Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-07-31
8asbbiIIs anipn anS 5muitzn.
Daily ss; rri-wsskIy IS; weekly ss.


The Young Mems Christian Association.
We have noticed with much qualification the kind
ly reception given BY the citizens Of Troy, n T.,
to the delegates Of this association which recently
assembled there from ell sections Of the Union.
The delegates carry with them and represent
large body Of the moral sud inAdential portion Of
the communities to which they belong, or where
they reside; and the meeting together Of some sVs
or six hundred young men Of iutelligeses and cul-
tivation cannot fail, says the Washington cOss6tu
ton, to be of advantage to them individually, and
the cause which brings them together but it has the
further effect Of strengthening the bonds Of our
glorious Union, by the establishment Of those social
aud personal relations which tend SO much to re-
move local preudices and break down sectional ami
mosities.
We are rejoice1, therefore, to see these pleasant
and beneficial gatherings of the young msn Of the
Union, ami hope that zach recurring meeting may
be attended by largely increased number Of dele
gates.
To every true lover Of his country it costs
thought of pain and sorrow to witness the fanad
cal efforts Of the northern sbOtionis.s, The
side and the extremists Of the South, on the other,
/ ually SHucafOEAuS 70 SOP eAO - 80
liberties and institutions by spreading abroad the
base doctrines of disuuiOn To the young men Of
the country, and especially to those OF moral and
religious culture, there attaches peculiar respon
sibility with reference 10 their duties freemen
and citizens Of this great Republic. 1t is for them
to set an example, and to teach those of their fell
lows who may not be blessed With the opportuni-
ties of information open to others more fortunately
situated that there should be holy brotherhood
among the yOuog men Of the land; that they are
all of the same national family, children Of the
] same glorious Union, and joint inherisOrs Of the
incalculable benefits conferred upon US By the la
bors and sufferngs Of the sages and heroes Of the
| War of Independence. Let it be the task Of the
young men Of this generation to cultivate acqusn-
tapce and create friendship prescribed only BY the
bonds Of the Union, and the arts of the demsgOgae
and political. incendiary win be alike harmless to
| affect minds so occupied.
Auy and every young man who becomes member
OF one of these Christian Associations is taking
step in the right direction to obtain for himself
sound and useful information and habits snd inclin-
stions calculated to give him respectable social
position, AMI make him 8 useful member OF any
community in which it may be his lot to be cast.
There are hundreds of promising young men 10 all
our large cities who become lost to usefulness Tor
themselves or others for want OF associations with
those who wisely prefer the lessons taughsby mOrsi
ty and religion instead Of following the auremens
of vice and dissipation-ihs vortex in which SO
many are constantly and hOpelessly swallowed up.
We cordially commend the Young Mems Christian
Associations throughout the whole country to the
support of all who take an interest in the proper
training and moral culture of the youth who sre
now coming forward many Of them prominently
on the ftful and busy stage Of life.
is gratifying TO observe that in the proceedings
of the late convention at Troy there was an avoid
apee of the spirit Of sectsrianism, and also Of inter
ference with the temporal authorities 1t too Of
tan kanpens that in carrying out so-ealied morai
resorms assemblages of this character are apt TO
step beyord their proper limits, end assume to
themselves the duties which more properly belong
TO political conventions, By the passage OF resou-
tions calling for the enactment Of laws to extend
and promote their particular views. The history
of the great temperauce-reiorm movement IN this
country is case in point where one OF the most
beneficial and praisewOrthy objsc's ever under
taken and which had the encouragement aad cOunie-
nance Of every good man and Womsn in the nation,
was seriously injured in many parts Of the county
by the over-zeal of Of its advocates Net con-
tent to make proselytss to the cause BY moral sua-
sion and the force Of personal example, the too ar
dent friends of temperance must needs not only
hscone tetI abstinence men themselves, but con-
eeiyed it their duty to compel everybody else 'C
he so likewise under the force of legislative enact
, ments.
This mode of proceeding naturally aroused oppo'
giiou, and in same localities the cause Of temper
anoe. instead of being benefited, was sensloly re
tarded by these ill-judged aud unWise laws.
The eexperienee Of the past is the best monitor 10
bs enhance Of the future in the affairs Of societies
d as we'll as Of Individuals; and it is truism not
he denied or rainsaid thA. so soon as any assOeia
,;on established for moral or religious reform allow
itself to be diverted by ambition, or any other me
live froD its legitimate sphere OF duties TO interlel
ence in politics ard the control Of legislation Jus
an soon NAV the decline Of its influence for good
= Aatcd Taking warn ng, then, from the past, 1t ms
ba safely predicted that the Young Mems Chrlsiia
Associations throughout the Union will steadily &c
here to their own work of love and usefulness an
bv their individual conduct and example adVsnC
the GOOD cause of morals and religion, anu ma
each and all of them abide by the monltlon, IL
vour lieht so shine before men that they may 81
YOUR good works, and glOrify your Father "hleh
in Hesven."
The case of the Rev. DR.. Pretty HAN
in Bulgaria.
fsw vask auo. we published Gn account Of g
assault by a Turkish soldier upon the Rev.
PRETryMAN, NJ. D., missionary of the MeIhodl
pLaur