YOUNG MEN’S DINNER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2257, 31 July 1908, Page 2

YOUNG MEN’S DINNER.

THE Y.M.C.A. FUND. A SATISFACTORY CANVASS. The Gisborne Y.M.C.A. entertained about one hundred young men at dinner to meet Mr. H. N. Holmes, general secretary of the Wellington Association, at ErSkine’s new cafe, Peel Street, last evening. Mr. F. S. Malcolm occupied the chair, and said lie had been a member of the Y.M.O. Association for many years, having originally joined ill Dublin. Ho cordially welcomed all who were present, and promised them an interesting sneecli from Mr. H. N. Holmes. Mr. T. Vincent, secretary to the Hamiltoiii Association, would also say a few words.

slr. Vincent said ho was proud to have been chosen secretary of the Hamilton Association. He had been connected with the Levin Association for four years. The future of Gisborne was pregnant with the possi unities of the Y.M.C.A .work, and he hoped the Gisborne Association would always be prosperous. The Christians felt it wa6 as much their duty to take a stand in the field of sport as to hand out tracts, and it was the broadening of the work that Was the strong feature of the success of the Y.M.C.A. One mission of the Association was to cleanse sport, for while Christians liked sport they wanted it to be clean. He hoped the Gisborne Association would earnestly take up the work among boys, for it must be remembered that the boys of to-day will bo the men of to-morrow.

In introducing Mr. Holmes, the chairman said their guest had come to Gisborne to tell them of the work of the Y.M.C.A. in other places, and how money could he obtained to form a progressive Y.AI.C., Association in Gisborne.

Mr. Holmes said he was going to tell thoso present of the onward -sweep of a mighty movement that was helping young. men. The gathering spoke of the liberality of the Association’s platform, and good work would come from tho meeting. Seven hundred young men of Wellington had banded themselves together to extend a helping hand to the Maoris, and lie was pleased to-see the students of To Rau College in sympathy with the work of the Y.iM.C.A. The movement of the Association had within it the elements of power to move.the people of a continent, and America was an example of tho success of the Y.M.C. Association work. Right across the Panama oannl wero four Association buildings, and tho American Government paid the salaries of the secretaries. He wished to bring a branch of that great brotherhood to Gisborne. For Australia and Now Zealand a national committee had been formed, and all the capitals and larger cities had their modern Y.M.C.A. buildings. The Association bad also a mission to the smaller cities and townships, and among the New Zealand towns to form live Associations were Napier, Invercargill, and Mastcrton, and lie hoped Gisborne would not be found behind.

Mr. Holmes then showed a number of lantern slides illustrating the Y.IM.C.A .work in America, and views of the Association’s new building in Wellington. He also announced that the day’s canvass of the town and district made with Mr. Lissant Clayton in his motor car resulted in £l2O a year being promised for three years towards the support of the Gisborne Association.

Mr. Robjohns moved that a cordial vote of thanks be tendered to Mr. Holmes .for his visit to Gisborne, mud spoke of the good work already done in Gisborne by the present secretary. Mr. Harold Elinor.

Mr. C, G. Ulooro seconded the motion. which was carried •unanimously. Tli ree cheers were then given for Ai r H. Ennor, and a vote of thanks to th<> chairman brought the dinner to a close.

During the evening songs wero given by Alessrs Grieve. Trent. Barlow. AlcClymont, Mitchell, and the T’e Rau College students, and instrumental selections by Alessrs Gittos, AlcKay, and Picltford.

Air. Holmes will address a young men’s meeting in Whinr-ay’s Hall on Sunday afternoon.