Year: 1859




at the school of some so scholars, which is all
the room will accommodate. This number
might with ease be increased three or four fold
if We could only secure place for them. Of
late there is much more interest felt in this
school on the part of the members of Associa-
ton than formerly, and it is hoped that we may
be able to devise some plan to get larger room.


Att late meeting of the officers of the Church
es of the city, a resolution was adopted request
ing the Young Mems Christian Association to
organize aud sustain at their discretion, series
of public religious meetings on the Sabbath, and
at other times in some public hall or other place
where those not accustomed to attend religious
worship regularly might be gathered in to hear
the gospel. The Association passed a resolu-
ton according to the request, and appointed a
committee to secure place at which these meet
ings could be held advantageously. Up to this
time they have been unable to secure such a
place as seemed to the committee just what was
wanted and consequently little has yet been
done in carrying into execution the design 1t
is work however, which should not and must
not be abandoned. Many of the clergymen Of
the city express willingness to assist in it, and
when the season become so far advanced that
meetings can be held in room without a FIRE,
or in the open air, there can be no valid excuse
for negecting so important an enterprise.


The report of the Treasurer, Mr. j. B. Mer-
lam, shows the Association to be entirely free
from debt, fact which, when we take into ac-
count our unusual expenditures in the fitting up
of our new apartments, and the changes rem
dered necessary by our removal, with the 9TH
er extraordinary expenses of the year is cause
not only of congratulation, but of thankfulness
to our Heavenly Father who has so abundant
ly blessed US in "things temporal" and given
US such multiplied evidences of his love A
heavy debt, upon an Association like this, is
a milestone hanging upon the neck OF a man
struggling in the sea. He may be never so
good a swimmer, the weight will drag him
down. No efficiency or zeal, or energy, or skill,
will offset the depressing and discouraging in
fuenee of heavy debt 1t is, therefore, with
special pleasure that / congratulate you upon
SO hopeful feature of our condition at the
opening ofa new year. Let the policy of the
past be the policy of the future, and avoid the
contraction of any peeuniary obligation which
you have not the present ability TO meet.


The regular prayer meeting of the Associa-
ton has been sustained every Saturday evening
during the year, and for the most part with
good degree of interest. The meetings for lit
erary exercises, owing in part to the frequency
of religious and other meetings, have not been
regularly maintained


The Association has kept up fraternal cor
respondeDce with various other Associations
during the year, SO also with the Central Com
mittee of the Confederation at Buffalo, and all
of our intercourse with other Associations has
been of character to strengthen and render
permanent the ties that bind US to each other.


Thus have glanced hastily at some of the
prominent features of our history during the
year. 1t is not, however, fair to measure the
usefulness of our Association by the imperfect
outline which have given of it oPerstion.-
Many of the enterprises which in other cities
have been prosecuted with SO much energy and
profit to the community by similar Associations,
have here been commenced and carried on by
the churches and our members, though not in
their associated capacity, in the various church
es with with they are connected have been ae-
tive and faithful laborers in their support
There is, moreover, a silent influence constantly
going out from such an Association Of young
men, banded together for a worthy purpose
which is not to be expressed in words. 1t per-
vades the community as leaven permeates the
meal, giving direction to public opinion, soften
ing the asPerities of party and denominatiOnal
strife, and fostering a spirit of true christian
union among the followers of Christ, and while
it attracts the wanderers in the paths of unhal-
lowed pleasure, into the better way. But while
we review with joy and gratitude any good
which we have been permitted to accomplish,
we cannot forget the many opportunities of
usefulness which we have suffered to pass un-
improved. The latent power, the undeveloped
ability, the talent hidden in the earth how
shall we account for thesei How shall we meet
the demand Of our Lord when he shall come to
claim his own with the increase The past
Yields not its treasures again, at our demand;
they are entombed within its bosom And
while we stand as mourners around the grave,
Hope points with lifted finger TO the future,
radiant with the promise of higher and nobler
achievements in the great work which has been
committed to us. Oh, let US be more earnest
and faithful in the time to come than we have
been in the past. Let us continue to SOW the
precious seed, for Sin due time we shall reap
| if we faint not" Travellers in the Polar re-
gions tellus that when the snow melts away on
| the approach of Summer the hillsldes and val
| leys are instantly clothed with verdure, and
grain and seed scattered by the husbandman
upon the frozen earth and snow, as if conscious
how short must be their life, shoot up at once,
responsive to the warm breath Of spring. We
are those husbandmen. We are commanded to
| go forth bearing the precious seed, and as we
scatter it, here and there, often upon unpropi-
6ous and frozen soil, zoe may see little prospect
that it will geTminate, but in due time God shall
send down upon it his sunshine, and his show
ers, and it shall Immediately spring up and
| yield an abundant harvest to his praise. Our
life is an Arctic Summer. Soon the Autumn
viii be here OH how happy will il be for US,
if when the Judge shall call US to account for
the manner IN which we have improved its
fleeting hours, it shall appear that our talents
have all been kept in vigorous exercise and we
shall hear from his lips those blessed words
"Wen done, good and faithful servant, enter
ye into the joys of your Lord"


The above Report speaks well for our city
and its benevolent and religious institutions.
| Prof Edward Saylor, Of Cincinnati was there
introduced to the audience, and made an ad
dress full of instruction, encouragement and
hope. He rejoiced that now, after the lapse of
sixteen centuries, during which time the work
of evaDgelizing the world had been left entirely
il the hands of the ordained preachers,-that
now the laymen were taking hold of the work,
and assisting the ministers by active exertiOns
in the cause of truth and religion. He exhort :
ed those before him to labor earnestly, to speak
a word in season to all with whom they were
connected or acquainted, to seek out especially
those young men who flock to the cities from
the country and who are here exposed to a
thousand temptations to evil of which they new
er dreamed while in the purity OF their homes.
The members Ofthis Association. male and fe-
male, should work on in faith and hope, casting
their bread upon the waters, being assured thai
they should find it after many days. a


Rev. J. G: Fletcher, being present. then made
very happy and pertinent address of few
minutes length. he would live up to the sd.