The Morris County Chronicle

WORK FOR YOUNG MEN.

Annual Meeting Calls Attention to Local Y. M. C. A. Work.

A Successful Year of Work for Young Men and Boys' of Morristown—Reports of the Departments—Spiritual, Social, Physical, Entertainment and Boy's Work Meet Great Success—Plan of Endowment Fund for Association Work.

The annual meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association, held at the association hall Monday evening was attended by a large number of the association workers and was interesting throughout. Reports of the work showed most happy and excellent progress during the year, particularly in its latter half, since the engagement of a new general secretary and a physical director.

To the many who have engaged in the work during the year and those who have taken occasion to observe closely its noble, many-sided efforts on behalf of the young men of our city, the work needs no report—its uplifting, broadening, ennobling influence upon the lives not only of its large and increasing membership, but of the many others who come within its touch, speaks for itself.

It is indeed, the sole agency for the allround development,—spiritual, physical, mental and social development—of the young men of Morristown, and those who devote their time and money in this direction may well be proud that they do a grand work, whose limit for good can never be pointed out.

E. A. Carrell, president of the association, presided at the meeting, with William R. Eadie, recording secretary.

John L. Tallmadge, treasurer, reported receipts during the year of $2,114.74, expenditures $2,060.93, leaving cash balance $33.81. The amount of indebtedness reported is $311.27, about $25 less than last year, which shows that the association has paid its way and that with aggressive work only during the latter half of the year. The result was also reported by the finance committee, Major H. M. Dalrymple chairman. In this line an event has recently occurred which gives promise of great usefulness in future; a short time ago a friend, appreciating the work of the association and seeing the decided advantage to be had from a fixed income, deposited to the credit of the association a small amount of which only the interest is to be used for association work. When it is remembered that the fund for the present association building started and for a long time remained at $17, the importance of this plan can be better realized. It is hoped that this amount may grow to a fund large enough to attract the attention of wealthy friends with the hope of later bequests, that the association may at some future date pay its way largely from this account, and enable its officers and directors to devote their time now necessarily spent in seeking funds—to a careful study of the opportunities of the institution and to plan for its greater influence.

Judge J. B. Vreeland, for the committee on membership, reported bona fide membership of 254—189 regular, 8 file and 57 boys; 176 names and renewals were added by the membership contest last December. The entertainment committee, thro' I. R. Pierson, reported that a course of four excellent entertainments had been held during the winter months, which had netted a small cash balance to be expended along special educational lines.

Most important in the association efforts, and as the real heart of the work, is the religious work, and this was reported by James S. Stearns, chairman of the Christian Work committee. Each Sunday interesting and profitable gospel meetings for men are conducted in the association rooms, with an average attendance since November 1, of 62; during February last special efforts were made in this line and the average attendance reached 105 for the month. When remembered that these meetings are for men only the result is remarkable and shows a great work. As another feature every Sunday morning the association has held a special preparatory service which has proven of much help to the members. This committee has also conducted gospel meetings at the jail every Sunday morning during the year, with attendance from 25 to 40, 4 or 5 being women. A few of the prisoners are confined in the cages and the remainder in what is called, but is not, the workhouse, the meetings being held in the room between. A number of ladies assist in these services and an organ is also used to lead the music. The idea that these people are unworthy of any special effort is a serious mistake; many are awaiting trial of crimes of which they are proven innocent and nearly all are confined for light offences and are easily affected by the work and in many cases known to the committee they have gone out to lead better lives as result of the meetings.

The reception committee, through John H. B. Corriell reported arrangement for New Year's reception, reception to new general secretary and physical director and other special social events during the year. The committee took entire charge of entertainment of delegates to district conference held here in November last. Other matters in this line were the gatherings on winter evenings before the fire to discuss important current and literary topics, and the furnishing of ushers for entertainments, etc.

