The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-09-12 00:00:00

THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

CONFERENCE.

We have ben favoured by the committee of the
Dorchester Branch of this Ass 'dation with the follow-
ing particulars of the Conference of the members on
Friday afternoon.

THZ CONVIILINC6

Opened at the Connil Camber at the Town Ball. The
subject for discussion we.' What are the best means
to adopt to enable Young Men's Ch idiom Associations
to fulfil their mission r
The chair MU token by G. WILLIAXS, Efq wh,
Impressed up on the meeting the iniportarice of the
work, the usefulness of it as shown e•opeciallv in its
means for retaining the elder scholars of our Bwriay
Sch ..ols under o hrotian influences when they arrive
at an ace at whioh so many are lost to our schools. If
(said Mr. William.), it is right t set apart
500,000 men out women to teach the children of our
SundAy cboolo, surely it must be right to retain them
sort teach them as young men. The Chairman then

WWI !you
Mr. KIND SMITH. who opened the discussion with a
very able, concise, and eloquent address, of which we give
• brief outline. Hs begin try risking "What iv • genuine
Y.M CA., and for what purpose doe. it exist I" Having
given the basis up rn which all Y.M C A.'. are formed, be
said all the members, whatever tory disagreed about.
agre...l upon the five We, viz :-1, The ruin of man; 2,
need of radempti re ; 3, nt ii regeneration ; 4, the
necessity of rOC ovine too Lord Jesus Christ as their
Saviour; 5. reflecting the imago of our blaster and God.
Societies are very foul of watchwords, no ttoes, and
grim and the Y.ll C A. bays for their watchword—" All
one in Quist," for your motto "Young men for Owlet,
and Christ for oung men." and fir their grip 'Let
brotherly love continue." Y.ILC. A.'s form the missing
link between the Sunday Schod and the Church. and are
full of unity. cethylicity. and loyalty. The mission of
our Y.M.C.A.'s is to build up Christian character ; to help
all to know, love. and serve Curia better ; to lead young
meet 'decide for Cbri.t, for Corist to live, and for Christ to
die; to be diligent in Ciarbt*s service, and dependent upon
Christ's help. 11-mbers of Y.ILC.A.'s should be consiet•
eat. resident, and persistent. The period from 15 to 21
years of age is one that demands urgent, watchf al, and
prayer( ul Cw• sympathy. The agencies to be employed
to carry out the mis.ion a- e many ani varied.of necessity,
accorditig to the distort',(l.) There is " Pereonid
testimony in the sphere of our daily calling" John
Angel Jemts on one occarien was giving an address to
young men, and he said on tract distributing " Young
men, give away tracts. bot do not do it unless you are
tracts yourselves." 12) There is the Devotional meeting.
O.) The Bible class. (t) Courted lto strangers- This is
very eariential.blySiuith warned his hearers not to be like
an emaciation of which he had heard to which a gentle-
men went •al times, but no one evoke to him. There
was a notice posted up requesting those who entered
the room to to take off their data and after going
several times to the meetings this gentleman at last
kept his hat on, when he was promptly asked if
he had not seen the request to take it off.
He replied "Ye.." and that is the reason I kept
it on, for when I took it off I oould get no one to speak to
ma." Ea—There a the opin air IlliesiOn. 6.—The Tract
Mission. 7. L Aging-house Mission. s.—Occasional
Drawing-room Meetings. All these may be used miasma
to carry on the work of bringing young WM to Christ.
This address wee a very instructive one, and was fre-
quently atelthAelL_
The CHAIIISIAX then called upon Mr. WALTZ& PIXINCT,
the treasurer of the Dorchester Ameocisition. who suggested
several points of importance to Y.M_C.A's. I—They
must have • suitable person for president ; • thyme", and
one who has the necessary time to devote to the W. are
of the association. 2—A suitable room on neutral ground,
where a home of love for young men may exist 3.—A
fund for the assistance of young men thrown out of
employ for urine, pie's sake. He had heard of young men
who, b. cause t ley would speak the truth, had had to
leave their situati ins, These should feel that in
so doing the Young Men's Christian Association
would render them practical help until such time all
they could get other employment 4—Then there wee •
molt able library by which they could counteract the effects
of the pernicious literature which, with its attendant
evils, could be seen on every hand. s—And there was an
=at work in connection with the Dorchester
tion, which was of groat service, viz :—The Town
Missionary. Then there was • registrar of members from
which letters of introduction might be given on young
men leaving for other towns, and by which young men
coold be kept in view. Mr. Pound concluded an earnest
address by impressing the need for spiritual life if his
bearers would be of use to their fellow young men.
ROT. J. RAIIIINGTON then spoke on the necessity for
aggreseies effort Personal invitation to young men
involved cross bearing, but it must be done, and was •
valuable agency. He related his own experience in con-
nection with the Camden Town Branch of the London
YMCA.' which was very intarating and encouraging.
He we. follthred by the Rev. R. lenamcia, of Widmert
who urged the importance of immediate a art being put
forth If the manhood of Ragland was to be saved from •
fearful heart scepticism, rebirth was far ISOM than any
band scepticism. He also enforced the need of breaking
down all barriers of rank and station, and allowing all to
meet en one level.
Mr. CLAM town missionary, gave an account of the
work done by the Dorchester Y.M.C.A.. and was fol.
lowed by • DE:ALGOT, from Biidport, who spoke on the
importance of keeping young men together.
Rev Brifithers, who attended for the Rev. J. H.
Scott. DILA , of We mouth, spike of having realised the
benefits of the YMCA-, and gave an interesting account
of • visit he made to an association in Toronto. Canada
He apologised for the absence of Mr. Scott. who was kept
away by indisposition.
Mr. Dixoe. secretary of the Dorchester Association,
spoke of the aid he had received from Y.M.C.A's, and of
the need for a more careful study of the Bible.
Rev. J. BOTCH= of Dewey, then asked how Y.M C.A..
could be started in the villages. what was needs I to
commence, the Probable expense. At. I He expressed his
willingness to do whet he could to start one for Upwsy
and Broadway. and was rare the rector of lieu way
would be pleased to assist
Mr. W. RIND Rana answered some of the queries of
Mr. Butcher, and promised further information. He
know of an association in a small town worked for leas
than A2O a year.
MT. SWAFFIIILD, of Basminster, said their Association
had been established llyeam. They had commenced with
a loan of books from the Bridoort Association, and had
now a mei library of their own. Last year they had £4
in hand. gl if which they voted to assist in the purohaert
of Rioter Hall for the Y.M.C.A.
Rev. J. DAVIS. of Piddletrentaide, spoke of the difficulty
experienced in getting at the young men of the village.,
of the depression caused by their condition, and the need
of incr seed evangelistic eff the amongst them. He hoped
something would be done at once.
ges, g.ifcsas, of Compton Valence, would he very glad
to welcome a deputation to st art an Association among
his young men.
Rev. J. TRAYVOILD. of Weymouth, and G. CULTIC Esq.,
haring addressed the conference. Mr. Meth Sums shortly
?subs I, and • very Interesting and bowling:dal meeting was
brought to a close.