Y. M. C. A.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2639, 22 October 1909, Page 2

Y. M. C. A.

BANQUET TO MEMBERS OF ATHLETIC CLUBS.

The Y.M.C.A. rooms ■wore crowded last evening, the occasion being the banquet tendered by the Beard ot Directors to the members of the athletic clubs connected with the Association. Mr. F. S. Malcolm, president of the Association,' presided. An excellent cold collation had been provided, and • a lengthy toast list was gone through. Apologies were received from Messrs %. Miller, E. H. Maun, J. 0. Aicken, and J. Dawson. _ . , After the toast of The King had been drunk with musical .honors. Die Chairman called, upon Mr. J . E. Iviik, who, in proposing “The Sailors, and Soldiers of the King.” said that it was essentially a young men’s meeting, and he Wanted them to feel at home, hut on such an occasion it was fitting they should celebrate the victory of 104 years ago. England was proud of that signal **En gland Expects Every Man to do His “Duty.” Lord Ne:son, within a period of five hours, had defeated the ships of France and Spain, and they could not, as Britons, help thanking God for the victory of Nelson, which had given them their heritage. It would interest them to know that' the paper he held, “The Times,” of Thursday, November 7, 1805, gave the first account of that victory. The speaker here quoted several passages from t' l!S article (which appear in another ■column), and, continuing, said they had Lord Nelson described as a pious man. Napoleon had said the British navy was able to meet the armed force of the world, and ho hoped it ever would he so. There was another side they should remember—the . Army. Wherever it had gone the British army had brought laurels to the British nation. (Applause.) In New Zealand the Volunteers were doing their part. They should all support the volunteers, as they were prepared to spend their time to keep the flag of freedom flying over the Empire. Captain Bee re said lie felt honored to respond to the toast, and felt doubly honored at the way it had been drunk. Speaking on behalf of the navy, he said they knew that their commerce was all sea-borne, and it was their duty to keep the navy on top every time. (Applause.) As regarded the soldiers, it had often struck the speaker that they had a large number of people in the Dominion who did not realise their position. As long as the British flag flew they had a freedom not excelled by any nation. The volunteers gave their time to what he considered a public duty, but he could not help thinking that a large number of the public stood by and watched. The same thing applied in a certain degree to all public positions. He appealed to them all to do their utmost to keep the British flag flying, for while it did they would 1 have freedom. . ~

. The Rev. L. Dawson Thomas proposed ‘‘The World-wide Y.M.C.A.,” and said that when they thought of it. spreading as it was, he thought they should also think of it in its birth„ In 1843 Sir Geo. Williams started the Y.M.C.A., and at last the movement had grown all round the world-, and they could not but thank God for the .faith of the founder. There was a time when he (the speaker) did not believe in the Y.M.C.A., as he thought it full of pious prigs, but they would not find any in the Y.M.C.A: now. If they ■kept the idea of being out for men before them, they would be. doing a great deal for the uplifting of manhood. The President, Mr, E. S. Malcolm, responded to the toast. “The Poverty Bay Rugby Union” was proposed by Mr. H. J. Brownlee. He wished, lie said, to voice the opinion of all the players of the Y.M.C..-. to the Union for the way the game had been played. They wished to bring out a type of man that should be everything a young man should be, and he did not think there- was anything that brought out the best qualities in Christian manhood as Rugby football, and the Union was bringing out the best Rugby football. The Union had done splendid work by arranging for a tour of representatives, and the Y.M.C.A. had ber.ofitted by having three of tiieir me moors in that te r.m.

Mr. E. L. Maude responded. He said the Poverty Bay Rugby Union took for their motto “clean sport,” and their Union was quoted as the most loyal Union in New Zealand. Mr Maude apologised for the absence of his brother, Mr. H. E. Maude, chairman of the Management Committee of the Union, and thanked them for the way they had drunk the toast. Mr. T. Clarkson proposed “The British Football Association.” He thought it one of the best of games, and said this after having tried almost all games. He hoped that next year the Y.M.C.A. would go ahead with the Association game. Mr. A. Scroggie responded to the toast in a humorous manner. Referring to the need of a ground, the speaker thought that if all the teams pulled together they would get a ground next'year. Mr. Scroggie then went oil to speak about the game ill England, instancing the great number who attended the matches as a point in showing its popularity. Mr. C. G. Bloore proposed “The Povertv Bay Australian Football League,” and Mr. F. C. Kuring responded. Other toasts were:—“The Poverty Bay Hockey Association” (Mr. ~C. Rosie), responded to by Mr.. J. Doyle; “Poverty Bay Cricket Association,” proposed by Mr. G. Tattersfield, and responded to hv Mr. W. Gibson ; “The Y.M.C.A. Athletic Clubs,” proposed by Mr. J. TV. J. Preston, and responded to! by Messrs J. O. -E. Kissling (gymnasium), D. Miller (football), J. I). Hunt (cricket), and Ohas. F. Perry (hockey); “Kindred Institutions,” proposed by Mr. L. T. Burnard, and responded to by Messrs C. Hellier Evans and C. Adair (Gisborne Club), L. Ellerbeck (Alhambra Club), and R. P. Houlihan.(Catholic Young Men’s Club); “The- Press,” proposed by Mr.- H. Adair, and responded to by the representatives present; “The Chairman,” proposed by Mr. Kirk, and responded to by Mr. Malcolm. t During the evening, the' President presented Mr, H. J. Griev-e’s handsome gold medal for the most improved gymnast to Mr. George Richardson.

During the evening songs were sung by ’ Messrs Ktssli.ng, •. Knibb, T;. Darrymplc, Dudley Trent, niitchell, and H. J. Grieve. 1

The Gisborne Club orchestra contributed greatly to the enjoyment of the evening by playing several selections in tiieir customary finished style, and the members were accorded special cheers before the gathering dispersed. Mr. E. N. Sidebott-om played the accompaniments admirably, and thereby greatly assisted the success of the musical portion , of the programme. Proceedings terminated at 11 P-ni. with the singing of “God Save the King.”