Minnesota weekly times., 1856-11-01
and extends moral and intellectual life far beyond
the measure Of ordinary conception.

The field embraced by our Organisation ia not
limited to our particular form Of effort. It
properly includes
|. Direct Christian exertion in behalf of young
men who are living without the hopes and re-
straints of Christianity. Such are to be sought
out and kindly and earnestly urged to take upon
them the yoke of our Redeemer. They are to be
won by kind words and consistent example, by
sympathy and forbearance. by Christian zeal and
fidelity, and also by that considerable attention
which, BY the blessing of God, is so successful
in winning the footsteps of wanderer into the
path of virtue and piety. This, my friends, is
with us work Of primary concernment It
stands at the head Of our column of duties and
responsibilities. If fail here, the failure will
be vital. Young men trained amidst the refine
nents and Christian privileges of the older States,
who are members of Christian Churches, are to
be met and warmly invited to the circles of
Christian activity in the various Churches Of our
city, and made to seel the throbbngs of religious
sympathy and regard. Many may thus be saved
to places of great usefulness, who would, per-
haps, demit The Christian name and swing clear
of oil Church restraints and the kindly influences
of Christian home. There is probably no part
of the country where such work needs to be
done more than here, in these new and rapidly
growing cities of the Western States.
II. Another object Of our Association should
be to secure the benefit of social position and
happiness to the young men who are constantly
increasing our population and swelling the vol
ume of our prosperity. We all know something
of the sense of loneliness and discomfort which
sometimes oppresses the breast of young man,
when, perhaps. for the first time, he turns his
back upon his early home circles of friendship
and enters the land of strangers, where strange
faces surround him and strange voices fall upon
his ear. He had social position and moved in
circle of honored friendship. But from all these
he is now severed and finds himself drifted far
out upon life's rough sea. This feeling of isola-
ton, allowed to prey upon a sensitive nature,
soon begets recklessness, which at length drives
him into forbidden and unwholesome relations,
and he is finally thrown wrecked hulk on the
sands of life. Now it must be ours to see with
quick and sympathetic eye these as soon as their
feet touch our soil and pressing theirs with the
warm hand of generous friendship, introduce
them into the circles of virtuous and refined So
of Christian principles.
Our Association embraces work of humanity.
1t is not an unfrequent occurrence that young men
coming to city like ours, in search of business,
are greatly disheartened by the apparent heart
lessness of the people, and the pharasaical indf-
ference with which they all pass on the other
side. They come for honest employment and
honorable gain, but all avenues to these results
seem closed against them and they are discour-
aged.
Here, then, is an opportunity for our generous
endeavors. Let US introduce them to walks of
business and encourage them in the pursuit of
employment. m
Sickness, too, may and does often come to
waste their strength and enfeeble them, and ex-
haust their limited pecuniary means. Be it ours
to watch over them in their weary and painful
incarceration and nurse them into their accus-
toned health and vigor, and thus prove ourselves
by our works, truly Christian Association"
w. Intellectual culture comes properly within
the range of our association. As professedly
OnAioSi"H oVuy VI younS AASiiS VIC COuAu uoe pIO-
perly ignore the culture of the intellectual man.
If rightly judge, the true sphere of Christianity
includes within the sweep of its circle the proper
blending of intellectual with spiritual improve
ment-the training of the head under the same
influences with the heart.
We may properly lay the foundation of q
library which shall at some future day number
its volumes, rich with the natural treasures of all
ages, by tens Of thousands. Thus we may pro-
vide place where, during leisure from business
and on the long evenings of our beautiful win
ters, shall gather young men, who might other
wise devote their time to the countless forms of
dissipation in our midst. sfa III.
v. Another object not unworthy our con-
siderate regard, is the drawing together by cords
of closer sympathy the young men of various
religious denominations, and the more practical
realization of the theory of Christian union, than
in any other way. We may easily retain our
views of doctrine and polity, while we unite in
carrying out the grand and common truth of love
to God and good will to men. eias
have thus briefly indicated, in an imperfect
manner, what suppose to be some of the leading
features and purposes of our association. What
have said must be regarded as no more than
suggestion. The expression of these thoughts
will very naturally occupy our future attention.
cannot conclude these brief sentences without
saying word as to the locality of our efforts.
1t is PECULIAR and in its peculiarly lies infolded
much of its interest. When the first association
was formed in London, our city was a rude will
derness, scarcely tracked by the feet of white
men. We now commence our work in the heart
of q swarming, busy population of thousands.
In some respects our position is one of more i'm
portance than that of any city east of the Rocky
Mountain Range. We are on the verge of North
Western population; we are more isolated during
a large portion of the year; and young men are
crowding into our city moro rapidly than into
almost any other portion of the country. Indeed
am disposed to think that no other place com.
prises so large proportion of young men of
education and talent, reared amid all the ad.
vantages Of refined social life, as our own. We
have abundance of material with and upon which
to expend our best and most persistent efforts.
And should we not be recreant to our most sacred
obligations, if We failed to improve the opportu.
nifty now before us? a
Brothers, wide wave. the field with a ripened
and golden harvest! The great and wide future
is vast before rs. Be it ours to grid ourselves
with the divine armor, and 90 travelling forth.
There are gems lying scattered over the field,
waiting only our polishing hand to make them
sparkle with immortal brilliancy. We have q
30 a. Ia l. r.