At the third election, in 1868, when the membership numbered ninety-two, the following board was chosen:β
| President, | Daniel W. Wilcox. | |
| Vice-president, | Charles C. Newcomb, | Methodist. |
| Elisha B. Curtis, | Baptist. | |
| D. B. Callender, | Mystic Congregational. | |
| Francis H. Kidder, | First Congregational. | |
| Benjamin P. Hollis | Episcopal. | |
| Treasurer, | Alonzo E. Tainter. | |
| Secretary, | Arthur T. Tufts. |
A literary class, a Bible class, and a course of lectures were maintained, with occasional interruptions, for two years.
The Association was sustained in a more or less flourishing condition until the spring of 1869, when, at the annual meeting in March, this entry upon the records tells the story of its dissolution:β
βIt has long been apparent to the members that the Association has failed to accomplish those objects for which it was organized. The past year it has accomplished but little. Various attempts have been made to infuse life, but they have not been successful. Feeling that the Association was practically a failure it was moved by the Secretary, that the Executive Board be authorized to sell all the property of the Association, including the lease of the room, and use the proceeds, after paying all bills, to their best judgment; and that when the meeting adjourn that it adjourn sine die.β
Thus, after an existence of less than three years, the Young Men's Christian Association of Medford came to an end. To attribute the cause of the non-success of the undertaking, or enterprise, would require an extended dissertation upon the conditions that operated at the time. One remark, dropped at a meeting by one of the clergymen of the town, in the course of an address, may be cited. It was innocently uttered, but blighting in its
