national matters, also, the Boston Association has responded to every call.  In the early days of the war a drill-club was organized by one of its board, and he, as well as a large number of his men, went into service.  And at the call of Mr. Stuart, of Philadelphia, the committee of the Christian Commission was represented by an ex-president and an army committee formed in the Association, which sent the large sum in money of $333,237.49, and immense stores of all kinds to the field.

The same committee acted as almoners at the time of Chicago’s great fire, and also when the Western woods fires caused such suffering.

Without boasting, for much more might have been done, the Boston Association has no cause to be ashamed of its history.  Beginning with all ready to criticize, and many disapproving, the Association has worked itself into the confidence of the community; and the Reverend Joseph Cook, who was introduced as a lecturer to Boston under its auspices, thus speaks of the Association at the close of its quarter-century.  He says:—­

“First, That there is a vast amount of work which should be done for young men in cities, and that, as the proportion of the American population living in cities had increased since the opening of this century from one twenty-fifth to one fifth, the importance is great and growing.

“Second, That neither individual churches taken separately, nor individual denominations taken separately, can do this work easily or adequately.

“Third, That all the evangelical denominations united in a city can do this work easily by the organization of a Young Men’s Christian Association as their representative.”

A short time ago a committee of conference, made up of eight leading city clergymen and as many laymen, two of each denomination, unanimously passed the following resolutions:—­

“Resolved, That the great and peculiar dangers to which young men are exposed in this, as in other cities, clearly calls, for the work of the Young Men’s Christian Association.

“Resolved, That the Association represents the Church working through its young men for the redemption of young men, and, therefore, it is entitled to the continued confidence, support, and co-operation of the churches.”

After long years of patient and steady work, the Boston Young Men’s Christian Association has secured the confidence of the Christian community to the extent of more than $300,000, in the palpable form of stone and brick, which beautifies one of the finest sites in our city.  It stands also as a monument of the liberality of Christian Boston and her appreciation of this great work for young men in the Master’s name.

* * * * *

THE OHIO FLOODS.

BY THE HON.  GEORGE E. JENKS.