they were
neglecting their true work, a special instrumentality in which they
believed and for which they existed--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,
directing the committee to confine their efforts to the strengthening
and organizing 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
thousand, with property amounting to about two hundred and ten thousand
dollars.

The thirty-three associations which reported at this time at the Lynn
convention represented somewhat more than five hundred active working
men, and they conducted one hundred and ten religious meetings a week.

In 1881, the only addition of note was the beginning of the railway work
in the State, when a general secretary was employed, 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 committee, 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
representative 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 associations in the State, it has greatly increased
their efficiency. Some associations 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 comfortable as possible
under the circumstances. Others were found to be more or less se