THE Y.M.C.A. & ITS WORK

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1863, 24 September 1913, Page 5

THE Y.M.C.A. & ITS WORK

RESUME OF THE PAST.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Their Excellences tho Earl and Countcss of Liverpool Rave a further proof of tho interest which the.y have always taken in the' Y.M.C.A. and tho Y.W.C.A. by attending tho eleventh anniversary of the association which was held last, night in the Gymnasium Hall. Mr. H. W. Jvorwle.y presided. Others present were: The Jlayor (.Mr. J. P. Luke), the Chineso, Consul a lid his wife, Mrs. Williams, Mr. A. Yarney (general secretary), Mr. E. C. Brownell (Christcliurch), the Rev. and Mrs. Brainsby, and others. Tho president extended a hearty wclcomo to Lord and Lady Liverpool yftfitT expressed the hope that during their stay in the Dominion their interest in tho Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A. would increase, and that the secretary's report would enable them to seo tho nature of the work winch was being done. Many people, continued the president, wondered why tho Y.M.C.A. was not self-supporting, but they should remember that many branches of work*-were undertaken which brought, in no financial return. The.y had three paid officers—tho general secretary, who organised tho meetings and gave counsel to young men; tho gymnastic, instructor, 'who helped tho members to live upright, clean and straight lives; and the boys' instructor, who helped the boy lifo o. 1 the city. Each of them had done excellent work and many of tho young men present could tell them that tho Y.M.C.A. bad been their salvation.

The Year's Work. The secretary (Mr. A. Varney), in tho course of an interesting resume of tho year's work, said that beginning as a distinctly religious organisation tho Y.M.C.A. had developed until it included a gymnasium, educational classrooms, and social features, all for tho development of Christianity. A comprehensive scheme for Bible study and tho training of teachers and local preachers was ready for adoption during tho coming year. All forms of manly sport were encouraged, all-round development rather than specialisation being aimed at. The gymnasium had been patronised to a greater extent than ever, and they had now the largest physical training school in the city. The.y were immeasurably prouder of the conduct of the Y.M.C.A. men on tho field than of their success in competitions. The social life pervaded all departments of work and many group socials and teas had been held. Notwithstanding many difficulties the immigration work had been carjiod on with much success, and with tho Emigration Department of the Homo Y'.M.C.A.'s had been of considerable service to many men arriving from overseas, though tho assistanco rendered to those out of employment was limited. They could not yet run a. permanent officer for this immigration and labour work, and until that wasf possible they could not adequately cope with tho requests for assistance in that direction. As to the Territorial camps the work had developed considerably. Five camps had been served in tho Wellington district, at which 4973 men (vero in training. Tho total attendances at the Y.M.C.A. tents wero 24,570. As to tho residential department the object was to provide a "home away from homo" for young men compelled to seek their fortune in tho Empire City, and with 44 permanent boarders the wholo of the accommodation was taken up. "Wo endeavour," continued tho secretary, "at every possible moment to induce our younger men to speedily link up with soino educational institution and take advantago of the opportunities which lio at tlieir feet. Wo bring men interested in similar studies together for their mutual benefit." The literary and debating club, the male choir, the old' boys' club had all been successful. Tho report Concluded with an acknowledgment of tho help rendered by the ladies' auxiliary.

"A World-wide Movement." 1 Mr. E. C. Brownell,. general secretary of the Christchurch Y.M.C.A., then delivered an interesting address on "A World-wide Movement," during which ho said that many men had visions, but few had the ability and power to mako possible a movement embodying their good intentions. Fewer still wero ablo to see-in their own lifetime such a work as that started by Sir George Williams, the founder of the Y.M.C.A., which was tho oldest lay organisation., Tho chief purpose in tho early days of the movement was Bible prayer. Now tho organisation was serving men in a hundred different ways. The plans had stood tho tost, and the organisation was hero to stay.. It unite? the best interests in any community, and it had the motliods and tho message. Tho physical department had been worth all of tho effort and money expended in building up youths who needed developing physically, and in fixing a higher standard for athletics. Tho boys' work, although somewhat new, was going ahead by leaps and bounds. They wero beginning to emphasiso tho importanco of the work' of pro/ention. It was better to put up a fonce at tho top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulanco at the bottom. It was now a work by boys for boys; it was surprising what a boy could do for his • fc-llows when once stirred to action. - Many prophesied that the time would shortly come when the larger work of tho association would bo for boys botveen 12 and 18 years of age. Special buildings were now being set aside for this work. The association was tho legitimate organisation to conduct work for boys, not only inside the buildings, bu; to supervise tho larger worlc outside, in churches, clubs, and so on. There was a non-equipment type of such work now boing carried on under tho supervision of a trained secretary in communities too small to maintain associations. Such secretaries generally acted as truant officers, as well as having police power. When an association secured a building tho work had only just begun, and the city should tack up by increased gifts and personal saerifico the efforts of tho officials to reach and hclp'young men and boys in all conditions of lifo. Their concrete example was seen in the ability of tho association to adapt itself to all conditions under which men were living. Iu this connection the spoakors mentioned the wor 1- in territorial camps. This work, welcomed so readily b.y Iho officers and men, was a samplo of what was being done for tho men engaged on tho construction of tho great Panama Canal. The activities of the association had no\v encircled the globe, and a member from Wellington could show his ticket in the New York, London, Jerusalem or Shanghai associations. Governments wero making contributions in lands, buildings, and money, and corporations were finding that their bequests to this object wero good investments. In conclusion he congratulated tho Wellington institution on its progress, and honed that in tho future it , would continuo to advance.

Minimi Programme. A greatly appreciated prcgrammo of musical items was rendered during tho evening by tho Malo Choir, Miss Hoby, Madamo Brninshy, Miss Cecilo Haines, Mrs. Alcorn, Mr J. Lund, Mr. Stanley Rankin, and Mr. J. M. Clark, Mj. C. Kerry accompanying.