YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6344, 18 March 1882, Page 5

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

TnE annual meeting of the members was [ held last night in the roems of the institution. The friends and members first partook of tea in the social room, after which the annual public business was transacted in the lecture room, Mr J. L. Wilson in the chair. The proceedings were opened with the 119 th hymn (Moody and Sankey) and prayer. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said the first note that should be sounded on 3uch an occasion was one of gratitude to God for the success of the past year. The success that had attended the labours of the society made it manifest that God was with it. There was an evident increase of vitality in all the agencies connected with the society. There was no distinction amongst the young men ; they were all one in their love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and willing to organise a movement to do all that was in the power of eaeh and every one to promote His work. The results of the past year should make them courageous, buoyant, as they looked forward to another year of good work. They should place their reliance upon Him in the future as well as in the past. The bond that united them was no mere matter of doctrine without any life, but a real vitality. The Divine assistance had been manifested in many ways. It was necessary that the members of such an association should contemplate the conditions of their work; they should address themselves to their new efforts with a set and dafinite purpose. Without a well defined object good and hard work was almost sure to be wasted. They must therefore regard the conditions of successful service as essential. The first thing was to be united, as Christian men should be. This unity was sure to be followed by good results. If the young men neglected to comply with those conditions their neglect would react upon themselves, and they would experience disappointment. Individually they would suffer, as a collective body they would suffer, and the work itself would suffer from any laxity in the observance of the conditions of their labour. All around they must observe organisations of evil, and that being so, efficient organisation was necessary to do the work of Christ and Christianity. If as Christian young men they persevered, they would be sure of a blessing. The good worker in such a cause might be sure of Divine help. The Spirit of the Saviour would communicate itself to the labour done. There were all kinds of labour to be done. One man was most successful in doing one kind of work, and another in some other way. But all could direct their special talents and abilities to the main object of doing Christian work and bringing souls to Christ. If in this spirit of true Christian men they addressed themselves boldly and perseveringly to what was to be done the result would equal their highest expectation. There was in that society an organisation equal to combat the evils around them successfully if they 'were sustained by this faith in the Divine promise and assistance. Nothing should be impossible in such a cause as that which the association had at heart. The sympathy ami power of the Lord would be with them, aud they should avail themselves of all the facilities that were placed in their hands to carry on the "work. Let every young man be thankful for the blessing that attended his work; all should be thankful for the visible and happy results of their united co-operation. But they should not be too eager for manifest results. They should not be discouraged if their sanguine anticipations should not be immediately realised. Let them go forward knowing that God was in the midst of them. If they disregarded individual conditions, they would experience trouble. They should rest upon theassuranceof Divine help in doing their best to deserve it. Christian work was feeblest when the source it came from and the aims it proposed to itself were not kept steadily in view. God's help and blessing should be constantly asked, and the fruit of the work would be gathered in due season. (Applause.) The Ho.v. Secretary (Mr. Thomas Buddie) read the report for the past year as follows :—

During the past year an increased vitality has been manifested in the various departments of the Association's work, and the Committee desire to record their thankfulness for new fields of usefulness and for evident tokens of success. The present condition of the Association justifies tho hope that, by God's blessing, numbers of young men will be brought within its influence during the coining year. The subscribers number 152 .it 205., and 276 at 10s., making a total of 425. This shows an increaso of 45 on last year. Of tho above 33 suiiscribc to the reading-room alone, 152 to the reading-room and library, and 23S to the library alone. 3-1 members have been admitted, making the number of members new to be 150. Finance. — The debit balance last year was £101 6?. ill.; an ctfbrt was made early in the year to pay this oil', and £102 lis. 4d. was raised. The sum of .€52 12s. has been expended in necessary repairs. The net proceeds of the lectures was less by .£34 than the i-revious year. In consequence of the resumption by the Association of one of the shops in Wellesleystreet, the inenmc from rents has been .CM less than formerly. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, if the arrears of subscriptions were paid there would bo no debit balance. The Lihrary now contains ovor2Goo volumes, 162 having been added during the year, of which 97 were presented and l>s purchased. The average circulation has been 940 books per month. The Committee recojnise the importance of making considerable additions, and confidently hope that the means will be provided this year fordoing so. A good catalogue has been printed, and is sold at (id. Subscribers would do well to provide themselves with the catalogue, as it is intended to make such alterations in the arrangements of the library as will prevent access to the shelve 3by any but tho librarian. This is fonnd to be necessary in order to avoid the trouble and delav occasioned by the displacement of b»oks. The Readinm-koom continues to bo well patronised ; large numbers of strangers are amoigst its visitors. Tho Committee have recently fitted up and furnished (by special subscription) a social room in "YeUcsley-strcet, leading out of the reading-room, for the use of members of the Association and friends introduced by members, and arrangements are in progress for the regular supply of refreshments in this room. It is thought that this will meet a want much felt by young men. The room will also be available for chess and for social reunions. Lectures.—The attendance has been below that of former years. It becomos increasingly difficult year by year to arrange a series of suitable lectures, and tho Committee recommend that some other means be provided for literary aud musical entertainment during the winter months. The employment and boarding-house registers are kept by the general secretary, and have proved very useful during tho year. The advantages and objocts of the Association have been extensively advertised during the yoar by means of cards, handbills, &c, and with the New Year a sheet almanac, containing, in addition to the advertisements, a text for each day of tho year, was issued ; 14,000 copies were circulated, and also 3,50(1 copies of a New Year's address, kindly written by -Mr. Spurg«on. The whole expanse connected with printing aud distributing was met by private contribution.

