the
conference on religious work In Octo-
Der conducted by Mr.. Fred s. Good
man, of the International Committee.
These meetings have had much to
do with the outlining Of the policy of
our work and have increased and In
tensified the interest Of our member
ship.
In every department there has been
an advance and had we time we might
present many interesting comparisons,
ard few of them we will give:
Physical Work-Base ball was made
much OF and a good team maintained.
Suits were bought, all expenses met,
and srpal ba'auce left for next sea-
son. IL proved u good advertisement
for the Association AMI interested
many people In our efforts for clean
sport. We did not win as many games