The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-17
Anniversary or the New York ysssng Mems
Christian Association.

Anniversary or the New York Ystkng Mem
| Christian Association.
The Anniversary of this association was ceebra
evening at the Dutch Reformed Church. lafayette place
.. B. WooDFoRD, Esq, presiding. The audience WA
numerous.
ing of the Scriptures
The Rev Asa D. SMITH d. then offered up 4 PRAYER
calling upon Almighty God to pour out blessings upon this
association.
Inc residents address then read by the Recording
eoe''ry, FRANK w. BALLARD, Eq tracing the history of
'his ASSOCIATION from its eLcement, aud pointing
out ine inesmabe blessings which would accrue to the
young men OF this and other cities they were u become
members of the society The fostering haunts of crime
would be broken up and religion and ha ppness would
oyerspread The land
Dir +. MANERRE then read the Treasures report,
sh ing the receipts for the year to be 50 500
dit IRE S2,4s9 l3 leaving balance in the treasury of
SOL r.
Rev. Dr. DE WITT then forward and delivered an
addIess.
N, b. .9IuST, Esq., icing introduced to the meeting
Mr. Pre- sident-I have listened with much attention
ana with a gratifcaaen to the proceedings of this
evening INe objects Of your association the Gu .racter
Of its membe and the boiy and ber s influences Il i
calculated to promote we'll challenge sympathy and
support To myself especially it affords peculiar plea.
pursuits .N professional ofcial duty TO the
contemplation OF The pleasing reality which before
express my feelings The Young Men's Christian AssY
ciation-such is S,ur tiie How much is enpressed in
these few words HOY paegnart wish deep and all power
tul ing is this sA51r tenee associa ton of
the young of this mighty city for Christian purs
poses No selfish mo.ivas, personai airs no unwor-
thy ends. diIec', stimulate con.rcl your actions
Human esliare IN ITS highest forn human happiness
in It's paramount estate cons iute yonr alpha and ONE
ga. The broad expansive, and comprehensive system
@ch ih 'he cDptolns power OF our coast tuonai sorm
Of government embraces within its obt al ses con-
dtcns. aid rsces OF men, and untes perf,ct
whole thirty reign ccnfsdcracies moving like the
heavenly fnnes IL harmony and concord Separate pct
dependent distinct yet united prevails in association
ano ss your address tells me, all evangelical Christians
sects here unite fer the hols formation
OF The whole body of our young men into IT harmoni
Gus band wo1kiig with all their might in the 81
Christ May God prosper your sublime undertaking.
Gentlemen your field Of labor is ard the Ian
g of holy rit, Although the harvest is peneous
hitherto the abufers have been but few. Let de ain
you for few moments BY comparison of your position
with the less favored masses of the Old
World and point your attention to that divine injunc
tion and arbibg of cur saviour TO whom much il
given from him much will be rsquired' Here each man
worships God according the dictates of his IN con
scei ce. No rule OF State, earthly mandate 40 DO
teD,ai decree emaDatpg from terrestrial potenate
limits controls. or governs the relations II his
Maktr but erect ia the dignity OF Christian freeman, he
kre.ls 10 Goo alone Herr, 100 in addition to that re.
yono oti ier country full civil liberty, and the
OF their united influence is to be found in mighty
stride and magnificent advance which has placed your
country foremost among nations We bow not to
idols OF mans creation. We worship earth
ly copqutror. whose chariot wheels are red with
The eoe # fla, ghteed ny rads petishing defence
Of the deares. rights Of humanity but the pursuit Of
exercise those attri-
which belong alike the peasant and the mon
arch Our political devotion i to sttution and
our lass-our religious worship to Goa alone. How
geat the contrast. Need point the physical suffer
ing, he moral debility the mental degradation which
prevail, ancpf the masses of Northern and Continental
Euope-the worse ihan human torture which seeks to
govern the human body by enthralng subugatng aud
deg, a.ng the human mindS Aas, gentlemen such is,
such has been such will be the results der posm and
bgory Your duties then enhanced by the blessings
which Goo hoo vouehsafed to you and your present
tak is noble manifestation your gratitude
through life, to defend them from temptations, to
surround them with frncs. to aid and strengthen
them in their first great struggle with the world
sole them in sickness relieve their Distress aud finally
to point them 10 That be st last refuge OF the weary so
tie haven Of Christian faith and religion. What compared
in moral submiiy with this the petty strides an
Alexander Napoleon the cold philosophy Of Plato or
the sensual superstition OF a 1laho.eY These | under.
