YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9094, 30 June 1888, Page 5

YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

OPENING NIGHT.

The annual series of lectures for tho winter session of ISSB, in connection with tho Young Men's Christian Association was opened last evening by an "At Home," consisting of music, athletics, and an exhibition of photos, curios, &c. There was a very good attendance, all the scats in tho Lecture Hall being tilled, and tho gymnasium had probably lie largest gathering that has ever been within its walls. Tho secretary, Mr. \V. Br.ikenrlg. and honorary secretaries, Messrs. T. Buddie and A. Knight, with a number of members of tho committee, were ever present and assiduous in doing the honors of the evening, finding scats for visitors and making everyone as comfortable as possible, and it is doubtless in a great measure owing to their efforts that everything went oil' so pleasantly and agreeably. The evening was opened by the first part of the concert in the Lecture Hall, the first song being "The Sentinel,"' by Mr. George, which went off very well. A trio, "Ye Shepherds Tell Me," by Messrs. E. and A. Tait and Mr. Davy, on the whole was well rendered, but wanted more life and vigour imported into it. Miss Tait sang " The Old Lock" very nicely, and was rewarded with hearty applause for her effort-. Mr. I). Menzies made the hit of the first, half of the concert with the well-known and ever - popular " .lack's Yarn." Apart song, "The Forester, ' was also rendered, and a trio by Messrs. Cooke, Warner, and Windsor (violin, piano, and cello) ILvlyn's No. '26 and also No. 2S, was given in a most excellent manner. The latter was followed by "The Miller and the Maid," by Mrs. Neweomb, which was sang with a great deal of archness. Mr. A. Tait scored a success with tho old favourite, " The Bloom is on the Eye." A violin solo. " Home, Sweet Home," by Mr. Cooke, was very sweetly given. Mrs. Culnan juris heartily applauded for her rendering of "Five o'c lock in the Morning ; " a part-song, " Angels Breathe on Flowers," concluded the concert. The concert was under the conduct of Mr. W. Culpan. The gymnastic display, in the Gymnasium, was the greatest attraction of the evening. The various exercises were gone through by Professor John Moss' pupils, Messrs. R. Wheat ley. A. F. Blackmail, C. Eraser, W. Jeffrey.,). Hogg, A. McDonald, ' 1-- Jones, and T. Jones. The display j opened by exercises on tho Roman rings, dumb in squad, the vaulting horse, Indian club exercises., parallel bars, and horizontal bar exercises, in which were given some really creditable feats. The squad drill showed both efficiency and endurance, and greatly pleased the audience. The feature of the display, however, was undoubtedly the exhibition of feats of muscular strength by Professor John Moss, who handled two 150 Mb dumb bells with ease ; next he hung on his middle fingers 121 pounds. This was followed by dumb bell exhibitions, the bells weighing lTolbs. Professor Mass then put up with one arm 140|lbs, and followed it up by raising 140Vlbs in one hand and (iiKlbs in the other, or 200J!bs. These feats were heartily applauded. In addition to the above, there were a bird collection, Belt's chromoscope (exhibited by Dr. Murray Moore), graphoseopes, a large collection of excellent photos, and other at tractions were provided for the intervals. The evening was a most successful one, and all present appeared to enjoy tho various attractions exceedingly.