Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-08
BIG GAIN IN MEMBERSHIP
Increase of 60 per Cent. Is Rec.
ord of the Y. M. G.. A.
c. r. Cowles Reelected President at
49th Annual Meeting-warm Praise
for General Secretary Allen and
His Assista ants.

An increase OF 60 per cent. in member
ship was reported at the 10Th annual
meeting Of the Young Mems Christian
Y. M. c. A. hall Pres c. p. Cowles
presided. A large number of members sat
down to a sumptuous repast served by
the Woman's Auxiliary Grace was said
by DR.. I. c. Smart Scripture was read
by Rev c. II. Smith and prayer was
offered by DR.. S. q. Barnes. The follow
ing reports were received: President
annual report from c. +. Cowles; report
Of general secretary by f. K. Allen; re-
port OF treasurer. George L, Pease; re-
port OF trustees presented by W. b.
Howe: report Of boys department by
James c. Loop: physical department
Morris r Wilcox; Woman's Auxiliary,
Mrs. E. X. Allen: executive committed.
F. w. Perry; finance. DR.. c. A. Pease;
religious. r. &. Pease; Bible study. J. r.
Tracy; boys work, Capt 7. l. Reeves:
social, Earl F. Ledoux; membership, c.
r. Purinton. auditing. Judge o. ?. Ray;
boys store. John Farr: foreign work,
A. g. Gallup; teachers training class.
". e. McGovern.
Tho following officers were placed in
nomination by the nominating committee
and elected President. c. p. Cowles;
vice-prcsident. c. F Purinton; recording
secretary. James E. Tracy; treasurer,
George L. Pease. Directors for two
years: First Church, w H. Wood: Col
lege Street Prof. W. r. Aiken; Metho-
dist. Smith F. Henry; Baptist. c. e.
Curtis; St Pauls. DR.. J. Harvey Foote:
Free Methodist Judge o. p. Ray: direc-
tors for one year to fill unexpired term.
]. d. Tousey Byron NJ Clark, State
secretary, told Of the possibility Of the
Vermont Older Boys Conference coming
to Burlington next January in response
to the invitation sent from the local
churches and associations. He estimated
that as many as 100 boys would be in at
tendance mt the 1916 conference. A mersage
OF sympathy was sent to the Hon w
j. Van Patten. who is In the West and
to Gov. Y. a. Woodbury..
The reports Of the work OF the past
year were full of enthusiasm and show
ed unusual work in all departments The
most noteworthy report was that Of
President Cowles, whose carefully work.
ed out survey follows
The 18th year Of the life OF the Young
ton is now at its close. We are come to
make examination Of the years work
and to take common counsel for the fu-
ture. And first look backward.
The latter days Of the year previous
to the present We're made memorable by
a joyful event. namely. the burning of
the mortgage on our building. The i'm
portant result Of that event consisted in
the fact that energies heretofore direct
ed toward the carrying and raising of
that debt. and spirits burdened with its
weight were then made free for con-
structive. forward looking work.
So at the beginning Of this year it was
plainly evident that our association was
entering upon a bright new era Of its
development and that 1t would be the
privilege Of our administration to guide
the association in ways OF large service
and along paths Of growth and progress
THE FOREIGN WORK
1t did not happen by chance nor by the
foresight of men. that at the very first
, meeting Of our association after Its mort
gage was burned attention was
strongly directed to the work o; the
Young Mems Christian associations ir
other lands, and the very first act Of oul
association under the new administration
was to put the association on record II
favor OF adopting a foreign work policy
1t is needless to say that any organiza
ton which bears the name OF the Saviour
OF mankind should be endowed with the
missionary spirit. 1t has been we'll sait
that the best test OF a Young Men:
Christian association Is not its materia
= equipment or internal efficiency but it,
S altruistic vision; and that the perfec
expires sion of its atruistic vision come.
, only in concern for the men and boy.
' Of foreign lands.
e Sustaining the foreign work OF the Y
: NJ c. A. is now an obligation as bindint
5 upon our association as the support o
missions Is binding upon the Christian
= churches.
Il 1t is my belief that the adoption an,
r carrying forward OF a strong foreign
. work policy will como to be consdere,
! the noteworthy step of progress mad
e by our association during the year tina
: has passed.
INCREASED MEMBERSHIP.
The life Of Young Mems Christian
J association consists in its membership
. and the membership OF the Young Mem
4 |CnTlStlan association OF burlington ma
during the past year increased just sixt,
lper cent
Lot ME sum up all tho reports by say
, ing that our association has had n splen
did year OF service, The boys department
has had its equipment filled full OF
r nne lot of boys and fine lot OF activi
q ties, The activities OF the older member
o have been large in quantity and fine II
t spirit. The Woman's Auxiliary mer!
s special mention. Without the auxiliar
d and what they have done to Ak UP on
r rooms. the home Of our associatio
q would not, am surc. be the clean, we
n lighted and furnished place that 1t no,
L. And ] do not know how good fellow
4 ship among our workers. and cheerful
j. ness and efficiency in tho work could b
y so we'll maintained without the opportun
# tiles for breaking bread together whic
n the auxiliary has furnished for us lie
II our gratitude be expressed to the Won
10 ans Auxiliary.
IS Our association has been highly for
t tunate during the past year In Its sec
l. retarial force In Mr. Wilcox we hav
n had physical director Of "ane person
r atty and Christian character" as Pre-
s. fessor Aiken has so we'll characterize
lie him. The position Of assistant to the ger
Is eral secretary, with special charge c
'r the boys department, has been faithful
It ly and efficiently filled by Mr.. Loop. A
n for our general secretary. let his ow
no work nraise him. and they do preis