Y.M.CA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 72, 23 March 1912, Page 10

Y.M.CA.

AMNUAL _dD3ETEo"G. The annual meeting of the An-cfc-bM-Ct V.M.C.A. vTaa held last night in the rooms, Albert-street, when there was a good attendan-ce. The staircase leading Ito the various rooms was gaily decorated with bunting. In the social room, M r Emmins was in charge of exhibits by tho Camera Clnb. Mr. J. W. Stewart presided at the business meeting in the I lecture hall. ACCOUNTS. | The hon. treasurer, Mr. K. B. Oelston, I submitted die statement of accounts. He said the. receipts during the year had been I the largest iii the history of the associa i lion. Tbev clAed the year with a credit. ! balance of' £2™ 13/4. The mid-day lunch I had loft a profit of £47 "S/J, and the 'rents brought in £386. The accounts which were taken as read showed, liabilities E 14,55S 17/11. -Deluding £10, I 368 0/1 balance brought forward; assets, Albert-street, property, £14,000; "urni ture and fittings, £,002 4/S; outstanding | sulxscriptions estimated good, £16; cash lin bank and hand, £20 13/4: total, £14,----*>SS IS/. Building Fund, balance brought forward, £503 11/11; subs-criptions and 'rent, £720 1/6; bank overdraft, £380 10/11; total, a" 1814 13/4. By property, Federal-street, £1312; instalment and ! architect's fee, £150; rates and taxes. £51 11/4: wages, £9; bank charge., ill/: sundry accounts, £91 11/ total £1614. 13/4. The statement of assets and liabilities of the building fund account showed bank "overdraft £3SO 1.0/11; balance £10,574 6/9; total, £10,----055 6/8. The ascets were new building site and property, Federal-street, £7312; loan to general account, to pay part of mortgage. £1000; billiard tables, £150; interest duo on loan, £173 6/8; outstanding promised subscriptions estimated good, £2320; total, £10,955 6/8. The balance- sheet was adopted. GREETINGS, ilr. R. O. Pratt, of the Sydney V.M.C.A,, acting hon. secretary for Australia and New Zealand, tendered cordial greeting. He said he was asked to spe dally commend Auckland for the lead they were taking in V.M.C.A. work in Xew Zealand. ANNUAL REPORT. ilr. Joseph Ma-cfarlane (general secretary) said there were three of the. report, and he did not propose to read them. He said their movement stood for the Fatherhood of God, the Divinity of Christ, and the Brotherhood of man. For that reason the movement would never die. During the past year it cost £11,000 to provent young men from doing wrong, because most oi those in gaol wer. young men. During the same-time the V.M.C.A. spent £400 to try and make 700 young men do good. •Mr. Macfarlane then spent some time describing the work done by the Association. He mentioned that young men were met on the steamers upon arrival, also on the athletic field, and in the street. Their Association was an influence in the city, and was gradually extending that influence through the province. The Association kept a list of good iboarding-houses to which strange young men were directed. During tiie year 105 young men had been directed 'to the church of their preference. The strangers' teas had been patronised by visitors from almost every habitable part of the globe. In all, 108 men and | boys had been enrolled in the classes for Bible-study. The orchestra had done good service during the year. Twenty members were engaged in open-air gospel work. The mid-day lunch had an average attendance of 50, and a magazane club had been formed. Two camps were ; held during the year, one at Waimarino, and another on Mr. H. Brett's property, i Takapuna. Gymnastic and physical culture classes were carried on by the Association, also educational, including a public speaking club. The Foreign Work Club sent £30 towards Mr. Laing-e work, in India. The annual expenses' 3 had increased, but had been met by the generous response on the part of citizens, am) the year closed with no outstanding liabilities. Mr. George Adair gave a brief description of the work among the boys, which iiruluded games and Bible study. He said they-worked with boys, and not for boye as was formerly titc practice. Professor W. T. Mills spoke regarding the space between the old fireside and tbe new. He said that the institutions which had lasted through the centuries, were the Church, the State, and the. Family. Modern life had wrought many changes, creating a vast army of men and women who were drawn away from the did fireside, before it was pos-ib'.e they should ha.c a new fireside of their own. It was in that yawning gulf where the work of the V.M.C.A. should be done. The personal sacrifice for the common good should produce a rich harvest in the space between the old fireside and the new. Mr. Mills then paid a high testimony to the work of Crt-orge Williams, the founder of the V.M.C.A. movement. He did not know of a holier work than to be an elt'er brother to the boy who has no brother The boy who was alt.ogr.ther from home rec i. ti f refl tne V.M.C.A. to aid him. What they wanted wa6 to raise young men with clean blood, strong muscles, physical endurance, mental power, and public spirit. .Any institution which ■-rould do that work was most useful. Young men wanted religion without cant, robust, healthy religion. (Applause.) • OFFICERS. The following officers -were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mr." A. U. Caughey; vice-president, Hon. George Fowlds, Mr. J. W. Stewart, Key. W. li GiUn-m. olr. Wesley Spragg, and Dr. A. O. Knight; hon. treasurer, Mr. R. 1-S. Gc-lston; lion, secretary, Mr. S. Barry; directors, Messrs. W. E. Bush, B. Buttle', G. M. Fowled, E. E. Grimwade, H. G. Fountain, Floyd Harrop, T. F. Hill T Miller, Jl. E.Eacey, R. L. Steward, Jas. M. -Barr, and -A." Mill, Alter the formal business bad:.been transacted, the proceedings were more on the lines of a social gathering. There was a physical display by members, a cornet solo by H, Garland, recitations IVt 7" , Ca -' den > ■Toeal solos by Mrs. j and Mr. Exton, male quarla_£ wY-T 8- E5 - ton - Gr *-&°-T. G-ladding, | and -"vakchani. At 9.45 supper was D rS 0 toll Old English games were played in the gymnasium.