THE WORK OF THE Y.M.C.A.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2256, 30 July 1908, Page 3

THE WORK OF THE Y.M.C.A.

VISIT OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY. THE FORWARD MOVEMENT INAUGURATED. Mr. H. N. Holmes, general secretary of the Young Men's .Christian Association in Wellington, who lias just completed a successful campaign in Napier. arrived in Gisborne by the s.s. Monowai yesterday morning to undertake a campaign to institute tho forward movement of tho Association here. It, will he remembered that Mr. Gillamlers, secretary to the National Committee for Australasia, paid a visit to Gisborne in May last, and outlined a movement by which it was thought the work of the Association could bo pushed ahead. Mr Holmes’ visit was to still further that movement and to try and establish tho Gisborne'Y.M.C.A. on a strong financial basis. Air. Holmes was accompanied by Mr. T. Vincent, who was tor some time secretary of tho Y.M.C.A. at Levin, and who is now journeying to Hamilton to take up a similar position there, an association having boon formed a few months ago. WELCOME DINNER. In tho evening Mr. Holmes was entertained at a dinner at Claro s (lato Dustin’s) cafe, and a largo number of prominent citizens anil business men of tho town wore invited to meet him. . , ~ Mr. John Townloy occupied the chair, anil among those present wore: The Revs. Dawson Thomas, F. \y. Chnttorton, Grant, and Griffin, Adjutant Dickens, of tho Salvation Army, Dr. Wi Repa, Messrs E. H. Mann, W. Lissant Clayton, Preston, F. S. Malcolm, and F. Stafford. The Mayor (Mr. W. D. Lysnar), who was unable to preside, before leaving for Wellington attended, and in a brief speech welcomed Mr. Holmes to Gisborne. Ho expressed the liope that this visit would bo a pleasant one, and would be the means of interesting a largo number in the good work of>the Y.M.C.A. The chairman said ho was pleased to welcome Mr. Holmes to Gisborno. In Wellington a largo and commodious building had been erected by public money, and Mr. Holmes would toll them how to go about tliq same tiling here. Ho (Mr. Townley) would not give a long speech, but. would call upon Mr Holmes to detail this',scheme he was to put before tho meeting. Mr. Holmes said ho was pleased to bo in Gisborne, and to speak upon work that was dear to his heart. Ho told the story of the inauguration of the Y.M.C.A. movement, which was first formed in, a London warehouse in 1844. From London tho seed sown spread across the Atlantic to America, where the movement developed. Ho believed in tlie work of the Y.M.C.A. because be believed in men, and especially in boys. The influence of tho Association was concentrated upon Ktys and young men. The men of a country were the best asset that could bo possessed ; for no country was rich that did not have men of good character. The Young Men’s Christian Association was doing all it could to preserve this great asset. Ho had •laid a visit to America, and had been astonished to see the prosperity of Tie associations there. Every city in the United States had its Y.M.C.A. milding, and many of the associations were so rapidly outgrowing the buildings in. use, that they were rebuilding. The Chinese Government bad sent out two commissioners, one to Europe and one to America, and tho tilings that impressed these Chinese most were the Western civilisation hospitals and the Y.M.C.A. work. The International Committee T the Association had set to work to find where the men they wished to •each were employed, and every terninal point of every railway line in America had its Y.M.C.A. Association. The American Government did ill it could to encourage men to join file association, and great philanthropists had nobly assisted with largo sums of money. Tho association also touched the student problem, and was trying to extend the movement to the Orient, and in many parts of I Australia was giving Ur> large spaces in the buildings for the use of boys. The evangelical work of the Y.M.C.A. in the colonies was greatly helped by the visit of Mr. Bridge and Air. Lyman Pierce, both of whom showed Aio people how to extend tho work of the association as a popular movement. Every city in Australia had Its Y.M.C.A. building, almost free from debt, while the larger number were all paid for. The modern Y.M.C.A. buildings were designed to attract, and afford entertainment for voung men, but the entertainment was free from any social evil. The best site in a city was not too good for the building, because its work was to build up the character of those who were to bo citizens. Such i building meant -a great deal in a city to safeguard tho moral character of ’ young men. Gisborno was large miougli to support the Y.M.C.A. movement. Invercargill, Hamilton, Masterton, Napier, all had their Y.M.C. Associations, and the members of the Gisborne Association felt they could do a great deal more in expanding their work. Such a work needed a leader, a captain, or in other words, a trained general secretary. Such -an appointment was essential to success if a forward policy was to be nursued. He had conic to Gisborne to' help to initiate a forward movement-, and would like to Bee a policy—to guarantee a sum of £3OO a year for the purpose of finance, the opening of suitable rooms, and lastly, but most important of all, the engagement of -a capable secretary to Take charge of the work. Tho Y.M.C.A. was not another sect, but ■in arm of the Church reaching out to voung men. The association m Wellington did not impose any bolief upon its members, but freely opened its doors to all young men even if they did not believe in any creed at all. Ho was pleased to say tho Mavor of Gisborne had promised a sum of £lO a year for t-hroo years, nild ho would, during tho next few days, ask the business men of the town to help on the movement. (Applause.) , The .Rev. F. W. Gliatterton moved —‘That tin's meeting extends its sympathy to the Y.iM.C.Ar'-iinovemont, and .pledges itself to do all in its .power t 0 help on the work,” He had hail the pnivilcge of seeing the work of the Association in'Wellington, and was surprised to see the success there. The Y.M.C.A., during the 'ipast ten years, had taken new life, and-broad-ened out into an avenue in which it could minister to the wants of the young men in a rational way. Gisborne bad great need for a Young Men’s Christian Association. Tho town wis a common centre where a lar< r e number of men from the countrv’gathered, and .it would he a boon to have some place where these men could go. Alan was a social being, and one reason why he met undesirable society was because he desired to have society, anil took the best that was offering. The work of tho Association was to provide the bes£ socpaJ life a man could get. Mr. C. Rosie seconded the motion, anil said the Gisborne Association bad felt that the time had come to expand the work. , „ ~ Air C. 0. Bloorc a’so spoke of the lack of interest in the young men of Gisborno bv the business people, and said the Y.M.C.A. would .provide a place where such men would find every .influence for good. He was williiin- to assist, both personally .and financially, such -a good work Air. George Darton said he welcomed the movement of the Y.’AI.C.A., and especially the broadening of its principles. The boy was .more indined to run down the ihill of line than e'limib up, >and the work of the Y.AI.C.A. was to offer inducements to boys to load good, .noble ‘Lyes. It was the duty of every citizen to assist .in such a work. Tho Rev. Air. Griffin also welcomed the .forward movement of the Gisborne Association. The social work was a true religious work, and deserved cyerv encouragement. & The resolution was then put and carried unanimously, The Chairman said ho hoped the gathering would bear the fruit that was expected. In thanking those present tor the resolution, (Air. Holmes said that 150 men had promised to join the Association as soon as the work was commepced, Tould like those wil-

