Y.M.C.A. JUNIOR DEPARTMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 13

Y.M.C.A. JUNIOR DEPARTMENT.

ANNUAL MEETING,

Blustering elements did not prevent the attendance of some 40 lusty lads at the annual meeting of the Y.M.C.A. junior department on the 15th inst. The president of the Y.M.C.A.. Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P., occupied the chair, Messrs Webb, Jones, and Hughes supporting. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Aslin, Somerville, Leslie, Smith, and Captain Strang-, of the Board of Management. After the devotional exercises, the Chairman expressed his pleasure at presiding over such a healthy gathering. He had no doubt that given a fine evening there would have been close upon 100 boys in the room. Pie recognised they were organised for a worthy purpose, and he trusted they would realise this by striving to make the very best of their lives. Traversing the annual report and speaking of the educational side, he emphasised the value to the members of ea,ch making up his mind to take an active part in the syllabus. He would like to see perhaps not so much in the way of debate but more in the way of essays, the mere effort of preparing which was of infinite value. He had no doubt that, every one of them did his share in the physical branch. "Play the game," he continued, "but for goodness sake don't be a barracker." He paid a tribute to the chairman of the junior department, Mr R. Jones, whom he described as the personification of energy. He emphasised again the advantages of each one coming to the meetings not merely for pleasure but with a desire to help others. They had a high standard to maintain, and as the future backbone of the association he desired them to become men who would have the faculty for lifting others up and exerting healthy influence upon the youth of the city. He trusted they would have a profitable session during 1910. —(Applause). The annual report, which was adopted, included the following clauses :—The work of the department has attained a fairly high standard. Efforts have been made to influence the lives of the members on all sides. Respecting the religious work, the Bible class held on Sunday mornings had been very successful. Bible topics of a general nature have been discussed, and occasional addresses given by a number of gentlemen. The averag-e attendance has been about 12. A number of helpful addresses have been given at the ordinary Friday meetings of the department. A number of successful social evenings were held during the session. The syllabus had been largely educational in character. Short speeches were made by Messrs H. Webb, W. R. Sinclair, and R. C. Jones. Mr Webb exploded the theory of the boy who protested that he didn't want religion "recked into him." Christianity was something not to be afraid of, but rather to be proud of. Mr Sinclair urged the boys to emulate the prowess of the Wellington Y.M.C.A., the athletic department of which included one of the strongest Association football clubs in Wellington. Mr Jones, who was enthusiastically received, appealed far loyalty and co-operation in the carrying of a syllabus which they would find to be of exceptional merit. The following office-bearers were elected!: —Chairman, Mr R. O. Jones ; committee—Messrs H. Webb, A. Sneddon, R. M'Gregor, F. Klopper; editors of journal, Messrs Restieaux and Mazeugarb ; secretary, Mr A. Ha worth. During the evening a short programme of songs, etc., was carried out, and (refreshments were partaken of.