YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11958, 4 February 1901, Page 3

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Mr \V. M. Oatts, secretary of the Glasgow Young Men's Christian Association, is visiting tho colonies as a representative of the National Council of Y.M.C.A., London, and an> effort is being made to form an association of tbe kind in Duncdin. A meeting to discuss the question was held on Saturday night, whon the hall of tho Y.AV.C.A. was filled with young men. Apologies were received from the Revs. D. Borrie, H. E. Bellhouse, and G. Heighway, and Mr G. M. Thomson. Mr Oatts explained the benefits of a Y.M.C.A., stating that young men from the country, other colonies, and Great Britain ,were continually arriving in Dunedin, and that

unless there men wore toely inclined the 'churches did not reach them. The churches here were doing excellent work, bufc .an everopen door, where any young man coulb. come in and find help and counsel in the right way was required. He showed how the chiur-IKS were in full sympathy with the associatiortV work. Instances of how " the man in the | street'' was reached by the association s organisation and eventually became it useful worker in the church were given.' The basis of membership was explained—" active for all young men who are Christians and working as Christ's disciples to extend His Kingdom, and "associate" for any man of moral character. The latter could not vote for members of the bourd of management, neither could he occupy a position on the same. He had, however, the privileges of % open rooms and attendance at social, educational, and athletic classes, the spiritual being I always kept to the fro.it. J A discussion followed, Some speakers favoured waiting to see if the city ministers would sympathise and help, or whether they would block the movement. There was a feeling shown by a few that ministers would be afraid of losing their young men workers. The Rev. TV. Scorgio emphatically resented the ministers being counted as " bugbears. He advised the young men not to fail where th'e old 'Dunedin Y.M.C.A. (lid, but to have somo backbone, and not hang on to the parsons' coat tails. Let them go ahead and show their worth, and they would not find the parsons jealous. Eventually Dr Millar Nicoleon proposed— " That ii> the opinion of this mealing it is desirable that a Young Men's Christian Association be formed in Dunedin, and a committee bo appointed to confer with the ministers of the city regarding this proposal and report to a future meeting." This was seconded by Mr M'Kenzic, of the North-East Valley Presbyterian' Church. Mr John Reid moved the following amendment:—"That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that a Young Men's Christian Association bo formed in Dunedin, and that a committee be appointed to prepare a constitution and report at a future meeting." In speaking to his amendment, Mr Reid said that the need of such an association had been well shown. He favoured immediate action. They need not fear any lack of co-operation from the ministers, and in proposing his amendment he did not wish to even appear to ignore them. Such was quite foreign to his tli oughts. - The amendment was seconded Mr D. Leslie and carried by an overwhelming majority. A committee, well representative of the city and suburban churches was then formed. Mr Oatts meets the ministers on Wednesday afternoon at 4- o'clock, and the committee meets at 7 p.m. on the same day. The meeting was closed by singing the doxology and the pronouncing of the benediction by the Chairman (Rev. J. T'. Spcnce)