Minnesota weekly times., 1856-11-01

man has stronger hold on the hearts of the
citizens than has the Doctor, and we hope and
believe that his future will be more bright and
prosperous than his past. Young men, profit
by his example.
YOUNG MEN's. CHRIsTIAN ASSOCIATION.
Lecture BY DR.. Stewart.
The Lecture. on Tuesday evening, before the
Young Mems Christian Association, at the Pres
byterian Church, was we'll attended-some 200 or
300 of our citizens being drawn together by the
speaker and the occasion, notwithstanding the
bad walking and the darkness of the night. Ex-
eroises were commenced by singing the Anthem
Jerusalem" by melodious and highly cultiva-
ted choir-the best singing we have heard for ma
ny day. This was followed by an impressive
and eloquent prayer by Rev. Mr.. Torbet.-
Rev. Z. D. Neill next read the 4th Chapter of
Proverbs-a most appropriate text. DIR. Stewart
then spoke as follows - E
FRIENDS AND BROTHERS IL find myself at this
moment in a singularly interesting and re-
sponsible position. assure you it is with no
slight sense of my inability, and lack of expert
ence, that attempt to address you, my compeers,
touching our common interests and responsibilities
as young Christian men in this up-springing city
of the Northwest. But you have been pleased
to call me to this duty and my deep interest in
our organization, as well as my sense of personal
obligation, prompt me to respond to your call.
will not attempt to suppress the earnestness of
my desire for the success and large usefulness of
our undertaking, nor when remember the might
of His arm whom we serve, would intimate a
doubt as to our final and complete triumph. We
have pledged ourselves to the accomplishment Of
duties fraught with interest and good; not to
each other alone, but to our whole community.
That was noble idea, born in the hearts of the
young men of London, and taking form in the
first" Young Mems Christian Association''
There, in the very heart of that worlds Metropo-
lis, amid the whirl and din and strife of aggre-
gated millions, arose this new form of organized
effort to grasp young men and pull them out from
the seething mass and save them to the Church
and the world. That was representative idea,
| and it indicated what wide field of thought and
labor was lying all around it. Even there, in bu-
| sy London, where, If anywhere, it might be pre-
| sumed that the dust and smoke and tumult would
blind the eyes and dull the ears to the call of
practical humanity and Christian philanthropy,
there was still the good leaven of the gospel hid
in the hopeful evil of human hearts, and at length
it worked itself out in acts of love and good will
towards those who were ready to perish.
This central idea was one that would not be
kept at a stand still. 1t was a shape Of heaven
ly zeal, that would not be laid, either by action
or neglect. 1t must be I" about its masters busi-
ness" 1t soon found its way beyond the con-
| fines of its birthplace, and across the watery
waste there came booming the glad news that a
new star had burst upon the Christian world with
brilliancy that betokened its origin divine.
Upon Boston, the Puritan city of the Western
world, it first shed its light soon it illumined
the cities and larger towns of the East, South
and West, and tonight it throws feeble, flick
ering ray upon st. Paul, away up in this North
west. But let US cherish the hope, my Brothers,
that feeble though it may be, in this its infancy,
the day of its maturity is not far distant when it
shall burn steadily and brilliantly, star of hope
to guide the footsteps of the errng into that path
whose ways are pleasantness and peace.
| My Brothers, let US look little at the nature
of our Organization, that we may more readily
see its relations. If rightly apprehend it, we
to regard the idea principle that lies at the
basis of our movement as simply association or
a combination of social and wholesome Christian
influences, for the accomplishment of an object
which the Church in her capacity, as such, can
not so readily accomplish. 1t is the blending of
the religious and social, rather On infusion of
the religious into the social, for the purpose of
gaining an influence for good over class of So
ciety not SO easily approached through any other
channel, as that of the social nature. We ell
know the power of association. 1t lis one of the
practical characteristics of our age In all ranks
and orders Of business and lfe it is resorted to,
as means Of multiplying power and influence.
| The children Of this world, who are said to be
much wiser than some other people, (?) under
stand how association and systematic organiza-
ton increases their facilities and renders their
chances of success more certain. And Christian
people, taking the lesson from what they see in
mere secular departments, are applying more and
more this principle to Christian purposes and
ends. As this principle is embodied in our AS
sociation, it cannot rest as simple theory. 1t is
not q gathering together of Christian young men
of various denominations, for the purpose of
personal enjoyment. These matters will by no
means be left out Of the account. But they are
incident, and not the primary object. We do not
simply proposelto be something, but to do some
thing! We propose to ourselves work and la
Dor Of love. Our thoughts are not mainly to be
absorbed with our own personal history and
wants, but we would direct them outward to those
who are from time to timo identifying themselves
with US in the walks Of business and life. We
propose q practical and sympathizing recognition
of that community of interest which exists be-
tween ourselves and other young men who are
going with us to the final place of tri al before
God. And thus would we study to dc good
and communicate the blessings of Christianity
to our entire population Of young men. We
unite for the purpose of extending to the great
numbers of aspirants for wealth, position and
influence, the right hand of social and Christian
fellowship, making them to realize that willing
hands and generous hearts ere theirs, for aid and
sympathy. And where is the heart SO dead to
every touch that it will not respond to sympathy
and kindness? We all know its force, from our
experience as exiles from loved homes and loving
hearts. There are eyes which need only to look
| up to touch every chord of breast choked BY
the sitting atmosphere of stiff and staguant So
ciety, and to call forth tones which might become
the accompanying music of a liie. This gentle
translation of mind into mind is the secret of
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