The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-01-13 00:00:00

Fr: LUSTOrIMAIDGF OPSFRITT.

?local an istritt

TRE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN
ASSOCIATION.

A Social Tea Meeting was held at the Associ-
ation on Wednesday'night. There was a large
attendance. After tea the chair was occupied
by Mr. J. McEwen.
The Chairman said he was pleased to see
some ladies present, which he thought augured
well for the future success of the Association.
Ile had jotted down a few heads that be should
speak about. He regretted to say that since he
became a member of the institution, he had not
before had an opportunity of being present at
any of the meetings, but that he felt quite cer-
tain was his loss. He was indebted to the meet-
ing for the honour they had done him in asking
Min to preside on that occasion. It was not
because he did not take an interest in such asso-
ciations that lie failed to take an active part in
proceedings of that kind, but simply because
his time was so fully occupied with business
matters that he could not very well be where his
inclinations would sometimes lead him. He had
had a little to do with associations of that des-
cription years ago, when lie had more time upon
his hands than he now had, and he could safely
say that he looked back upon that time as one
of the brightest spots in his existence—a red
letter time in the calendar of his life. He had
often thought that but for the influence that time
put upon him, he might have followed the course
'so many young men pursue. When he spoke to
, young men about their time being fully °eau-
' pied. He did not mean that it should be so oc-
cupied with the cases of businesa entirely, but
win n their daily labours were over they should
I employ their titue in endeavouring to improve
themadves by taking advantage of the valuable
means within their reach, and by contributing
in some way to the improvement of others. He
thought it was possible that a young man could
experience quite as much pleasure, and certainly
more real pleasure in associations of this char-
acter, than in the giddy round and whirl of bac-
chanalian revels. He would strongly urge them
to follow in the right course. He knew it was
thought by some young men that the grand thing
to do was to dress showily, to strut and swagger
up and down the street of an evening with a
cane in one hand and smoking a meerschaum
pipe. There were great pains taken to colour
these pipes, and to blow the fragrance of the
tobacco into the air, and when they heard that
class of young men of this town asking how it
was they did not get on in the world, the wonder
would be if they did get on in the world. It
was very easily seen that the young men who
a.lopted that course of life he had just depicted,
would not succeed very well in the world. Ano-
ther cause for the non-success of young men
was that they never did more than they were
asked to do. If they were asked to do a little
extra work they thought it was an incubus upon
them, and they did not attempt to leave the path
of life that stood like a high barrier between
them and their interests. They could not learn
too much, and they would wish at some future
day they had chosen another path when they
were young and had the opportunity. He would
contend that honesty ought to be another aim of
their lives They must not think themselves
honest by paying 20s in the pound, but honesty
constituted truthfulness, integrity, and virtue.
In conclusion, he earnestly solicited them to
walk in the upright path of life, attend such in-
stitutions as their own, and profit by them, and
keep aloof from the downward course of vice,
ruin and misery. He recited a few verses from
a poem by Robert Burns, which were very ap-
propriate.
Song—Mr G. Pearson, "1 cannot sing the

old songs.'
Mr. H. Billingham said it was not the first
time he had met them, and his face was not
strange to most of them. He had no idea of
having to address them that evening: conse-
quently he was rather unprepared, and if he was
to sit down at once, and desire them to remem-
ber what had been delivered from the chair, and
forget everything else, they had had such a les-
son that it would be beneficial to them in after
days. When the chairman spoke of Robert
Burns he (Mr. Billingbam) fancied himself in
Scotland once more, looking at the statue of that
great poet. lie heartily coincided with the re.
marks of the chairman, and urged them to be
diligent in whatever work they undertook, and
follow out the course of life the worthy *air-
man had depicted for them.
Reading—Mr. Bailer, "An Irish Incident."
Song—Mr. Tait, "Wait for the turn of the
, tide."

Reading—Mr. Woodcock, " Marguerite of
France."

Mr. J. Allsop, sen., said at the commencement
of the meeting his friend the secretary (Mr. J.
Southall) had asked him if he would address the
meeting, and he said he would if they would
give him ten minutes. It was the secretary and
not himself that had said it was to be an ad-
dress, but as he was there he supposed he must
say something to them. He, like other Chris-
tians, cordially agreed with the object of the
Association, that was for the improvement of the
spiritual conduct of the young men. He was
sure the facilities of the young men of the pre-
sent time were lunch greater than when he was
ii young man, and the opportunities of spending
their time were much greater than in his day.
In nearly every town they would see institutions
like theirs, and they were of the greatest impor-
tance to young men. They were invited to come
and be instructed in the things of this world,
and of time better world. When he had been at
the Mechanics' Institution be had taken the
liberty of going round Clue rooms and looking at
what the youug men were reading, and nine out
of every ten were reading either a police case or
a political meeting. Those members present
were not fit for politics yet. What they wanted
was something better than police cases or period-
icals. He then read a few remarks from a book
published by the Rev. Hugh Stowell Brown, of
Manchester, on " Manliness," which finely pour.
trayed the character of some of the young men
cf the present day.
The Hey. T. Williams than read some selec-
tions from the poets " The destruction of the
host of Sennacherib," by Byron ;" " The De.
serted Village," by Goldsmith; "The Lay of
the Last Minstrel," by Sir Walter Scott; and
"'rho May Qucen," by Tennyson.
Mr. Billingham, on bahalf of the meeting,
proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Williams, for
his kindness in reading the beautiful selections
he had given them.
The Chairman seconded the resolution, and
was carried unanimously.
Song—Mr. James Southall, "The Vicar of
tray.'
Mr. J. Taylor delivered a short, but well
leant address.
Song—Mr. Everett," The Ivy Green."
A vote of thanks to the chairman and to the
ladies closed the proceedings.

meant