The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-02-19
nAILY DISPATCH.
MoapAY MoRNINo. FEsRUAkY 10 IsN.
FcTJJRE OF REV. Mr. HoGE, BEFORE THE
yOlIN(; MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. Z

Mems Christian AsSociatlon was Qenvered
on Friday evening. at Centenary Church, by
the lower part of the house being full, and
more than half the seats in the gallery occu
pied. II was gratifying to behold so large q
number of young men in attendance, rs well
AZ go many of the "solid men" of the city,
and so goodly an assemblage of ladies'
The opening prayer was offered by DIR.
Howell Mr. Hogc then arose and commenced
his address BY some remarks in reference to
his failing las. week to deliver, according to
his engagement, tie first lecture. He sale
he had been to the country TO perform avery
pleasant ceremony, which he should be will
ing to repeat for any member of this associa-
ton who may wish to enter another ossocaa-
tiea. He leit, in his anxiety to be here on
that occasion, the bright circle of wedding
party. and went down to the banks of the
canal, where all was hard and dry. But he
was glad he did not succeed, so well was his
place filled by another whom he considered
his good genius, and who had Often in his alb
seuce performed services for him, who was
always ready to bring forth things new and
old. Had he arrived here last Friday eve
ming and appeared before the audience then
assembled, tceary and cotd, an Indulgence
would have been extended TO him which he
would not now receive. And yet he needed
w,
fairs had so much occupied his mind as to
dsquaify him for the task to be performed
but he did not say this by way OF apology
IL was not his custom to make such apologies.
He was proud to appear before this associa-
ton. There had been other associations in
this city, literary societies and others, but
when had there been one bound by such ties
and animated by such spirit as this-wher
members know each other As brothers an
IL l.on rion
with death. But it was not his purpose TO
eulogize this association. His design was
rather to speak of some of the means of its
usefulness and some of the evils with which
1t Is called upon to grapple in this commu-
nifty.
There was one evil of which he wished to
speak, so outrageous that he did not know
how to express the feelings that it excited.
BY the favor of Providence we live in
church going community. Here, when first
viewing our cities, we see the spires of the
houses of God. He was going to say we had
liberty to pass to our churches and worship,
with none to modest or make us afraid-but
he could not say this. He then described
those groups of young men who collected at
the corners of streets and at the doors OF
churches, laughing and talking smoking and
playing with dogs-who seem to prefer to APP
pear outside barbarians-who,w when an Off
Ger VI tuS ShutSh gus ooe ~ AOAIohSeAatC
with them, if they accept his invitation to
enter, stalk in perhaps during the utterance
of some remarks which the preacher is par
ticularly anxious to impress upon his audi
snce-who rush for the doors at the close of
the services and form an avenue for the in
spection of the ladies as they pass out. He
asked, was there no way of deiverance for
our church doors from the crowds of we'll
dressed rowdies! Shall we call upon our
IN ob LoL
vlour? He thought there were other means
He rejoiced that we had press which is on
the side of decency. He hoped if there were
any reporters or gentlemen of the press in
the house, they would consider the matter.
The present seemed good time for editors
to engage in the laudable work of improving
the public manners. There is nothing
particularly interesting to occupy them
iSCbostOpol is not takea-Mr. Wise is making
his pilgrimage with no opponent He would
like to see how the Wing, the Enquirer, the
Penny Post and the Dispatch would touch
ND these young gentlemen. He then spoke
OF that more pleasant remedy, which was to
be found in the sentiment that might be Gre
ated by the three hundred young men of this
association, to wipe offthis reproach from our
metropolis.
Mr. Hoge then passed abruptly as he said,
to different theme He described the de-
in our city. Oh that we might witness such
scenes again. He reminded his audience of
those who once appeared on such occasions
animated with the holy zeal of religion. He
bespokethe Christian sympathies ofthe pious
for those most miserable young men who
once holding communion with Christians
and walking to the house of God in their CON-
pany, were now to be found walking in the
counsel of the ungedly. They can never for
get their vows, the remembrance of which
is ever with them. He considered the young
men ofthis association peculiarly called to go
after these wanderers and bring them back
When they feel the warm pressure of Your
friendly hand, and hear your voice in kind.
ness calling them to return, they will attend,
and if they heed your warning, "you have
gained your brother" He then spoke of the
position occupied by this association as
great vigilance committee, to watch for the
young men who come strangers to dwell in
our city. lie described the family at some
distant home about to give up one of its
young mem bers--the sympathies of brothers
and sisters, the tears of the mother, the pray
er Ofthe father and Christian. How different
this from the home in which he finds himself
IN the strange city, where the only person
who feels an interest in him, it may be, is
his hotel or boarding house keeper, who is
concerned only about the regular payment
of his Dues
He compared the career of an irrelgious
youth to the fate of noble ship, leaving the
shore i'll full sail and fully equipped, and 90
ing down at length amid the dismal wall of
the ocean tempest. He described the grad.
ual course of the young man who on his first
arrival III the city writes home to his parents
OF pleasant acquaintance formed-of his
visiting the churchregularly, making the ac
quaintance of the minister and associating
with the good. BY and by his letters are less
frequent and less minute as to his associates.
lie has found other means of spending his
evenings: He now visits that which is called
most sa,tlrically, he thought) "the School of
morals. There the young man views vice
IN MS most attractive form; there he meets
with her whose house is the way to hell 90.
ing down to the chambers of death
He gave thrilling description Of a.. vounr
man, who, descending into the eataeom bs of
Rome lost the rope by which he was ba,5
his light ,cent ont an darkness.
Applying this illustration to the o,.ss &c
whom he was speaking, he told the vonn ~,
men of the association theirs was the arm -
be reached forth for the rescue of such from
destruction, and in conclusion urged them
solemnly to the performance of the duty
The closing prayer was offered by Rev.