The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-19

Having, as the Evangelical denominations 90,
a common faith, and clinging to the same great
doctrines that are the only true and effective
weapons with which to make war agatnSt the
strongholds of sin in the earth, the idea has
fastened itself upon many minds Ihat IneTe IS
every reason for higher and more complete
unity in the various ranks OF Chrlsts army
But whi e good men have been forming and
applying their theories for the accomplishment
OF this most desirable end, the work has been
silently yet steadily advancing In the hundreds
of associations, containing thousands of young
men. scattered over the Protestant Christian
world. Here Method1sts, Bapusts, EFeSoy- Sog
terians. Reformed Dutch, Bpiscopaans con Oon-
pregationansts and Lutherans have me-, nleu,
prayed together, labored together ana ~ knOT o,S
each other only as the followers OIL hetSd she LHad
10 pornest desires to save Young men from the
errors and vices to which they i,I alS 10 ,
and to extend ip every POsS.Tty PPmSeroeptiplyy
thoi 6eorts have been drawn together
i'm Christian fellowship ana aHeotion. Inc
shackles of narrow prejudiceS and leaiousles
have tslIen from their minds. While true to all
ti h1e claims of their respective denomi.
nations they have been led by the natural cul-
tnre that comes from concerted and earnest
actton with Christians of every name, to take
Good and liberal views of the designs of Christ
and ot the work OF His spiritual Church on the
earth They have been IN positions to see that
those bearing another denomlnatlonal name
CereIv MS they-could labor with as pure
desires and as earnest zeal as they TO
save immortal souls, and could strive with as
much atdor as was ever klndled IN Lnelr hearts,
90 ha nrenared for death and secure the rewards
of heaven Indeed, many OF them have been
beiter fitted by their associated work and ex-
ner,pnce to labor successfully III lneI own lnul-
rridvol churches, Having been trained to re-
-ord the spirit more than outward form of re-
Iigon having been dealing with the vital
truths and great duties that grow out
of Christianity, they are prepared to ren.
dor The most efficient service in carrying out
the hest plans for the extension OF their own
bTsnch OF the Church. And from these asso-
CiatiOns we have reason to look for more eX-
tended and consolidated unity for the future.
God may use them as prominent instrumen.
talty for marshalling HIS hosts Tor the great and
final battle with the powers of evil, that shall
prpcede the dawn of millennial glory and the
i,mversal triumphs of the Christian faith.
Speaking of the work of the young men, he said
the fruits of Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton in this department are so varied and abun-
dant that 1t is impossible to present more than
a martial view of them within the limits of this
discourse. ~. ..
Through their efforts to save young men from
the mower of vice and lead them to Jesus;
through the systematic visitation of many at
theiryhOuses: and through the agencies that they
brought to bear, young men arriving in the
cities we're placed at once under Christian
influences. They have achieved blessed work,
the magnitude OF which cannot be described.
Could the history OF the Association at New
York or the one at Boston, or at Philadel-
phia or Chicago, be fully written, the cOmmu-
nifty would be surprised at the results of the
labors of these Christian young men. For
example, the New York Association has been
in existence for fifteen years, and besides the
result of previous years, during the last two
great work has been accomplished for the
moral, social, and spiritual welfare of the young
men and of others i'll that great city,
According to their report, they sustain
Bible class for young men, ten religious
weekly services, besides i've weekly meetings
among the Germans. They issued five thou
nirpulars n the CLERGY of their
and adjourniug States urging them to
furnish young men coming to the city
with letters of introduction TO them. They
also inserted advertisements in the various re.
lieious papers, calling the attention OF persons
residing out OF town to the objects of the asso-
ciation, aud asking them to send the names of
any young men they desired to have visited and
brought under religious influence. These
measures have resulted in immense good.
Young men have been visited, with the most
cheering results. Multitudes have brought
letters from the country, and been assigned to
good boarding places, and placed In good busi-
ness situations. The Chairman of the Employ
ment Committee (W. +. Lee, Esq.) devotes
part of every day to this good work, and it has
become most important agency tor the mer-
chant as well as the clerk. Christian mer.
chants make application to Mr. Lee for
moral and Christian young men, and he
furnishes them. Thus the interest of the mer
chant is awakened in the association. and the
young men are at once brought under the best
social and religious influences. During the past
year hundreds of young men have thus been
placed in good situations. These men have
come from every part OF the United States and
Om foreign lands, even from Turkey and
Armenia. Altogether this ASSOCIATION expended
this last year 900, yet 1t Is proposed to erect
large and elegant edl6ce at a cost Of $3.50, 900,
Tor the moral and religious benefit of the young
men of the city. The idea is to present attrac-
tions that will counteract the evil influences of
the demoralizng amusemonts and temptations
of the city. A grander plan than this cannot be
executed. Already 100000 have been sub
scribed to the enterprise by the princely mer-
chants oil New York. The membership is 1900.
The last report Of this Association says;-"In no
year OF our history have we accomplished as
much legitimate work as III the year Just closed"
The Boston Association has membership of
1900. From their report we learn that hun
dreds OF young men have found the Saviour at
the prayer meetings held by the association,
and each month adds to the number. Prayer
meetings are also held on board the receiving
ship OHIO, stationed in Boston harbor, every
evening, resulting in frequent conversions
among the sailors. band OF nine young men go
forth every Sunday morning to labor among the
seamen on other vessels in haroor. A class for
literary improvement meets on alternate weeks,
tor defamation, reading, essays, and debate.
The social element is largely introduced into
the association, with most excellent effect. The
rooms are Spacious and elegant, and are visited
DAILY by about eight hundred persons, who
come to read the papers ana perlod,cals, and to
take books from the library. The library mum
bers 1856 well-selected volumes, sucn as are
calculated TO exert the most beneficial mau
ence upon the mind and heart of the reader.
Twenty associations reported last year libra
ries containing an aggregate OF 3z'lVo Volunes !
What an instrumentality we have lor gooo
this mass of sound Christian literature An
what a contrast does it present TO llorarle
made up of fictitious works, silly novels, an
the demoralizing narratives OF iasnlohaoie pr
The ph;ladelnbla Association, four weeks ag,