YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 289, 5 December 1900, Page 2

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

WELCOME TO MR AND MRS OATTS

Mv and Mrs H. E. Oatts, representatives of the English National Council of the V.M.C.A., ■ were publicly welcomed to New Zealand at the V.M.C.A. lecture hall last evening- by the V.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., and the Presbyterian Elders' Association. Mr .J. L. Wilson presided over a large and enthusiastic meeting-, on the platform being1 .the guests of the associations, the lie vs. 11. Somerville, W. E. OilJam, Mrs Mactier and Miss Sorley (Y.W.C.A.), Messrs T. Buddie,- 11. B. Shalders, and P. E. Cheal. The Primate and the Rev. W. J. Williams were also present,while apdlogies were received from a number of ministers for non-attendance. The meetingwas opened by devotional exercises, the Rev. W. E. Gillam leading- lin prayer after the reading of a. portion of the Gospel according to St. John.

The chairman said that he had great pleasure in introducing1 Mr and Mrs Oatts. Mr Oatts was not well known here, but his name was familiar to readers of V.M.C.A. journals. He had been connected with the Glasgow Association for many years, and the National Council of the Association had authorised Mr Oatts and his wife to proceed to the distant colonies of the British Empire in order to further the work. They would not be here long till they were, favourably known all over the colony. Mrs Oatts they coiild almost claim acquaintance with on acount of her revered father, the .Rev. Andrew Bonar. He trusted that the visit would be a blessing- to the Association, and that a great many young men would be led to Christ. He hoped that all present would do whatever in them lay to make the visit the greatest possible success. On behalf of the V.M.C.A. he welcomed the visitors to Auckland.

Mrs Mactier was sorry tat the president of the Y.W.C.A., Mrs W. Wilson, was absent from the city. In her absence she had been deputed to welcome Mrs Oatts, which she did most heartily. Miss Sorley then presented Mrs Oatts with a bouquet of roses.

Mr McPherson, city missionary, welcomed Mr and Mrs Oatts on behalf of the Elders' Association. The Association promised its co-operation in any spiritual work to be done. The Rev. Uobertson welcomed Mr and Mrs Oatts on behalf of the Presbytery. He stated that but for the large amount of business the Presbytery would have adjourned. However, they had appointed him commissioner to welcome the visitors and had passed the following- resolution: — "The Presbytery of Auckland rejoices to learn of the great success in Christian service granted to Mr Oatts, an honoured elder of tho Presbyterian Church, and to his wife, a daughter of the Rev. Dr. A. A. Bonar, in Glasgow, in connection with the excellent work of young men's and young- women's Christian associations, and of the blessing- attending their visit to India, Australia, and elsewhere. The Presbytery offers a cordial welcome to Mr and Mrs Oatts on their visit to Auckland and New Zealand, and trusts that by Divine aid, and the willing co-operation of Christians of all denominations, they may be greatly used in the work of the Gospel, and specially in extending- among- young men and women the saving and elevating1 influences of Christian associations in Auckland, and throughout the colony." Mr Robertson said the Ministers' Association gave their friends a hearty welcome at the Ministers' Association, and had had interesting addresses from both of them. A committee of church ministers had been formed to earnestly back up Mr Oatts in his work, so that it might be a united Christian labour. He had been appointed commissioner because he had known the work of Mr and Mrs Oatts in connection with the V.M.C.A. in Glasgow. Speaking ot the great men he had met Mr Robertson said there were three great brothers who had played an important part in the religious life of Scotland, the. Revs. H., J., and A. Bonar. Mrs Oatts was daughter of the last-named. Their visitors were joint heirs of a great spiritual inheritance. He hoped that the Christians of Auckland would rally round those who had come to Auckland to win souls and to quicken the work

among ycning men. Mrs Oatts in acknowledging the welcome said that she had had so many welcomes since her arrival in Auckland that she was becoming- overpowered (She thanked the Presbytery for their resolution sent through Mr Robertson, and Mr Robertson for his kind remarks. She also .heartily thanked the Y.W.C.A. too for their kindly welcome. She had been deputed by the world's committee in London to help the work of institution, and to give greetings to the members "of the AsswiaWoni. Tine Y.W.C.A. now had between three and four thousand branches. The Association was progressing1 in a. satisfactory manner. In the places visited they found the branches working quietly, earnestly, and solidly. In Rangoon they had 'established a Y.W.C.A., and it was^ now at the end of a few months growing greater in strength. At Palestine some four years ago she had, at the request of the ladies of an orphanage at Nazareth, established a similar institution in that city. She had come to Auckland with the earnest desire to help on the work of the Y.W.C.A. It had been a great joy to know that the Svork was progressing so well in Auckland. The Associations wanted to help those who needed a word of encouragement

Mr Oatts also thanked the gathering for the cordial and sympathetic welcome accorded him and his wife. In the- V.M.C.A. there was no denominationalism, and he was willing to co-operate with every section... of the Christian, Church. Their one desire was to get hold of the young fellows, and win them to Jesus. A year ago this week he was with' the National Council in London recieving their commission and being commended by the founder,' Sir Geo. Williams, to the work of God. He described the foundation of the Association in 1544, and said that now there were over 7400 branchcsl Aueklanders shoofld rally round the V.M.C.A and lift the debt of £4000 on the building. The Association could go further thaji the churches, for it could keep the- open door from 9 a.m. on Monday to. 10 p.m. on Saturday. There were over 5000 young fellows in Auckland, outside the churches, who should bfc brought into tiiem.

Tlie chairman announced that afternoon and evening evangelistic meetings would be held through the week. The meeting- concluded with the pronouncing- of .the Benediction by Mr Oatts.