YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION RE-UNION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 810, 16 November 1878, Page 2

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION RE-UNION.

The social meeting and conversazione of the Oaniaru Young Men's Christian Associations, which took place last night, was a decided success, not only as an intellectual and musical treat, but also financially. The hall was crowded, and everyone appeared to enjoy themselves. The meeting was opened by the choir in a grace recital. The tea and good things were supplied from a stage presided over by Mesdames D. Booth, Barley, J. Falconer, and 0. Sutton, the Misses Boyes, Sly, Allison, and Spence. After disposing of an excellent repast, the tallies to the right and left of the hall were cleared and scientific instruments were placed in convenient positions, sufficient space having been allowed between the walls and tallies for the passage of visitors. No less than six microscopes occupied the table on the right of the hall under the superintendence of Dr. A. A. Fleming, who very kindly lent three very tine instruments, and during the hour of inspection most courteously explained the various specimens under sight. We give them accordingly in their order as follows : —l. Group of flustne, generally known as sea mats—beautiful objects in the microscope. 2. Head of the common house tly. 3. Foot of the house fly. 4. Drop of ditch water, showing the nature of the green scum which gathers on the top, with some of the animaleuke generally found in it. 5. (Jrouij of the polyzoan—the most beautiful shown. <). Branch of tertularia. The magnetic batteries on the tables to the left of the hall produced great amusement, while a plate electric machine, the skilful handiwork of J. W. liocke of this town, attracted much admiration and and attention. A number of curiosities, &e., also assisted to amuse the visitors. The telephone, however, would not work, despite the endeavors of the operators. After inspecting the various articles on exhibition, and spending an hour in a very pleasant manner, the audience resumed their seats, and the chair was taken by the President (Mr. Milligan). The Chairman briefly explained the objects of the Association, and said, as in the past, every opportunity would be used in the future to improve the position of young men. The work done in the past year had not perhaps been so great as might have been looked for, but the Association had had a great amount of preliminary work to perform. They looked for greater results in the future. He said it had been hoped that several clergymen would have been present, but they were conspicuous by their absence, The Board had, however, received apologies from those gentlemen, and the excuses offered were perfectly satisfactory. Mr. Dick, a delegate from the Dunedin Young Men's Association, was present, and would address the meeting. Mr. Dick had just returned from a visit to the Old Country and America, and would be able to tell them something of of interest with reference to Young Men's Associations in those countries. He regretted that there was no representative of the Christchurch Association present, but they had only recently received a visit from a member of that body, and lie hoped that at their next re-union a delegate from Christchurch would be present.

Mr. Dick, Vice-President of the Dunetlin Young Men's Christian Association, on coming forward, said that he had had no idea that he would be almost the only speaker. He apologised for the absence of the President of the Dunedin Association (Mr. Ban-), who had, been prevented from attending owing to family bereavement. Knowing that the late President of the Oamaru Association (Mr. Moore) had attended their anniversary, he (the speaker) had hastened to supply Mr. Barr's place, and to convey to them the hearty sympathy of the Dunedin Association. As the President had told them, he had recently visited America, and it might not be amiss to say a few words with reference to what he had seen in regard to Young Men's Association's in that country. They were to be found in England and Scotland, but America was the great centre for Young Men's Associations. There they were to be found in the greatest state of perfection, and in possession of the greatest vigor and power. In Chicago, where Mr. Moody was for a long time President, the Associations were in a vigorous state. They had excellent rooms, and these seemed to be constantly in use for one purpose or another. They were not, however, confined to young men. Sometimes they were occupied by meetings of young women ; and on one occasion he remembered to have listened in them to some most excellent addresses delivered by ladies, one of whom was a female doctor, and another a female lawyer. They had there a most energetic Secretary, a man whose heart was in the work. One Sunday he was talking to some friends in the large room of an hotel, when the Secretary came in with a number of bills in his hands, conveying invitations to a prayer meeting just about to be held. He also edited a periodical in connection with the Association called "The Watchman," a most excellent publication, giving a large

amount of information. In New York, too, the Associations had magnificent rooms, fitted up with everything calculated to find employment for young men. Gymnastics and every other means for acquiring physical as well as moral strength. In America the benefits derivable from Young Men's Associations were fully recognised, and every assistance was accorded to them. Merchants contributed liberally towards their buildings, and ministers gave them every encouragement and assistance. He hoped the day was not far distant when Young Men's Associations would receive the same amount of recognition and support from all classes in New Zealand. They were of the greatest value in every country, but especially were they of value in a now country ; indeed he knew of nothing that was of greater value. Having spoken of the firmness with which men in past times had stood to their faith, and suffered martyrdom in Scotland and England rather than give up the cause they had espoused, he said it formed a pace in history which thrilled and strengthened them. New Zealand wa3 only entering upon its history, and it was necessary that the young men should be trained not alone to stand firm to their principles, but by their examples to illustrate and enforce them. Let them train up men who would not only be capable of writing the history of the Colony, but of living in that history. Let them be trained to stand firm to their principles, notwithstanding the sneers and laughter of the wicked. Not alone should Young Men's Associations be encouraged. Associations for the benefit of young women should also be fostered. They had a very excellent Association of the kind in Dunedin, and he hoped one would be formed shortly in Oamaru. New Zealand would then obtain a name for its purity, the strength of its faith, and the firmness with which its iJeoplcadhered to those principles which they believed to be right.

The Chairman expressed a hope that there were many young men in the room who would avail themselves of the opportunity of having their names enrolled on the members' list. He mentioned that the Association had a large reading-room, where a large number of periodicals were kept, the object being to afi'ord young men an opportunity of gaining knowledge of -a useful as well as a pure nature. Then followed a service of song entitled "The Old, Old Story," the subject being an old poem bearing that title. The greater portion of the poem had been set to music of a religious nature, gleaned from various sources, by Mr. and Mrs. Moore. The service, which was also interspersed with several hymns of a suitable nature belonging to the " Sankey" collection, was admirably rendered. The various solos and quartettes were given in a most pleasing manner, more particularly the solos which were allotted to the tenor and treble. The Association's choir also sang the choruses in a manner which showed how carefully they had been trained by Mr. Moore. There were faults of course, some avoidable and others not so. The tenors were at times too prominent, while throughout the bass parts were not sung so smoothly as they should have been ; but this was probably owing to the fact that the basses were weak in number, and endeavored to make up for the lack o£ numbers by over straining their voices. Another fault which we would mention was the tv..,,.. no.y in which the last syllable in the word " Hallelujah" was clipped short and robbed of its fair proportions. More particularly was this noticeable in the hymn, Hallelujah ! 'tis done," in which the note was taken far too staccato to have a pleasing effect. The organ mudulations introduced by Mrs. Moore were both appropriate and well played. At the conclusion of the service votes of thanks were accorded to the ladies who had presided over the tea, to the choir, and to Mr. Dick, and the benediction having been pronounced, a very pleasantevening was brought to a close.