Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-12
RkPoHrxD rok rHK AMERICAN ORGAN.
nIrd Anmfversafy Of the Washington
City Young Mems Christian Associaiiea1

ing was opened by prayer by Rev. Jno Berg. az
baltimore, when the retiring President, z. Rich
ards, Esq delivered his yaledictory; after which,
the reports of the treasurer, librarian. and corres
| ponding secretary were read.
From these reports we learn that the Association
has established Sunday school in destitute part
Of the city, which is attended by nearly one hun
dred scholars; also, Bible class for young men,
at the room of the Association, which is well at
tended During the last year one hundred and
forty-eight members were added to the society,
which now numbers about four hundred. In the
year, 43S books have been added to the library,
making total of ,473 there are, also, e53 re-
views and magazines, unbound, and 224 pamphlets,
making in all 1900 books, &c., in the library.
During the year, 1885 names of yisiters were
registered in the rooms, showing an increase of
1924 over the preceding year. There are large
number OF papers and periodicals received by the
association among them, all published in this city.
The receipts of the year amount TO Ss0S So the
| expenses to 1888 ~, leaving the Association
slightly indebted to the treasurer which debt will
soon be lquidated
| The President elect was then introduced who
after few appropriate remarks, gave way TO the
| orator of the occasion, Rev. James A. Duncan of
this city, who delivered an eloquent address, well
| adapted to the occasion. We give an abstract of
the address, and sorry that our limits will not
allow us to give the whole:
| He commenced by saying, that the idea precedes
the act, and the idea which preceded the forma
] ton of the Young Mems Christian Association, ev-
IDENTIFY was that Of usefulness. This was the annaus
| of the whole movement. You have caught the
spirit of Christianity and the Bible has planted in
your hearts and minds the impulse that produced
| this organization. This is guarantee of your sue
cess The idea Of your Association ought to be the
idea of each member. therefore propose to you
this motto
Make yourself useful, and you win succeed"
To be useful is to rightly answer the demands
| made on us by the laws of God and our own social
happiness Usefulness does not depend on place
or rank, but is the duty of all. Real life opens a
field already white unto the harvest
Look over the field of life. Have the wants
all men been met !? Are all tears wiped away? Do
hearts no longer bleed? Does vice no longer lead
her victims forth to the sacrifice? Is there nought
else to do but rest? MOI human happiness is still
in jeopardy society still needs men of honest, gem
erous sentiments and useful labors
Though in this'lan we boast of exemption from
many evils common to other countries, there is
still room for the most active benefcence. Our
very privileges and immunities impose great re-
sponsibilities upon u.s. In the enthusiasm and dar.
ing of American life there is great arena for use
fnlness Men of practical wisdom are the only ones
capable of giving the conservatism necessary to
prosperity. They guide the ship of State in its
true channel, when, without them, the hurricane
of party passion would hurry her on to the breakers
This is the age for the practical man. Labor
useful, honest labor, in any departments at
premium, and distinction and power are the gifts
labor bestows on its devotees. 1t has been said
"The countng-room has become the cabinet of
reigning sovereigns; the dome of the exchange the
dome of thought; titles of honor give way before
titles of intelligence and property speculations in
philosophy to speculations in land quotations from
the poets to quotations from the stocks while the
books that are books are the bankers books
He then urged the necessity of trying to be use
full in every day life without the least loss of time
from business Every man cannot be Howard
but every man, whether in the workshop, counting
room, or Office can do something toward advancing
the public good, without in the least interfering
with his daily avocation. The man in steady honest
employment is useful; he is not an inert material,
but active force. The very existence ofhonesty,
integrity, industry, and kindness, does good.
One Of the chief hindrances to usefulness in
this age, is the haste used to dispatch business
whether for ourselves others. 1t is a day of
hurry No matter if the house is half built, you
are in hurry; no matter if the cars run off, you
are in hurry; and is the news that every one is
in hurry to read. The printer reads the hurriedy
written letter in hurry, prints it wrong in hurry,
sends it out by the newsboy in hurry, who hurries
to the postoffice where the paper is hurried OF in
the wrong direction. Our young men hurry through
their education; " hurry into business; and in
their hurry to make fortune, lose sight of truth,
forget duty, and so become worthless A thought
full man, though delighted with the progress of the
age, cannot fail to notice that this haste is injurious
to many valuable interests Of society.
He now spoke ofthe growing disposition to COM
bine effort in almost every department. and thought
the tendency should be guarded and guided. He
did not think, with some, that it savors of want
of individual independence, but that It might be
made the most resistless force in the triumph of
truth. In this field, friendships are formed, and
moral strength concentrated here can piety, ener-
gy, and resolution Of character be felt in all its
vigor.
To be useful, we must be sternly true; an un-
reliable man is burden that few like to have at
tached TO their engagements; we must also be
diligent we must not waste time or talent money
or opportunity. All have the means to augment
their own usefulness; instruction is not confined
TO coege-walls, but can be gathered from all sour
ces. 1t is not needful to usefulness that you be
genius, nor is it proof of dulness that you are
not though not gifted with splendid talents, you
may still cast your mite into the treasury OF human
happiness. Genius may fascinate but fascination is
not usefulness Great talents must be applied to
good purpose, or it will advance the wrong; il
cannot be inactive. Talent occupies its right po-
sition, and is highest elevated when identified with
the interests of man. But the possession If great
talents involves fearful responsibility; the par
able Of the talents Is often reversed he who has ten
talents, more often misappies covers them, than
he that has but one.
When say be useful and you viii succeed"
do not say that only the useful will reach fattef-
ing places Of transient honor but / do say that
none but the useful viii reach an envable fame
There is feverish thirst for notorety, but to
slake that thirst Is not success. Nor yet is he sue
cessful who merely heaps up treasure. If the sor-
did passion for wealth be the germ, the tree viii
be evil and the fruit Of long LIES toll viii be as
bitter the apples of the Dead Sea.
Success has many meanings as men have OBJ
jects of pursut--with some il means one thing and
with some another; but the meaning we prefer is
not so much the attainment of that which il de-
sired as that which ought TO be. II is to secure
our own happiness and that of our fellows, so far
as we can. This does not prevent prosperity or
advancement; the useful must finally attain the
honor Of the good
Men need not fear that they win not be sppre-
ciated. 1.-THE mine contains gold, somebody win
find it. Too many glasses are sweeping tho hori-
zon for star ofmagnitude or value to escape OBJ
servation. Men Of talent have died with but little
honor gained but if you examine their diosyncra-