DUNEDIN Y.M.O.A.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6792, 21 November 1883, Page 3

DUNEDIN Y.M.O.A.

ANNUAL SOIRKE. The annual soiree of the V.M.C.A. was held in tho Garrison Hall yesterday evening, and waa largoly attonded. Tea was served at halfpast 0 o'clock, and a public meeting was hold at 8 p.m., the l'residoiit (Uev. J. White) in tho chair. Tho I'IUiSinKNT dolivered nn address, giving a brief synopsis of tho work accomplished by the Association. Ho remarked that one salient' feature iii tho organisation was that thore was nothing in its spirit which should prevent any Christian Church cordially co-operating with it. He would not belong to tho Association for one hour if it wero in antagonism to tho Church. Dr Salhond, who was announced to give an address on tho " Idea and Purpose of a Voting Men's Christian Association," commenced his remarks by saying that his presence thoro was in some measure a surprise to himself, inasmuch as ho was uot and never had been a member of the Association. Xt might be that they

wero right and he was wrong, but ho had never felt there was an obligation upon him to become a member. Still he had nevor takou up in

thought or feeling any uttitudo of antagonism to the Association, aud had never refused to do work in its interest. As to the advertised subject of his addres3, lie waa not quite clear about tho ideas and purposes oi euch an association. Ho had never beou quite ablo to make it out, and therefore ho had risen to speak of a subject which he knew nothing about. Ministers were often in that position.

—(Laughter.) Ho held that no man and no society was worth anything that could not stand criticism, and therefore ho should speak out his mind plainly. Tho first thing that struck him was that tho Association was not made up of young men. His reading of the title was an association made up of young men —theirs was an association on behalf of young

men. If his reading was right, their first act should be to strike the names of all

the old fogies off the list.—(Laughter.) Of course this would not ba done. It would be said that they could not do without them. But in his opinion thoy could, and could do much bettor without them. Another point ho noticed was a want of clearness, precision, and exact; ness in defining the purposes for which the Society existed. Looking at the rules he found the object of the Association was stated

te be the spiritual, intellectual, and social improvement of all within its reach. This was tremendous. He never heard of anything like

it before. The spiritual improvement was especially the work of the churches, and that work alone was gigantic; the intellectual was tho object of all the universities, academies, and schools that had beon founded; and the social improvement was what, countless societies and parliaments themselves existed for. But tho V.M.C.A. combined all these in one, and for whom—for all within its reach. It was well that its resources were infinite.— (Laughter.) He himself could not swallow this at all, and he had never been able to get over it. Ho did not know what the Associa-

tion would not do. They taught Bible classes, they taught Greek, they taught gymnastics, mathematics, music, political science, English literature. They were a university in themselves. He wished in all earnestness to point out that there waß something wrong here. He did not behove that it was possible for the Association to do all this. The members appeared to him sometimes as though they were going about vainly searching for something definite to do. Thore motto should be non multa sed multiim. Whenever any society was instituted; its purpose should be made clear; and further,

it was no use instituting a society for that purpose unless it had special facilities for accomplishing that purpose beyond other societies. It might be thought ungracious of him to come invited to that meeting and speak jn that way, but he acted in good part, and in the most kindly spirit. He did not suppose his remarks would effest any change, but they might set the members trying in some way to adjust the matter a little more precisely. If, however,

they believed that the Association was working on tho beßt possible lines, and could not bo improved, then he said let them move on upon those lines by all means, and he hoped ho was not too bigoted and narrow-minded to wish God speed to men who moved honestly and earnestly on other lines than his own. Rev. J. Ryley then delivered an address upon " Christianity and Culture." In the course of his observations, ha alluded to Dr Salmond'a remarks, and said that ho was in favour of young men being admitted as members up to the age of 80. —(Laughter.) Gladstone and Bright wero young men still. A society composed entirely of mon young in years might go too fast. Mr J. Fultq.v, M.H.R., also delivered an address on "The Christian Aspects of Business and Recreation."

During the evening a very pleasant musical programme was preformed, the choir being assisted by Miss Lack, Mrs Stevenson, Mies Miss Mollison, and Messrs Hale and Rose.