Year: 1866

ANMUAL kEPUkT VI THE fhESlUhNI VI


THE YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN ASS0OIA-
/ TI0N, T0WANDA. aL sot1


BRorHERs-In presenting to you this first
Annual Report of the operations of our AS
| sociation, / no doubt express the feelings
OF all, in saying that we have great reason
for gratitude to God for the way in which
1 he has led u.s. Although our history, as an


organization, carries us but one year back,


cannot but feel that the real beginning of


our work was when eight years since, a


few of our number instituted what was a
new thing in Towanda, a Young MEMS I'm
ION Prayer Meeting, and if it was not foreign


to the immediate object of this report, it
might be interesting to hear the history of
that meeting. The encouragements and
discouragements met with. How the ques-
tion would sometimes arise as to the pros
pect of continuing it, when week after week
but two or three would meet together. And
how it was continued, and, in answer to the
prayers there made it's attendance so IN
creased as to make our present organiza-
tion advisable. ' -s


Whatever doubts any of us may have
had one year ago, in regard to the advan-
tages proposed to be gained by giving to
our quiet prayer meeting the more perma-
nent and aggressive character of Young
Mems Christian Association, can surely
have no place in our minds, when we look
at the work accomplished during the past
year, and know that much of it, humanity
speaking, would not have been done but for
| its timely action. t - 80


Early in the year the Board of Managers
were fortunate in securing our present
rooms, and were soon able, through the lib
erality of our citizens, to furnish and make
them pleasant and profitable place of re-
sort, by keeping upon our tables a good Sc
lection from the various secular and relig-
ious newspapers md magazines of the day,
and it is a satisfaction to know that our eff
forts in this direction met with some sue
cess; many of our young men whose even
ings were not wholly occupied by business,
and who were deprived of the retirement
and pleasures of home, have availed them
selves of the freedom of our Reading Room
| to spend an hour, which otherwise, might
have been passed amid Influences for evil.
And l would here suggest to our Board of
Managers, that in future greater effort be
made to make our Rooms attractive to this
class of persons. 1t is evident that if they
can be made the resort of those who would
for the want of better place, 60 to the sa-
| loon or bar-room, for an hour of relaxation,
after the business of the day, an incalcula-
BILE amount of good will be accomplished
In this connection l would call your at
tention particularly to the important duties
of the Committee ON Strangers. AS the
populat alton of our town increases, great re-
suits may be looked for from the work of
this Committee, whose duty it is to acquaint
themselves with young men coming among
us as strangers, and endeavor to throw
around them good influences.


l am pleased to report that a fair begin
ming has been made for Library. A few
books have been bought, and valuable
collection of about one hundred volumes,
selected from the library of the late Rev.
julius FOSTER, has been presented to the
Association by his family. While we can
not hope to make large additions by pur-
chase for some time to come, much may be
done by the members of the Association
towards enlarging and giving to our libra
ry more permanent character
A partial Course of Lectures was main
tanned during the fall and winter, but ow-
ing to the many Interruptions and disap-
pointments, the Lecture Committee are
obliged to present an unfavorable report
financially, although great credit is due
them for their untiring efforts to make the
course in this respect, success.


AS will be seen by the report of the
Treasurer our finances are not in as pros
porous condition as could be wished


The expenditures, the past year, have
| been large, amounting, for the various pur-
cf +ha 70 4bo,,
sand dollars, and several orders on the
Treasurer, amounting to about one hundred
dollars, remain unpaid for want of funds.
trust that some plan may be adopted
which will make our revenue sufficient for
all ordinary expenses. The recent amend
ment to the Constitution pruvides but par
TALLY for this, and unless some additional
provision be made, fear that my successor
will be obliged to report as do, deficit.


The regular Sunday Evening Prayer
Meeting of the Association. has been we'll
sustained throughout the year, and the pc
tition so often made, that the numbers of
those who loved to meet with US for pray er
might be increased from among the young
men of Towanda, has been gloriously an
swered. 1t became evident during the fall
and early part of the winter, from the in
creasing interest in our meetings, that we
were being prepared for more than ordi-
nary outpouring of the Holy Spirit.


That precursor of nearly all revivals, the
awakening of GoD's people, was clearly
manifest And although we thought our
faith was strong that souls were about to
be converted, how weak it was in compari-
son with the perfect avalanche of bless
| ings that came upon US.


A short time before the week of prayer
in January, it was decided to hold series
of Union Meetings, and to invite the Rev.
| E. P. HAMMOND, whose efforts had been so
wonderfully blessed in other places to con-
duct them The cooperation of the Pas
tors of our several churches was gained,
and with the commencement of his labors,
began the greatest religious awakening
and ingathering of souls ever known in our
town. Both old and young felt that they
were concerned in the great question,
"What shall do to be saved" And large
numbers of those who made the enquiry,
sought until they found peace and joy in
believing fl"


| have been unable to ascertain with any
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