ling to assist- in tho work to meet him to form a. committee to. canvass Urn town, for he felt that Gisborno could collect promises of £3OO a year an throe days. . • Mr Holmes was asked, nml satisfactorily answered a number of questloMr T. E. Toneycliffo said that us a business man ho recognised tho good influence of the Association on tho lives of voting mon.’Ho would wiUui 0 - ly assist tho movement. . ‘ Mr. W. Lissant Clayton, in. a brief speech, proposed a vote of thanks to Air. Holmes for bis address, and too motion was carried with .applause. A vote of thanks was also returned to the chairman. Muriiio- the evening songs wore sung by -.Messrs Mitchell and AlcClymont. YOUNG MEN’S DINNER. This evening Mr. Holmes will meet ft number, of (young men who have received invitations, and who ‘have sign.ified their willingness to join tino Association, at dinner n t u.ou, au Erskino’s oafo. (Air. Holmes will givo a short address on the work of tho Association, and will announce tho result of the day’s canvass among the business people for funds to aid the work. A nvuical programme will also bo provided, and those attending will bo assured an enjoyable evening. Tho dinner is free to all young men willing to join tho Association, and the tables will be laid for over one hundred guests. TOWN CANVASS. •Air. Holmes and a representative cominitteo will commence a canvass of tho town and district for financial aid, and the result will bo published in tho “Times” as the subscriptons arc sent in. _____.