Y.M.C.A.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 618, 22 September 1909, Page 8

Y.M.C.A.

;:■;■;■• welcome to me. ,virgo. A welcome to Mr. J. J. Virgo, general 6ecre-' tary:\)f the Sydney fY.M.C.A., and acting-, secretary of the Y.M.C.A.'s of Australia and New -Zealand, was given at the rooms by the members, of -the • Association and their friends last evening. , Mn J, G. W. AitVen", president of' the association, was in the • chair, and there was'a largo attendance. Jfr.' Aitken recalled that Mr. ,: yirgo had been present at tho birth of-the Wellington Association seven years ago. He h'ad come then to give it its 'nrst' start and. impetus, and now he "had come to 6eehow it had grown. He offered a very warm welcome to' Mr. Virgo, for whom throe cheers were given, ■ ■ ■ ■ . ■

Mr. G> W. W. B. .Hughes, secretary of the Dunedin Association, divided those connected with Y.M.C.A. work into the .wishers, the wobbltrs, and the workers. On this'basis he made a strong appeal for earnest service in tn« cause of the. associations. , .Playing on the name of the movement, ho., urged! "Tou ministers can assist,'.' and also, 'liou mothers can: assist."; . ■ . .... < ■ „■ ... . .-..■• . Mr. Virgo, who.wasgreeted with enthusiastic applause, expressed' hearty greetings from the Sydnoy' Association. •■ That 1 association had been over a year in its new' building, and daring tho year there had beon 1200 members added,'■making a present membership of close on 180(S, of whom vory. few had , not-paid their subscription. He congratulated the .'Wellington Association-on its-solidity and vigour, on the work it had-accomplished,, the friends it ■had gathered round , it, and tho possession;of a general , secretary- who .was "one of the best." (Applause;) Hβ also congratulated the Wellington Association on its connection with the YjM.C.A, throughout'the .world, which lie bis lieyed would cause such a revival among young men within the next decade as would make the' Christian Church sing tho-Doxology,-and thank God that this work was commenced. He dwelt on the close connection between the Y.M.C.A.'s and-the Churches. If the .Y.M.C.A. were not loyal to tho Church,, ho would cease to be:'a member .of :it. 'The. founder of the. movement, , Sir George Williams.yhadßeen used to say: "Always keep first things' first." No causo could succeed which did not keep that motto in mind. He beliove'd' that ,the" fellington Association was upholding: the best traditions of the Y.lI.C.A.'s. He. urged all' - its members not.only to get all .they could out of the association as a qnid.pro quo, but also<to put all they-could into it. -, " : '■ The address," which was very earnestly. and "vigorously delivered, produced a deep impross'ibn.' '.'••':. ■'. •'■■■'■. '■''.'' -~ .. ■■'-.''.. An excellent musical programme was ■ given, arranged by -Mr. , X. Carr. .'-■' The secretarial conference of Y.JI.C.A.'s will begin this morning, and in the evening a men's banquet will be , held. ':.' ' . 3. A , diverting side show, which included an monkey" who added up figures painfully, a wild man from Karori;" "giant and giantess, a "knight of the fifteenth century," and other eccentric characters,, provided entertainment in return for -sixpences. ' ■' .