The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-10-04

Interesting Report by President Jos. R
 French-secretary Borden Tells Oi
 the Growth of the Society During the
 Past Year-sIx Directors Elected.
 The annual meeting of the Young Mems Institute was held in the rooms of the society last night the president, Joseph R. French, presiding. The vari- ous reports were submitted and ap- proved of. The election of directors took place as follows; Joseph R. French, Henrq c. Newton, Rober s. White, Samuel P. Crafts, John A. Townsend, N. B. Mather.
 The following is the report of the president, Joseph R. French, which was read at the meeting and endorsed,
 For more than three-quarters of a century the Young Mems Institute has held prominent place in the com munity. During that period it's work has so essentially changed that it's present name is a misnomer as the larger number of its patrons are of the gentle sex Founded by young men de- sirous of social and mental improve ment they devoted themselves at first to the discussion of the questions of the day, and so formed the first social club of the city. Gradually evening classes were formed for the instruction of young men in various branches of study which their limited educational advantages had not enabled them to receive. Then a reading room was es- abolished, and the nucleus of library was formed by the donation of books by liberal citizens from their well stocked shelves. For many years the institute organized and maintained a series of popular lectures during each winter from which considerable net revenue was realized and a liberal sum was carefully invested. When this had accumulated the directors were encour- aged to erect a building on Orange street, which was designed as a per- manent home for the institute. But 1t did not prove a financial success and the directors were forced to sell the building and move to smaller quarters. Through varied fortunes 1t moved from place to place until about twenty-five years ago it's funds had so accumulat- ed that the trustees were enabled to erect the spacious building which the institute now occupies. During this period many social clubs have been or ganized which offer social attractions to all young men who desire them. Moreover, the Young Mems Christian association in it's stately edifice, of which the city is justly proud, pro- vides facilities for physical and mental instruction abundant for all Thus the institute has become literary reading club, with reading room, parlor and library to which it's patrons love to resort to secure the current books and read the popular magazines. During the past year the membership has steadily increased partly on account of the discontinuance of the Booklovers' library, which for time was exceed dngly popular. Nearly thousand VOL umes have been added to the library. LA portion or them DellS IeLeleICo books, and books of value, not fiction, in accordance with the terms of the donation under which they were pur- chased.
 One or two changes have been made in the apartments which have been ap- preciated by the patrons. Crates have been placed in the fire places so that open fires are provided when necessity requires, adding much to the cheeriness of the place, and greatly improving the ventilation. A commodious case has been placed in the parlor for the re- ception of all books of music and fine arts. The institute during the year has purchased the valuable musical H. brary of the late Prof Shepard. This collection has been carefully catalogued and should prove attractive to all low CTS of music.
 The library committee has held monthly meetings and has passed Judgment on most of the current