WESLEY MEN'S INSTITUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 255, 28 October 1929, Page 3

WESLEY MEN'S INSTITUTE.

ANNUAL REUNION. AIMS AND OBJECTS. Nearly a hundred members attended supper at the annual reunion of Wesley Young Men's Institute at the Wesley Hall, Pitt Street, on Saturday evening. The Rev. W. Walker presided. Mr. A. D. Whitehead, in proposing the toast of "W.Y.M.1.," paid a tribute to the late Mr. S. J. Ambury and his work for the institute. The speaker, with apologies to the president, likened W.Y.M.I. to a wellknown brand of whisky, "Born 1900, still going strong." He had often asked himself the reason for the continued success of W.Y.M.1., and could only attribute it to the spirit animating members and the wisdom of those who had laid the foundations. The general secretary, Mr. G. C. Riddell, in reply, gave a brief resume of the institute's activities and struck a very optimistic note regarding the future. In replying to the toast of "Absent Members," Mr. R. Clark said this toast was even older than W.Y.M.1., having been proposed at the banquet to the Prodigal Son. Some W.Y.M.I. members might be prodigals, but most of them- were Josephs, holding positions of trust ia various parts of the Dominion.

A photograph of the late Mr. S. J. Ambury was unveiled by Dr. Laws, who paid an esloquent tribute to the late vice-president as a man of deep religious convictions, with a high sense of duty, and one to whom many men owed their first start in life.

Musical items were contributed by Messrs. W. Leather. F. Wattes and W. Eastoe. The George Eyre memorial trophy for the best all-round cricketer and sportsman during the 1928-29 season was presented to K. Scott. The Boys' Brigade championship belt was awarded to W. Eastoe, with E. Read as runner-up—the latter was awarded the groups championship trophy. On Sunday evening a special W.T.M.I. service was held. Preaching from the text, "Son of man, stand upon thy feet," the Rev. W. Walker made a stirring appeal to youth to stand four-square to life, to take off its coat and get to grips with the intellectual, moral and physical difficulties which beset its path.