The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-05-20
Brooklyn "Youpg Mems Christian
AseocIaffon -


On the evening of the 18th inst, the "Brook-
lyn Young Mems Christian Association" held
a meeting. The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
oamo upon the platform, and was received with
great applause. He said, it was no great credit
to be young man; everybody has to be one.
But the credit was in making it appear they
were old in wisdom and Christian grace. lie
wished to put young men on their guard
against certain pinched self denial that Is
too prevalent. Some people are like very re-
ligious machines. 1t is not only the duty OF
a young man to be Christian, but to mani
fest all the graces of Christianity 1t was by
the conduct more than by the argument of the
primitive Christians that Christianity was
made palatable. Some people seem to think
religion kind of garb put on; yet religion is
chiefly in the elements Of rectitude, love, and
worship or veneration; and instead OF going
about to show how religions one is, it is te be
shown in their actions. There is n great differ
ence between religion and righteousness; the man
who acts Christianity is the trae Christian; that
which merely talks religion is not true like
that which acts. That newspaper, for instance,
that discusses all ordinary affairs by the light
of true Christianity, is most truly religious
paper; the one filed with gingerbread piety,
old woman's stories, and all sorts of rattle trap
pious things. He said that another very i'm
portsnt matter, truly religious matter, is the
subject of health; nothing is of more impoT-
tance to the young man. A young maR needs
strong, vigorous health; he wished to ask the
young men of the Christian Association, if
while they were exploring the rum holes and
gambling dens, while they were circulating
tracts, if they had az all considered what the
thousands of young men and middle-aged men
were doing in the matter of health. How is
the young man to get the proper exercise2 In
billiards? there is not exercise enough. There
is nothing more healthful than bowling yet he
would soon be bowled down in society should
he go into any of the saloons in Brooklyn.
There was rowing, and all the various games
of ball; and if the Young Mems Christian
Association of Brooklyn, would only take this
subject in hand, they would be taking step
far in advance of any other city.
He urged the Importance of this matter
most strongly upon the Association. He said
that young men sit up too late-though he did
not follow his own advice, nobody ever did; he
thought no young man should see the backside
of 10 o'clock at night. He suggested that
perhaps the procuring of books for a library
was not the most important to the Association
The faces of our young men are blanched
white enough already, and their chests almost
collapsed. When he came to look at the books
in that library, he should not look to sec how
many volumes of theology they had, but how
many books they had from which a young
man could learn something of the world into
which they were born, and about that body
upon which their natural and spiritual in
terests depend If the church does not permit
this matter, it will 60 on with the church,
God is not half SO careful about the church as
church members are. He thought they should
thus gorify God, in everything that makes a
sound body as well as sound morals.
The exercises were then closed with singing
and the benediction.-N. Y. Paper.