Y.M.C.A. CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1976, 5 February 1914, Page 5

Y.M.C.A. CONFERENCE.

,(By , lWecmph.—Press Association.) -Auckland, February i. > '• At tho Y.M.C.A. Conference- tilit i morning, Prolessor L'icknn, chairman, in ! an, ppeujngaddie.ss,. emphasised tlio lc« i murkablo success "achieved mhoo tbo picvious Bitting at Chustchurcli, at which' place, ithc movement- was piactically inaugurated. The total membership in Iho Dominion was GIOO. Tho most ur-j 'gent matter? for consideration were tlio | immediate futme ol Micial service- \\\i military camps,, relief of Chris.tchurch'j and Wellington from their heavy financial burdcii, organisation "of foreign! work under Iho present excellent c-xccu-i tivo at- Dunodih, organisation ol thoi Y.M.C.A. boys tliiough church, clubs] and classos, training of honorary and] salaried workers, standardisation of I nioinbcrship,, instruction, in ' physical; work, union of groups of young ineiiJ and boys iiwtlio country with tluvj Y.M.O.A. Association's ns centres, and/ tlio Fnancmg of tlio National Commit-' tco's, operations-. i , ' An address was delivered by Mr* 1 John M'Kenzie, of Auckland, and \nrjoug phases ol loligious work in asroci* ation wore, then discussed by Messrs.! Hughes (Dunodin), Moreton (Duncdin)/ Baker (Boys' Work Director at Chiisl-, chuichVi and others; Mi. Peacncl:' (Australia) oitipliasiscd tlio need' tor| an intelligent direction .of Christian) energies, and the cliairman (Professor I'ickon) expressed fear that many young men were- kept away from the association bv too much ''sanctimoniousness" m Christian work. vAt-tho same timo it was absolutely essential to create \ religious almosphero to - malto it effectual. There wore, however, somo men who seemed ambitious to talk about their religious experience's to somo atlicr fellow. Four sectional conferences were held' this morning. Lady visitois and, others interested in tlio work of tho association met in tho clubroom, Jinri, after discussion, detei mined to form a," women's national committee, of tlio Y.M.C.A. of New Zealand, with the object of bringing under one central organisation tho difioient ladies' committees and auxiliaries,' with a view lo mutual helpful relations being established. Conferences were also hold with ielation to boys' work, military camp seivice, and business management, and the recommendations arrived at will como before tho convention to-morrow,