New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-29
oUR PROTESTANT ClTHEDRAL


The enterprise and foresight of certain OF
our merchants, mainly young men, have gwen
| New-York what, in some respects, is It's nOblest
benefcent institution. On Thursday, the new
| Hall of the Young Mems Christian Association
at the corner of Fourth-Aye and Twenty-third-
St., will be formally opened and dedicated. AS
we look at the massive, graceful, and stately
building, with all tie richness and prOfusi0n
of Renaissance, and come to know the beauty
and amplitude of its internal economy, we feel
that The term "hall 4" has ameager and imperfect
meaning. This house is the work of Christian
men, animated by the true Christian spirit 1t
is n religious house, and deserves the broad
embracing title of the Protestant Cathedral of
New York.
What especially pleases us in this Young
Mems Christian Association is the catholic pur
pose of its founders. 1t is a good idea in full
fruition. In the beginning, these institutions
were merely devotional gatherings, where mem
bers of Christian Churches met for prayer and
social converse, and to throw around the
stranger the inspiring influence of religious
counsel and example. A good work, but even
when best performed, narrow and limited!
The best young men do not choose always to
pray, to spend their leisure hours in devotional
thought. These societies were little more than
secular Sunday schools, and apt to repel thou
sands of those they sought to attract. We can
not care for the soul without ministering to
the body and the mind. "This breathing
"house not made with hands" demands
many cares and many duties that the
hottest man must respect unless it is
true holiness to follow the example of St.
Simeon Stylites, and spend our lives on some
tall pillar, sign between the meadow and
the cloud our thrice ten years thrice multi
piled by superhuman pangs by hunger, and
thirst, and fever, and cold. The best young
men must read and think, and add grace and
strength and comeliness to their bodies by in
nocent diversions. Is it not written by the
wisest Of men that for everything there is
season, and a time for everything under the
sun-a time to laugh and a time to dance-that
it is for man to enjoy the fruit of his labor, to
rejoice and do good all his life-that the Maker
has made everything beautiful in its time, and
giveth to His children wisdom and knowledge
and joyR
This majestic ediice is the contribution of
certain noble and good men to the cause of
Protestant Christianity. The spirit of evil, we
are told, wanders over the earth, seeking whom
it may devOur. In this good City, the young
man finds ten thousand primrose paths to
dalliance and sin. How many hopes and
prayers ripened into promising manhood are
whirled by dark influences into that sad des-
tiny where hope and prayer are of no avail!
Not many weeks since, says French journal,
father stood over the new-made grave which
was to receive the body of his son. Around
him were a few mourning friends. "This is
"my son." he said. {" lie was a debauchee and
"drunkard, and all his promise and all my
"hOpes are to be thrown into the sepulcher.
His life merited his fate; it is not for us to
"weep. Friends, let us go and leave him." The
temptations of Paris are the temptations of
New York. All that is beautiful in Art or
Nature, or Science, all that is pleasing
to the senses, to the taste, and to
the young imagination, are debased to
the service Of sin and crime. How many thou
sands, worthy to do the noblest works and
reign with Tina loltiest, are yearly cast iut0