Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-02-21

YOUNG MINE UnhfSftAh observation-disclosures
M Rxy. DIR. CuAAIsos. regular monthly
meeting Of the Washington City Young Mems
Christian Association was held last Monday night,
at the Trinity Church. The meeting was called to
order by the President, Mr.. o. @. Wight, and was
opened with reading from the Scriptures and
prayer by DR.. Cummings.
After statement by the President, of the state
of the Association, the change of its management
to that of board of managers, instead of the old
way of a standing committee, and the success at
tending the change, the Secretary read the new
bylaws.
The President then introduced the orator of the
occasion, Rev Dr. Cummings.
After few brief Introductory remarks, he asked !:
TO what class Of society does vice address itself
mosts To whom is it most attractive? Not to
the old, not to the middle aged, but to the young
men. Who fill the houses of debauchery, the
haunts of dissipation? II is the young men. Who
fill early gravesg The young men and if there is
aught can be done to rescue this class from the
impending destruction that seems to await them,
to engage in this work is the noblest prerogatiye
of human nature.
There is no city where 80 much vice awaits the
young man as Washington. Many come here to
obtain employment, and find it too, almost said
unfortunately. Here they are separated from the
pure associations Of home no mother, no sister,
brother, or father surrounding him, the influence
offriends In the distance cannot reach him; here
he is alone. His ill-furnished room presents no
invitation to remain, when he returns tired with
the tolls of the day. He has love for society,
and he goes forth to seek it. Here is the turning
point in his history. Should he enter any of those
haunts Of the vicious, from whence issues the
sound ofmusic and the voice of song, he will meet
with persons ready to receive him with open arms,
and initiate him step by step into vicious course,
until he is as bad'as themselves. But should the
young man be met by member of your Associa-
ton, who will invite him to your cheerful and COM
Portable reading rooms, and then introduce him to
Christian young men, who will receive him as
companion in their labors and initiate him into their
churches and societies, he will there find the COM
pany he desires, and conform perhaps to their
habits.
You have begun in this good cause, ! am glad to
say; but you have only begun. Remember what
you can do, and the account you will be called on
to render as to how you use your opportunities do
not hold back attend all your meetings, and in
all things work together
God has devolved great responsibility on young
men. The pulpit, the bar, all the professions are
filed for the most part by young men. The most
brilliant men the world has seen were young Ma
poleon was young man in the height of his tri-
umph; Talleyrand was young man when he con-
Quoted the diplomacy of Bonaparte, and SO was
Pitt; wellington was young man at the field of
Waterloo. Young men have to bear the burden
of the day, and should qualify themselves for it.
But by this do not understand me to wish to
thrust aside the old men; we do not wish them TO
retire we ask Of them advice; we value their wis
dom; we will be guided by their advice, and be
thankful for their prayers but we will tell them
that the work devolves on the more vigorous. That
the duty of the old men is to counsel, while the
young men carry on the war.
But before take my seat will speak Of one
way in which the young men can do much, and
have accomplished already even in this city great
DEAL within the sound of the bell of this church. are
children who are old in crime, who have never
entered a church. Who win bring them to the
sanctuarys The church does not attend to them
they do not come within its influence. Your cler-
gymen prepare elaborate dscourses, and preach
eloquent sermons to those who attend on their
ministry, but they do not 20 out to the highways,
and hedges, and bring in those outcast children
those who have most need of instruction never
come within the sound of their voices.
The young men Of London seeing this, brought
these poor children into the institutions they
called Ragged schools, and accomplished in
that way much good. The young men Of your
Christian Association have done much in the same
way, by the establishment of Mission schools in
this city. They have gathered in children who
never before attended any religious service, and
are training them by the help of good teachers,
whom they have induced to take hold of this work.
Pastors feel that the day is too short for them to
accomplish the work they see before them. They
look around for assistance, and they find it in these
young men, and it gladdsns their hearts and
strengthens their hands to receive such assistance
Young men of Washington, / exhort you to be
diligent, self-denying, and assduous in this good
work, and on your death beds you viii be glad
dened by the memories of the widows hearts you
have caused to sing for joy by having rescued their
sons from wretchedness and misery. May the God
of all grace prosper you in your enterprise
Mr.. Langdon, the superintendent of the Mission
School, then gave an account Of its success. He
said they had established Sunday School on
street, between Fifth and Sixth they had on their
rolls about 100 names; and that from 80 to 100
scholars were in regular attendance.
He also said that they could not extend their
school, for the room they occupied would hold no
more. They had not collected the scholars the
children had come voluntarily, and they were well
supplied with teachers. They wished to extend
the benefits Of the school, but could not, for want
of room.
He then asked that the friends and members of
the Association would unite in procuring funds for
the erection or rental of suitable room for the
school, and pledged himself to fill it with scholars,
who would not probably attend any other religious
exercise.
The Corresponding Secretary of the American
Confederation Of Young Mems Christian Associa-
tons then read letter from the Secretary of the
European Associations, giving notice that, during
the month of July next Convention Of these As
sociations was called to meet in Paris and inviting
delegates TO be present from the United States.
He then presented the following resolution,
which was passed:
Resolpcd, That the Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION of Washington City, d. c., have, with
deep qualification, learned OF the proposed Ecu
menical Convention Of similar Associations, to be
held in Paris France, during the coming July;
that their synnpathies and prayers will accompany
its session. and that tho Society will gladly avail it.
self of any opportunity Of being represented upon
this occasion"
The meeting then adjourned, after prayer by
DR.. Butler.
EF On Tuesday, when the messenger Of the
Il