Y.M.C.A.

Otago Witness, Issue 3864, 3 April 1928, Page 17

Y.M.C.A.

TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL Z MEETING. A number of items of considerable importance to the Young Men’s Christian Association were dealt with at the annual meeting last week. -The meeting took the form of a social evening, interspersed with speeches, and, so arranged, the proceedings proved enjoyable to all the members who attended, about 90 in number. The president of the association (Mr J. L. Salmond) occupied the chair. After the singing of a hymn, the Rev. Mr Moore led the meeting in prayer. The President said that since last meeting the association'had suffered the loss' of three devoted members and helpers. Quite lately they had lost Mr Herbert Webb, who was a warm friend of the association, and a man who deeply loved boys and all work in connection with the boy life of the city. Mr Webb would be missed very much. The association had also lost a friend in Mrs H. K. Wilkinson, a faithful member of the ladies’ auxiliary, and for some time president of .that body. They had also lost their auditor, Mr Peter Hereus, who for many years had audited the 1 accounts and given his services gratuitously. The audience rose and stood in silence as a mark of respect and sympathy with . the relatives of the three ex-members referred to by the president. : The President said they were privileged to have with them their chief citizen, the Mayor of Dunedin.— (Applause.) His Worship’s presence- showed that he was interested in the work of the assn- . ciation, and took a pelasure in forwarding all efforts for the advancement of boy welfare. The meeting was the Mayor’s seventh or eighth engagement that day, but he seemed to be. standing up to his work very well, and it was hoped he would long do so.—(Applause.) Mr W. B. Taverner (Mayor of Dunedin) said he was delighted to be associated with the members at their annual meeting. He had read the report with much interest and pleasure. He would not criticise it. but he would like to say ~a few words from the viewpoint of one outside of the association. First of all, he had been struck with the object of the association—to “ develop the Christian character and usefulness of its members, and to improve the mental, social, and physical condition of young men and boys oyer 12 years of age.” It was a most comprehensive undertaking. If he had. been requested, as Mayor, to prepare a broad platform on which to educate and -rear good citizens/he did not think he could improve on ’the object of the assp-’ ciation as set out ih-fhose words. There was in it," it' seemed -to him, a happy: blending of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual, striking on< not only as modern, but as utilitarian to the greatest l possible degree. It was a stamp of Christiaiiiity that luust receive the support of all right-thinking people. There was great need to-day for a definite aim in the production of citizens of the right type: he spoke from the . viewpoint of civic ...government, and it was by the development of ideas such. as. those incorporated in the clause of the- report from which die quoted that allowed such a thing to lie achieved. It would spread abroad that knowledge and that ideal without which

no city or country could prosper or, advance. He could not understand the membership. It was stated in the report that there were,, 80 members in the young men’s division. He had ascertained that this was no mistake. He was really surprised that the number was not 800, and he trusted that in the near •future a much greater number of young men would be'attracted to an association .that had an ideal so commendable as was that of the association—(Applause.) In the matter of “sustaining members,” the number was 85. The number ought certainly to be larger. He had noted that his own name was not in the list.— (Laughter.) . The President: We will take a note of that.

Mr Taverner said he would be glad to have his name added to the list. It would give hnn pleasure to be a sustaining member, and he trusted his example would be followed by many other citizens. The City Council of Dunedin was keenly alive to all the association was doing.' He referred more particularly to the work the association was so efficiently undertaking in the way of military camps, and on the occasion of the visit of warships to the port. The council deeply appreciated that work, and ho was glad to have the opportunity of passing on the thanks of the council to the association for what it had done in that way. Proceeding, his \V°

ship said he would like to give a word of encouragement to the young men. It was a matter of common observation that- each age produced its critics. Often, in the course of his reading, he had noted that peculiarity in life. And the criticism was for the most part, of the destructive kind. “ The world is going smash,” or, to use the modern phrase, “ Civilisation is doomed.” In that connection, he would lead an extract from a sermon that had a bearing on the subject. The preacher was attacking the rising generation of his day for all he was worth, and he made no mistake as to where they were all going. This was what he said; “Does not the same levity in dress, as well as in discourse, show itself in persons of all ages? I say, of all ages, for it is no small aggravation of the corruption of our morals that, age, which, by its authority, was once able to frown youth , into sobriety and better manners and keep them withtn bounds, seems but too often to lead the way, and by their unseasonable example, give a countenance to follies and weakness which youth is but to apt to run into without such a recommendation. In former times it - was the case, but now grey hairs themselves, scarce ever appear but in the high mode and flaunting garb of youth, with heads as full of pleasure and clothes as ridiculously and as much in the fashion as the person , who wears them is usually grown out of it.” That, he might say, was written by Laurence Sterne 150 years ago. Yet it might well have been culled from a modern newspaper as the views -of some of the critics of this day. If Sterne had been alive today his pencil might have caught fire in writing his criticism of the rising generation. Well, for himself, he was wiM the rising generation of to-day.—(Applause ) He believed it would make as good a job of its work as its forefathers did, -ood and all as they were. This was an age of educated democracy. No doubt, much had yet to be accomplished, but, comparing this age with preceding ages, one could not but. notice an increase of intelligence and widespread liberties. He con sidered that the young men of to-day — and the young women as well—were accepting resolutely and intelligently the responsi bilities cast upon them. In these days things were moving more rapidly than ever before, and there was, for that reason, all the more need for organisations sucn as the association to get to work among the young men, and particularly among the boys.—(Applause.) He had nothing but congratulations to offer to the association for the work it was carrying on, and for tho work it had already accomplished. The city owed the association a debt of gratitude for what it had done in producing citizens of high moral character, and he wished it continued success in its efforts on behalf of the young people of Dunedin and district.—(Applause.)

The President, in thanking the Mayor for his address, emphasised his Worship’s remark that the association was working on the right- lines in making their boys good men and good citizens. The President moved and Mr 11. P. ’Desmoulins seconded the adoption of the report, the motion being carried. ••• Mr C. J. Darracott presented the financial statement for the year ended February 29, 1928. The expenditure totalled £7577 Cs 5d (including £BOO invested in ■City Corporation debentures), and the receipts came to £6747 7s, debit balance of £829 19s sd. The balance sheet, said Mr Darracott, was one of the best presented for many years; It showed a improvement of about £3OO on the preceding year,-and whereas.the association used to go back about £5OO annually it had in the past year increased its overdraft by only £3OO. During the year the secretary (Mr Wilson) had made a handsome contribution to the association, consisting of furniture and furnishings, valued at about £l5O. — (Applause.) The financial statement was adopted. The following gentlemen were appointed directors for the ensuing year:—Messrs J. L. Salmond, H. K. Wilkinson, J. B. Waters, J. M’Ara, C. J. Darracott. W. J. Brown, P. W. Curtis,'J. D. Clark. J. W. Dove, H. P. Desmoulins. T. Hilliker, J. Gray, Ji Williams, W. Crawford, W. M'Hutchison, J. L. Gregory, Rev. W. Walker.

During the evening a programme of music was contributed by Messrs Cole, Sand all, M'Naughton, Armstrong, and Olsen. Supper was served by the Ladies’ Auxiliary. '