• In connection with the moro spiritu.il work of the Association, there is cause for much gratitude to Ood for earnest effort put forth, and for evidonce of good Accomplished. Tuesday evening meetings have been well attended, and it has increased during the last three or four months from C or 7 to about 20, and tn several instances good has been acknowledged to have been receive* from attendance at these meetings. Social ! reunions have been held quarterly, and well-atlcndod" The Thursday evening evangelistic service continue* to attract a large ami attentive audience, and has been made the means of blessing to many, not a few being new arrivals in the country. The attendance varies from BO to 150 The Saturday evening liible-rcading and n.cetin£ for united prayer is much appreciated. The attendance ave-raiut about 120, many of whom bring their Bibles and evince great interest in searching the Sc-iptures. The Sunday afternoon Conversational Bible Class is r.gularly held from :i to 4 o'clock, and the attdndance during the last year has been very oncouraging, varying from "2"» to 3f>. The interest is evidently increasine, and the teaching influence of the Divine Spsrit is sought and realised. Theatre Services.—Sunday evenings at 8 o'clock. —Tho interest in these services continues unabated. Although other inducements frequently offer to attract the people elsewhere, the attendance is undiminished, and we are c ntblnnt that these meetings are a means of great blessing and a power for good in the city. The whole of the expenses have been j regularly met. partly by voluntary contributions, aud occasionally thank-offeringa have been received from persons who have been benotlted by the services. About 12.000 of suitable tracts have been distributed at tho services during the past year. Social gatherings of workers have been held periodically, and have been much enjoyed. Mr. Tudehope, for whoso hearty conduct of the Service of Song the thanks of the Association :»ro due, lias retired, and Air. Tanfield has taken charge. More voices are needed in tho choir, and would bo gladly welcomed by Mr. Tan field, who teois a deep interest in tho work. Where so many have cheerfully rendered service, it would be invidious to make any special exceptions, but the thanks of the Committee are due and heartily given to all who have assisted by lectures, conduct of meetings, subscriptions, and otherwise, and they are satisfied that, as in the past, so in the future willing helpors will be forthcoming when called upon to assist in a work which, from its unsectarian character, offers a common platform on which Christians of every section of the Church of Christ may unite in the grand and glorious work of making known the Gospel of salvation to sinners, and in assisting and encouraging young men especially in the path of righteousness. In thus briefly reviewing the work of the past year the Committee feel justified in claiming that the Association is to a considerable extent accomplishing the objects for which it exists, and are much encouraged by the success which has attended th* means used to look forward with some confidence to a year of mucn greater prosperity. It is worthy of remark that the interest in tho Association and its work is extending the more that its distinctly spiritual character is made prominent and being developed, and this should bo a call to whole-hearted, disinterested and earnest effort on the part of all the members. Let this be realised, and, with the blessing of the Master upon our labours, success must be the result.

The financial statement was also read, from which we take the following:—Receipts, £636 9s 9d; debit balance, £51 Os 4d ; city mission account, £142 15s ; balance in hand, £1 15s ; theatre services, taken at the doors, £143 19s lOd ; donations, £47. Total, £191 3s 6d. The report and balance sheet were unanimously adopted.

office-bearers. The following members were elected officebearers for the ensuing year :— President : F. Battley. Vice-Presidents : Ven Archdeacon Maunsell, Revs. T. Buddie, M. K. Fraser, T. Hodgson, — Guy, A. Reid, R. F. Macnicol, T. Spurgeon, J. Robertson. Messrs. J. Coupland, Daldy, Shalders, Goldic, Hon. Colonel Haultain, Messrs. G. Holdship, F. Larkins, T. Macffarlane, J. Newman, and J. L. Wilson. Committer of Management: Messrs. E. Bell. Douglas, T. G. Ewincton, G. Hemns, A. Thome, WiHonghby, A. KDight Hampson, T. McMaster, J. Buttle, S. Parker, W. Rushbrook, W. H. Smith, and .1. Wiseman. Hon. Treasurer: Mr. W. Callenilar. Hon Secretaries: Messrs. Buddie arid F. Mitchell. On the motion of Mr. Bell, it was agreed to communicate with the vice-presidents, as it seemed doubtful whether some of them were disposed to ack. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. T. Buddie, the hon. secretary, for the services he had rendered to the society during the past year. Mr. Vines addressed the meeting on his experience of Young Men's Christian Associations in America. Mr. Douglas, from Dunedin, said the report read was the best annual report he had ever heard in New Zealand. He believed the association at Dunedin had the greatest sympathy with the work in Auckland. The strong point should be the evangelising work of the association. Mr. Macdonald, from Boston, U.S., addressed the meeting. It was something new in his experience to be present at such a meeting where the institution was virtually out of debt. The Chairman introduced Mr. Gow Jukufifar, African missionary, who addressed the meeting, giving an interesting account of his experiences of intercourse with Christian Associations. He spoke in correct and excellent English and with great fluency. He earnestly besought the sympathy of all Christian men for "poor bleeding Africa." It was announced that Mr. Gow Jukufifar would address the congregation of the general public in the Theatre Royal on Sunday (to-morrow) night. The proceedings concluded with devotional exercises, Mr. Gow Jukufifar offering up the prayer, and the Chairman pronouncing the Benediction.