Dunedin Young Men’s Christian v Association.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 353, 25 May 1881, Page 2

Dunedin Young Men’s Christian v Association.

‘pf (communicated. ) ;; I was pleased the oth§,r day, .lyheli visiting Dunedin, to find imopg its-Othpr, improvements that the Association above-' named has had a building. pf its own erected entirely for Association purposes.. It faces the grounds of the First and is in every respect a credit to the city The premises are substantially built of blue stone and Hubbart’a patent brick, and the internal arrangements are all that could be desired. The general.secretary, (Mr D.' Wright) kindly furnished me with the following particulars, which may interest your, readers :—ln May 1878, the Rev; Dr Somerville made an eloquentappeal on behalf of the Young Men’s Association, which resulted in promised donations of over L 1,600, five gentlemen offering LIOO each for the erection of suitable rooms ; and, although Dunedin has suffered commercially since that date, nearly all the friends who promised have paid their donations. The building is arranged; as follows On the basement floor there are two excellent class-rooms and the heating apparatus, ; and a gymnasium is about . tobe erected for the benefit of members of the' Association and others. On the ground floor there is a lecture hall, which accommodates about 200 people, and a retiring-room. Upstairs there is the secretary’s room, a well-fur-nished parlor, a chess-room, and a very large/’ comfortable, well-lighted readingroom and library. The rooms are all, well ventilated,* qnd the ceilings about 16 feet fr6m the floor, “Tlie work in which the Association is atf present engaged is , to a large extent of a’ devotional charac-' ter, such as meetings for prayer, Bible classes, Ate., etc.; but a large amount of work -is just being planned for the winter months. A considerable number of well-known clergymen and laymen, of known ability have consented to' lecture on popular subjects ; a class for studying elocution commences in June ; also, ft class for' music and one for studying on asystemalicplan the Christian evidences. The young men have agreed to conduct a Sunday evening service for young men And others who do not attend any place of worship, and they have also resolved to arrange for the distribution of tracts throughout the city. A ihdhthly conversational meeting, 1 open to all young men, is held to discuss public questions of a social and political character; and once everymonths the members meet to confer about fresh work', and for the encouragement of one another generally. There is of course an active Board of Management ; but without a paid official we do not think such a undertaking could well succeed. The rooms are largely used by the members themselves, and by young, men from the neighboring colonies, and from all parts of the world. All young men visitors and strangers are invited to the rooms, which are open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p. m.