Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-07-05
LOCAL AFFAIRS.


about twelve miles from this city, with highly
interesting exercises. Quite a number OF tho
congregation aceonpanied them on an EXCURSION
train, and the day was passed very pleasantly in
Pic Mic fashion The retiring President, Mr.
Thumas g. Gayley. read Au excellent report
which we publish below. Mr.. L lward 7. Tay-
lor reci'ed Poem and the Pastor, Rev Mr.
Wiswell, delivered patriotic address. Pariieu-
lar mention was male Of several young men,
members Of the Association, who nre absent in
the Army and Navy md the exercises closed
With singing The star spangled Bauner.r and
three rouslg cheers Tor the absent members
The officers elect for the ensuing year, are as
follows:- -rresiacni Carries Baird; Vice Prssi.
dent, A. Il. woolstoni Secretary, George C.
Barrett; Treasurer 7, 4. L Smith. Board of
Directors, George W Bush, john Tay lor, Thos
O. Gayley, A. o'Meura. John F. Spies.
From the Report we infer that the Association
is in furnishing condition, and the membership
we learn, has increased to about seventy
REPORT.
Gentlemen Of The Young Mems Christian Assoeil
noa Of NE Central Pres5yteriaH Chur H.:
In its revelation, the spoke Of the wheel Of
time is once more uppermost, directing attention
to our Association, aud We would be doing vic e
leuoe not to custom alone but to cur sense Of
propriety we're We to permit the occasion to pass
unnotced and uhhonorel. Standing, as we d.,
upon n division line, II becomes us to consider
well our position, aud upon the return of this
festive occasion let US for little turn 10 hitler
from the narts Of trade, tho study aud work
shop, and by pondcrng the past be strengthened
for the future.
To every man God gives that which lifts him
into life and worse than madness is IL for him To
shape his course regardless Of Gods purposes.
Practically, it will not answer 10 ignore entirely
fha .xsf.f 4 . Los
True, free agency, argues that life is what We
mako it, yet above this and beyond all this there
is something which exeris a motive power over
every part OF creation. To every man Is giscn
that virtue, temper, understanding, taste, which
qualities him TO fill that niche in Code universe,
which hest serves the interest Of the race. Tie
attempt to fill any other will prove life failure,
and cause the cheek of manhood 10 bush fyr
very shame.
Education, training and surroundings have
much to do with mans apparent destiny. Ry
these he is Ton often willing 10 be guided, aud
Mt length he finds he has made an lrreineiiabe
mistake. II these principles be correct aud
mean anything, il becomes Us as immoras to
ponder, sift, and decide with eternity in view -
Anything which will assist in deciding our lu-
ture and enabling rs to pursue that course most
conducive TO the general welfare, should be re-
ceved With pladness. Under certain circum-
! stances, We believe tha, the individual should
merge into the Association aud thus accomplish
much which would otherwise remain undone-
After the beneficial results Of such organization
IL might be deemed unnecessary to speak of the
good accomplished by them. 1t might be sui .
cirnt io remark that "by their fruits ye shall
know them" Without such nn Association ~
that whose anniversary we tonight celebrate,
much power would be totally lost to the Church
aud consequently to the world. By means OF
this the Church is brought more nearly up ia
the position she Is called upon to occupy Thus
energies are collected which otherwise would be
allowed to lie dormant or expended Ut odds and
ends and little advantage The river bearing
upon its bosom the nayes Of nation. is but the
gathering into one stream the small rils, riyu-
lets ani tributaries from the inland. Hence, the
highway Of comnfree. Collected, this power
would still he useless were there not also con-
trolling agency, and this we find incorporated
into the very being Of Society. A directing
power is best obtained by associating the various
parts into whole. an as a uni, causing all To
work together in harmony. Truly IN this re q
spect, 'there is safety in multitude Of counsel
lors In fine, considering the Association as
Tue collector. concentration, generator, motor mud
controller Of power, we cannot but set it down rs
'sai geReris," whose place nothing else eau sup.
ply.
In presenting the sixth annual report of the
doings and progress Of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association Of this Church, we would offer
nothing but plain statement of facts, hoping
thereby to discharge duty devolving unon me
~ your retiring officer. During tho excitement
in which the country hAs been for the past yrnr
II woull he strange indeed did not our Society,
to some extent, suffer with our country, and vel
We have act not alone GU the defensive against
the hosts Of sin and Satan, foes to both Church
and State, but on the aggressive. On the 2Sth
of MOy. 1868, our Pastor. Rev. Mr. Wiswell
delivered an address, interesting, instructive
and profitable, upon the "CatneOmbs Of Rome II
ut McDowelvile; the proceeds of which were
devoted to the library Of the Sabbath School at
that place. June 10th, 1868. congregational
pic MIC visited grove upon the Delaware Rail.
road, and spent the LAY very pleasantly The
principal object Of which being the promotion OF
sociahility among the members Of the Church
We believe was fully realized and so well appre
dated, that we hope il will have its regular an.
niversaIies. The association felt under ohliga.
tion to the manager of the train. Mr.. S D. Dun
eau, for his efforts aud suecesa in contributing
much to the safety comfort and pleasure # the
company September 8th, 1863, weekly
prayer meeting began at McDoweville and con
tuued OH every Tuesday evening for about four
months, when in the Judgment Of the COMMITTEES
on prayer meetings, II was di,contiuued for a
season. Ahou' the first of tile present year. n
prayer meeting was commenced in the Sabb,tb
School room of the Church, for the benefit of tina
mule members thereof. This has been continued
tn the present time, but has been raiherly poorly
attended, and yet has proved profitable to those
who were present. These meetings are held on
Saturday evenings. The three mission schools.
sustained by the Association at MeDowelyille'
Brandywiue. and the Monroe Street Chapel arc
still carried on with good degree Of success
From them have been several additions to the
Church. We have lately visited them and woull
pronounce them in q very healthy condition.
One feature in regard to the MeDowelyille
school was 80 striking that it deserves particular
mention. During the year tue attendance has
been almost uniform. 1t has not varied more
than ten during the whole time, mud this regular
attendance has happy sfect upon the conduct
OF the school. The prayer meetings at the Aims
House are still continued with increased interest
new feature has been lately introduced under
the superintendance of Messrs. Barry and Wiz
gins. This is singing class for the children.
and many are ayaing themselves of the onnor'
tuniiy nnd are learning to sing the sweet Songs
Of Zion. Tracts have been distributor tbro,,sh
the city, but with what auccesgathe day of iujg
ment alone eau reveal.
During the year the Association has been ra.
heYed Of an incubus, through the Kindness anJ
generosity Of the ladies Of the Church. TbO
remaining debt on the Chapel has been cancelled.
aud now that fine property stands an ornanicnt
to the western part OF our city living monu-
meut to fair hands aud wal IN hearts. entirely
FREQ from all claims. To the ladies' va vouId
inscribe, "Fo,fiter in re- Suaviter i, p,odo. To
them We owe q lasting debt OF gratitude. Am,nS
those most Interested in this onlerprize. most
lavish Of time, trouble and expense, foremost in
every good word aud work, was one who IL mai
for God took her." This is the FIRST instance of
a teacher in oil our schools, removed by death
We sorrow not as those who have no hone Az
an Association we should feel thankful to the
dsposer Of events for the preserving care exer.
eised over US There are some OF US, not with