stand 10 he your pimar, objects; ard truly do they de
monst ate the sincerity Of your faith in that religion
necessity Of your orpaLiziton; TOO often have been
called 10 grieve the 'an spirit whose path
way, beset by tempat and unchecked by any friend
ly influence has Conducted hin to the chsrne house
guilt aIc cine. Stating upon his career of life the
LiIose for the FIRST time separated from friends
ard iareIts-a stranger among the multitude.
ton The oi hs childhood sli haunt his mind,
and in the fdence OF youth he has Launched bark
upon the great of human lite and plea watts
bin onward The sNten songs OF unhoy passions lure
him their reacherous hauntsn friendly pilot guides
his course-uptl at jast amid The ho~lings Of the
storm, frendless and fcrraben his shattered vessel
founders the rocks Of vice and namy To iosar
specially occur TO me as happening within my
ledge They copstute types Of classes the one punish
ed the o,her thanks 20 that burning, holy flame
which oesth alone extugnsh, Tothers love-still
lives ,ece.ned and regeneeatsd Both we're natives Of
New England. Educated in her comm scbo Is, imbued
with early religious instruction. possessing the
active ardent temperament peculiar to New England
youth impatient OF restraint ana jealous OF dependence
they left their Da i've vi'ges for the great e.ropolis
The world before then.-tbat world of which they
hsd often read in which, in boysh fancy they we're
destined TO play no isnobe parts but Of whose realities
they had stl TO learn Innocence yet theirs and
the bright art happy hours of early childhood still
gered IN the twilight OF memory They alone, with
acquaintance to greet thm no friend to direct and
cbeer them Ia their Mark the trau usition. la
t~o years inmate Of your State prson--the
other arrested midway in his evil career, returned to
bls home wiser and have reason to believe better
Bth owed their fate to the instructive love Of as
socatiop, and the want o. proper guides to erect their
choice of associates This is 10 fancy sketch,
wrought picture, but plain unvaThiahed truth. My
| position for the last two years has necessarily
brought ne into immediate cohtact with human vice
ferns. and enabled to fern compar atively correct
idea Of The remote and immediate of crime aneng
us and nearly every they be found to be the
result Of vicious associations Instances it is true
occur in which sudden temptations, the demoniac
spirit OF revenge overcoming their better nature plunge
their vi ms into the abyss of guilt but to evil
ers is mainly TO be attributed the large majority OF
cases The wretched offspring Of guilt, the child Of
squsd poverty ard brutal nttmperance too often ASST
miate and in their acts aud uct initiate the
pie and adot the oil thei, parents and ocates
IRE othe the gaming table, and the hauns
of diss nion and vice which disgrace city, al have
tier votares. and step by step lead them to rapiae
and crime lrtelgicn idleness, and vice. walk hand in
ha and amid the besetting temptations Of life furnish
but miserable dependence in the hour Of need 1t Il
Dthis respect that associations is worthy by
furnishing Christian associates and connections to tho
Thousands Of youpg men constantly arriving In our !
city and thus, while YOU relieve their temporal wants
you at the same time promote their spirusl welfare
let your the be onward So far az human fore
sigh, affect human destiny the discipline of the hu
mind in knowledge and the formation of correct
religious princip must and will control that de tiny
Ignorance and reconsideration, says Totson 'aIe the
two great causes OF the ruin of mankind " Remove hs
cause AID your work is complete The surest foundation
OF humsn character is Chri tan education its best and
strongest support and guarantee Christian association
The orne My depends upon the guar ship of in
fancy The latter, when the ties which bind the child to
the temporarily severed you propose supply
Amid the struggles Of manhood, the rude encounters of
business ard professional pursuits the youthful mind
separated ficm early associations and removed from
the immediate guardianship of that devoted beinx
Who has wstchgd his infancy burdened aud
, down by the cares and sDxieies of every day