Of great importance during the past year has been the physical work, reported by Aldus H. Pierson. Early in the season Dr. H. C. Thompson was engaged as physical director and since his coming this department has rapidly increased in interest and much good result is now shown for the winter work. The aim of the work has been body-building and health in preference to amusement. The attendance at gymnasium classes has been greater than ever before, as many as 61 men and boys have been working on the floor at one time. Efforts have also been made to give the public some idea of the work. Five exhibitions have been given, one at the gymnasium, one in Lyceum Hall, others before the Loantaka Council, of the Royal Arcanum of this city, and at Whippany and Madison.

The regular work in this department closes with this week, but it is expected that cycling and other athletic work will be carried on during the summer.

Stacy H. Briant reported for the committee on rooms and library, good use of the reading room which is well supplied with newspapers and magazines. During the year several books, the gifts of friends of the association, have been added to the library.

The Music Committee, George W. Bower, chairman, has furnished music for the Sunday meetings and special services. The music has been a special feature of many of the services and in this department it has also been well proven that faithfulness counts.

The Boys' Work Committee, reported by Roy Nelson Berry, shows splendid work in this department, of first importance being its religious work, including Sunday afternoon gospel meetings held without intermission each Sunday save during July, August and September. The meetings have had great influence in leading the boys to Christ and also in providing a drilling place for those who would serve their master. Other work has been done, such as the marking and distribution of copies of the Word. In this line a large number of the boys of the town outside of the Association membership have been influenced and helped.

The social work has had greater development than ever before; social evenings with war talks, literary programs and other exercises have been held and the New Year's reception for the boys of the town was given. The physical work has been very successful, has done much to develop friendliness among the boys and has had great influence upon their lives and characters. Outings have been given, including picnic at Shongum Lake, Thanksgiving field day, sleigh ride to Summit and baseball play on King street diamond, all with good result to the boys. Much other work has been done and the department was reported in healthy condition. All of the work has been accomplished—outside of the physical work—without expense to the Association. The committee also noted the valuable assistance rendered in its work by the Boy's Work Committee of the Ladies' Auxiliary. Appended to this report was the following:

If a paragraph may be added your committee would note with sorrow, the passing away during the year of a noble and effective worker in this department, Arthur Nelson Pavie, whose loss to the work, to the boys he loved and to the members of your committee, it has been hard indeed to bear. Converted to Christ several years ago through the influence of this department he manifested always an admirable zeal in its work for the boys of Morristown, and his efforts are rewarded by high place in the hearts of those boys he tried and in the sure 'well done' of the Master whom he served.

President Carrell also read an annual report covering the lines of work carried on during the year and their general result, congratulating the Association on a successful year of work. The year had been unusual in many respects, but there had been pleasing success—especially in the lines of physical work, entertainment and boy's work—and thanked each member of the committee for their work.

Election of officers resulted as follows: President, E. A. Carrell; vice president, John H. B. Corriell; recording secretary, William R. Eadie; treasurer, John L. Tallmadge; directors for three years, William S. Halliday, Charles E. Surdam, Aldus H. Pierson, E. A. Fleury and F. W. Owen; directors for one year, W. W. Cutler, J. Claude Armstrong. Directors whose terms hold over are John B. Vreeland, James S. Stearns, Stacy H. Briant, I. R. Pierson, V. E. Boell, Robert Dalglish, Geo. W. Bower and Roy Nelson Berry.

Following the election several speeches were made by the workers present, by President Carrell, Mr. Eadie, Revs. W. T. Pannell and S. Z. Batten, General Secretary Lunbeck, Physical Director Thompson and others, and there was manifest through all a feeling of congratulation on difficulties surmounted and confidence in the continued progress and success of the work. Remarks were made concerning the excellent and long continued work for the Association, of Major H. M. Dalrymple and George E. Voorhees who now retire from the directorship, and votes of thanks were extended them for good service. The meeting closed with the singing of the old association hymn "Blest be the Tie that Binds."