Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-01-02

| ORIQIH AND PB0ah1SS OF YOUNG MENg CHRISTIAN
AssOcnTIoSs--Ths fact that these organizations
now number over one hundred and fifty in this com
try alone and the almost universal attention their
energetic absrs have attracted within the last year.
combine to make brief sketch Of their origin and
progress q mstter Of interest to the religious com
munity. According 10 the Philadelphia PSess the
first permanent Young Mems Christian Association
Vas formed in London, in June 1874, the incidents
Of its origin being briefly these: prsyermesting
was for some time held in large commercial house.
the participants in which conceived the idea esab
fishing similar meetings and also Bible classes for
the benefit Of the young men. especially clerks In
stores, Of the city, and sceordiL gIy they formed
themselves into an organization for that purpose:
In nine months it attained membership of one
hundred and sixty young men, when it began to at
tract the interest of both the clergy snd aity In
ls4S it numbered four hundred and eighty members,
having then in charge thirty devotional aad Bible
class meetings in various places. During the sDsu
ing tive years. associations we're formed in several
Of the leading towns of Englasd, and in 1866 the
number OF members Of the London Association was
about fifteen hundred, at which time England num-
bsred in all forty associations France twenty-five,
Switzerland three, and Holland one.
At the present time the London Association, after
an existence Of fourteen years. numbers nearly two
thousand members, or about the same as the organs
izstion in Philadelphia nsugurated some FIVE years
ago. The first Young Men Christian Association
In this country was formed in Cincinnati in 1s4S,
after the design of that Of London, but was subse-
quenty recognized on the union basis aud 50 for
several years been Of the most efficient of these
associations. H. ThAne Miller, ESQ, is at present
its presiding officer The association at Montreal
was fully organized in December, 1851, in Ehich
same month, also, the association at Boston, Of
which +. W. Smith, Esq, is president, was formed
and during the following year no less than twelve
others put in successful operation in different
cities of the Union. In 1853, associations we're
formed at Peoria Quincy, and Springfield, IIinois;
qbsrlestoWn, Massachusetts /; and at Providence,
Brooklyn, 81, Louis, Lexington, Portland, and San
Francisco.
From the increased number Of these organizations
throughout the land, general Convention for the
purpose Of interchaDging views and forming closer
bond Of union was deemed advisable, and Was &C
cordingly held with excellent results the 7th Of
June, 1854, At Buffalo, N. Y, at which nineteen OF
the then existing associations represented In
many respects this Convention formed an important
in the history of Young Mems Christian AssOcia-
tious. The wisdom Of those composing it was doubt
less, exhibited in the plaa of confederation then
adopted, Masking the conventions mere advisory
bodies. without legislative powers and leaving each
association free and Independent to regulate its
plan Corporations in its own way.
The second Convention was held at Cincinnati,
in September, 1855, the previous year having mark
ed the establishing of large number Of sssoeia-
tions, among which were those Of Quebec Halifax,
Dayton, o., Harrisburg, Richmond and the Asso-
cision Of Philadelphia.
The fact of this movement hsviag been eon
menesd here IN emulation of what Christians were
doing abroad, gave rise to correspondence between
the two countries respecting it, and which led to
the Paris Conference, held in that city in August
1855 At this conference there we're present about
fifty delegates. representing associations in France
England, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, and Ger
many the confederate associations Of America haV-
ing been represented by Messrs. George H. Stuart,
President of the PhilsdephiA Association, and F.
R. Starr of Philsdslphia, and the Rev. Abel Stevens
of New York.
The next Convention was held at Montreal, in
June, 1885, at which time sixty-seven associations
were E6pOFtcu a. AmeTlUsS OI lOE~
ty-thres we're connected with the confederation. At
the fourth Convention, held in Richmond, Va, in
May, 1857, Gig hty-three associations reported
by the Central Committee. It was there arcsrtain-
ed that in the various sections, different interests
we're sought to be presented; thus, in some quar-
ters reports showed greater efficiency in the
tablishing Of Bible classes, whilst in others mission
Sabbath schools, courses of lectures, and sermons
were receiving more attention. OF the few that
had commenced the formation of libraries, the one
at Boston, which already contained about two thOu>
sand Volumes was most successful. Nearly all the
associations have rooms for reading and conVsrsa-
| ton.
In April 1865, the fifth G; invention was held at
Charleston, S. C., which was much more numerous
ly attended than any Of the preceding ones, there
tsVing been over . hundred delegates present, rep
ressnting all parts of the Union and the Csnadss.
As already stated, the number Of associations in
| the United States is over one hundred and fifty,
having an aggregate membership Of scout 10000.
Current Topics.
LAY DIFFERENTIATION THE METHODIST CHUBoH.
| The English Methodsts are said to be pleased
that the Lay Representation is being agitated in
| America. A letter in the London FateAmaR says Of
the American Church: "Hitherto they have had
nothing equivalent to the British system Of mixed