YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 471, 14 May 1890, Page 5

YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Auckland, May 10. The annual public meeting of the Young Men’s Christian Association was held at the City Hall last evening. There was a fair attendance, the building being about half filled, but it was a rather eingular thing, as noted by one of the speakers, that there were very few young men amongst those present. There were on the 'platform a number of clergymen and other prominent citizens, and the chair was occupied by Mr E. Withy, M.H.R. After the singing of a hymn and prayer by the Rev. B. L. Thomas, the Chairman made a few introductory remarks of an interesting character. Hestatedthatduring the last three years things had gone backward with the Association, and some amount of money had had to be found annually to keep the concern going, and to avoid making an appeal when they thought the public c uld not'afford to help them. There now seemed to be an improvement in business, and ha hoped the Y.M.C.A. would come in for a share of the good things. The object of the meeting was, however, chiefly, through Mr Var cy, to make an appeal to the young men of Auckland to join the institution. Mr Thos. Buddie, hon. secretary, stated that (he Y.M.C.A. had now 4,000 branches throughout the world, a membership of 500,000, and property valued a few years age ct 1.' 4,000,000. He then proceeded to eliuni rate the objects and uses of the Auckland institution, and showed that the p : emi -es were by no means too large for i cquirem nts of this city. They had ui-w 150 members, and they wanted ,-iU.ui. 200 more. The indebtedness of Iho Association was £6,500 on m rtgago, and in addition to this there •.v;;s a sum of £SOO now due. During the a-: two or three weeks they had received H/une encouragement, one gentleman having i 1 Vied to contribute £SOO provided another El .000 could be raised, and this £SOO had !>y voluntary contributions now reached £825. .Mr C. E. Button gave an interesting address on “ Christian Manhood ”as applied to the objects of the Association, and hu /.a**«nt cautioned members against over- I\. ting the value of physical development, which, he urged, should be accompanied by Christian manhood. Mr Henry Varley followed with a stirring address on “ A Real Live Association.” HcAuiled his own conversion to the influence exerted by a kindred institution iflirty ve.urs ago, and went on to state how these’ associations had extended in the United > Gates, Canada, Australia, and most of all in the United Kingdom. He caut.nned the local Association against catering to the wants of the young men of this city by supplying them with that which they could be furnished with outside. For this reason he opposed the introduction of billiards, cards, bagatelle, or anything else in which ;.|,h p Uric - house and a pretty barmaid could boat them out of the field. What they wanted to encourage was a manly Chr stiuiv.ty, and that the young men attached to the Association should possess a manly Christianity. He advocated an aggressive, Christian work, with outdoor services in the summer montits, and the diffusion of Christian principles by members in the course of their ordinary business occupations, Mr Varley was frequently applauded during the course of his address. A Collection having been taken up, proceedings concluded with prayer by the Rev. Scott West.