304
��Yoimg Mejis CJiristian Associations of Massachusetts. [May,
��of two and three days were held in from forty to sixty towns each year for three years. This work was continued by paid secretaries, still largely aided by the committee, till 1S79.
During this time but little was done to strengthen existing associations, and nothing in establishing new ones, there- fore, while the influence of the conven- tion of associations was greatly felt throughout the State, the associations themselves suffered. Very many were doing nothing, and many had ceased to exist.
We should not dare to say that the associations did wrong in thus giving themselves to the evangelistic work, while the calls for it were greater than the committee could meet. This work engrossed them till the calls began to slacken, and then they awoke to the fact that they were neglecting their true work, a special instrumentality in which they believed and for which they ex- isted — that is, A work for young men by young men through physical, social, mental, and spiritual appliances."
This led to a series of resolutions at the Lowell convention, in 1879, direct- ing the committee to confine their efforts to the strengthening and organ- izing of associations, and to appoint a secretary to give his whole time to the work.
Mr. Sayford was called from New York, appointed general secretary, and began to work in January, 1880.
At this time there were thirty-five associations in the State, only four of which had general secretaries, paid men who gave all their time to the work.
In October, the number of secretaries had more than doubled, nine being at work. The total membership at this time was, in round numbers, six thou- sand, with property amounting to about two hundred and ten thousand dollars.
��The thirty - three associations which reported at this time at the Lynn con- vention represented somewhat more than five hundred active working men, and they conducted one hundred and ten religious meetings a week.
In 1 88 1, the only addition of note was the beginning of the railway work in the State, when a general secretary was em- ployed, and rooms opened at Springfield by the Boston and Albany Railroad Company. This important work, carried on most vigorously at various railway centres in other States, had for some time been pressed upon the state com- mittee, but they had been unable to obtain any footing till now. At the convention of this year, at Spencer, the advantage of association work in colleges was brought out in an able paper by our present state secretary, then a represen- tative of Williams College.
At this convention the committee on executive committee's report said : " It is evident from the reports of executive committee and state secretary, that, while the process of the last two years has decreased the number of the asso- ciations in the State, it has greatly increased their efficiency. Some asso- ciations were found to have been long since privately buried, though the name was allowed to remain upon the door. These have been removed. Others had been left to die uncared for in the field. These have been decently buried. Some were found so sick as to be past hope, and their last days were made as com- fortable as possible under the circum- stances. Others were found to be more or less seriously ill, and have been skilfully treated. The result is that at least twenty-four associations are well, and could do much more work if they chose ; while ten, in robust condition, and under the management and inspi- ration of skilled general secretaries, are
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