Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-09

In presenting this report for the for
fy-sixth year of the Waterbury Young
Mems Christian association, we are
happy to state some facts about the
condition and work OF the organization
that merit the approval of all good
citizens in the community.
While the general support and In
come nave grown rapidly and steadily
the last few years, the inside work OF
the organization has been keeping
pace with its outward prosperity. The
membership is the largest In five years
and in the history of the work with
one exception. : 1t is made up as fol
lows: Junior members 81, senior mem
hers 300, sustaining members 142,
total 62S. Deducting from the mem
bership 81 business and professional
men, who support the work, but do
not make any use or the privileges, we
have remaining more than 300 young
men and boys who are active partici-
pants In the privileges OF the associa-
ton.
During the winter friends of the as
ISOLATION offered cash prizes which
We're given to all members who Sc
cured new memberships,
Physical Department.
Carl p. Clapp, who had been our
physical director for two years, re-
signed In August to take course of
study in Kirksville, Mo.
ernest X. Goodyear came to us Sep
TENDER /, to take up the work which
Mr. Clapp had been conducting for two
years. Though one full season has
scarcely passed he has endeared him
self to the members and many friends
of the organization besides citizens of
Waterbury generally
The attendance of young men and
boys in the gymnasium classes durins
the past year has been large.
The great basketball leagues have
been continued as in the past two
years with twenty match games played
by each senior league. One hundred
young men and boys have been menu
bers Of the teams participating in this
manly and beneficial sport.
The bowling alleys were put in ex-
cellent condition for the. new season.
A large bowling league consisting of
forty men played match games during
the winter
The shower baths We're much Inn
proved last fall ana have been used to
their full capacity by the young men
and boys.
The association was represented last
summer by a good base ball team Six
games were won out Of the seven
match games that were played
The new tennis grounds with three
full sized double courts were opened
last summer on West Main street, and
the best membership that we have had
In the club availed themselves of its
advantages, for which special fee
was charged
Educational Department.
In October the. educational commit
tee published a prospectus describing
the many advantages offered by the
association to young men and boys.
An advertisement was secured to cover
the cost OF publication.
The monthly periodical, Waterbury
Men, published by our association, has
found a cordial welcome in hundreds
of homes in Waterbury. The fact that
1t has brought an income exceeding the
expenditure is also gratifying.
During the year an improved shuttle
been conducted In mechanical drawing
The attendance in these classes was
better than usual,
Social Department.
The association orchestra has been
we'll sustained the past year. An in-
clease in membership and playing tai
emf has been quite marked.
The reception committee of fifteen
members was organized in October, to
show visitors and new members about
the building and to make 4 pleasant
social atmosphere In the rooms every
evening.
During the year an improved suffie
board was added to the other social
games, such as ping pong, checkers
and chess
Several enjoyable socials have been
given to both the senior and Junior
members during the winter
Religious Department.
With the last Sunday in January the
I. M. @. "A. meetings for men i'll the
Jacques opera house were brought to
close after two successful months OF
services. The attendance at the nine
meetings was 2,S40, an average of 361
for every Sunday. Much as 1t may be
regretted that the series was SO short
this year, only nine meetings In ALL 1t
was the best that could be done with
the money available and the appropri-
alton could not be exceeded.
At the last meeting on January 81,
DH ~ nuOW1AE vi h0hAs, tlAN
300 men i'm attendance declared their
wish for q longer series of services
next season.
The results in awakening some men
to realization of their spiritual needs
and possibilities and the general re-
ligious quickening and union brought
about by such services cannot be given
i'm figures. The testimonials OF scores
OF men to such results tell but part
Of the story.
1T lis the associations endeavor in
the religious work particularly and in
every branch OF its work to contribute
to the churches in every possible way.
We recognize the fact that we are a
department of church effort and that
we owe the utmost allegiance to them.
During the fall and winter months
Mr. Holden's class, which commenced
its fourth season on October 5, met reg
ularly each week until late in the win
ter. Mr. Burno then combined his
class with Mr. Holden's and conducted
the sessions most ably Till the conclu-
sion of the season.