Norwich bulletin., 1913-05-19

l The 18th anniversary of the Young 1 Mems Christian association in this city 1 was observed with a largely attended, service at the Second Congregational church Sunday evening. The address of the evening was by Rev. Joel E. Slo
 cum of the Central Baptist church, and 1 General Secretary Frederick R. Star ! key read his annual report. Rev. c. A. i Northrop pronounced the invocation, and the scripture lesson was read by l Rev Frederick W. Coleman. Prayer l was offered by Rev. George H. Strouse, 1 pastor of the First Baptist church. i President James l.. Case conducted the meeting.
 : The report given by General Secre- 1 tary Starkey was in part as follows: At the close of my second year s service as vour general secretary there is considerable satisfaction in reviewing the results attained during the past year.
 Tn some respects the most notable achievement was the membership I campaign which placed onN our rolls 1915 memberships Though a heavy shrinkaee resulted from the failure of many to pay in accordance with their promises the paid membership of S52 on our books on May 1st is an in crease of 155 over the number report ed the year previous. The increase in the number of privilege users is ; quite noticeable.
 Religious Work.
 The religious work also shows de- cided gain over all previous records. By means of the Sunday open air meetings on five summer afternoons, twenty one meetings in the building and two well attended theatre meet inss and eighteen meetings at the jail, men have been receiving the influence of the gospel message.
 The rehearsal of statistics is con- fusing and unsatisfactory-a sample week will indicate our religious pro gram Sunday meeting, attendance. 30; boys mepting 15G: shop meetings, 250: meeting at jail, 40; boys Bible classes. B: total attendance, 505
 During the active winter season, nearly five hundred different men and boys attended the various religious meetings of the association each week This fact alone should justify the eX istence of the association.
 As compared with other years. the social life in the rooms has been very encouraging One indication of this is shown in the pool table receipts With a 50 per cent. cut in the rate to seniors there has been q 50 per cent increase in receipts. Sl66 as against S111 during the previous year. The junior section promoted nine special social events and the senior section had twenty special events of social character.
 Physical Department.
 The physical department shows a 20 per cent. gain in number of boys en- rolled in classes and an increase of 796 in the gym class attendance The towel receipts are 25 per cent. larger than last year and 50 per cent. larger than two years ago. During the sum mer about 100 boys availed themselves. of the free swimming lessons given by nh q 6Ts " this communitv as supervisor of the city playgrounds
 Best Year for Entertainment Course.
 The educational work committee promoted for the fourth year an en- tertainment course held in the Central Baptist church. and eXcelled all pre- vious records in attendance and net profit. the entire seating capacity (S42l of the main auditorium of the church being disposed of before the opening number and a net profit of $391 be- ing secured. While the life of the textile class was curtailed by the loss of the instructor after seven lessons had been given-it demonstrated that there was a good opportunity for edu- cational work along industrial lines. The class of Italians studying English held twenty sessions and some l6 men secured instruction which will help them to become better and more in teligent citizens
 Encouragement in Boys Work.
 The boys department comprises one fourth of the membership and about three-fourths of the life of the build ing. Statistics here fail to show the value of this phase of our work under the excellent leadership of MT Ely. The boys camp. crowded to the limit, the well attended religious meetings, the interesting social events includ- 5y,rr ojv1c formances. the organization of three patrols of Boy Scouts, are all items of great value but the constant use of our rooms by the boys is even more encouraging.
 Auxiliary Rendered Valued Aid.
 The women's auxiliary deserves spe- cial commendation for the splendid service rendered this association dur ing the last year The assistance in connection with banquets, Bible class suppers and social affairs; the add ing of $500 in equipment in dormi tories. parlor dining room and the pUr- chase of a new stereopticon and the interesting of a large number of ladies in the work of the association has benefited in many ways. We are grate- full for the self sacrificing, enthusiastic efforts of the president Mrs. H. M. Pollock and her corps of associates.
 Cooperation by Associates.
 I can hardly close this report with out recording here my gratitude to all concerned for my experiences here during the last two years, I am great ly indebted to President Case and his associates on the board for their friendship and the unselfsh manner in which cooperation has been given in the promotion of this work. There are some minor points upon which we may have differed but the board has manifested remarkable spirit of har- mony and fidelity to the fundamental purposes for which this associa tion was founded. While my future efforts will be devoted to 3 similar work in another place, I will always cherish a deep interest in the welfare of the Norwich association and will rejoice in the successes which I am sure will be yours in the years to come.
 Address by Rev, Joel B. Sloeun1.
 The Value of Man was the subject chosen by Rev. Joel E. Slocum and his text was Isaiah 13, F T will make a man more precious than fine gold. '' Among other things Mir. Slocum said:
 This invective of the prophet was di- rected against Babylon sordid, mate riaIistic. insolvent Babylon; Babylon that loved gold more than it loved goodness. material power more than 1t loved men. The prophet has just indi cated that swift and terrible punish ment is on it's way; And l will punish the world for their evil. and the wick ed for their iniquity, and l will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible" Then follows the specified A. xrin lyn s1