The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-12-27

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TIE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
It Is youehsafed, We behave, that all VIZ
dom should notbs oouaned TO any one man,
or set of men. And, indeed, We do not SUP |
pose the Young Mems Christian Association
will cIaIm any more IN this respect than Is |
implied In what we have said In the fore
going sentence. But 1t has occurred 70 us
good many times, as We have observed the
Of this association In its efforts 10
reform society and shed q Christian influence
upon the young men Of this age, that Ne
philosophy Of action and mode OF operations
were far from being the best adapted TO the
grand end Il has In view. And whom we say
this, we mean In distinction from the regu-
lar and legitimate work Of the Christian
Church. Not, but what the nsodus ops-
randi is right enough, in itself considered;
but we do not think there Is q broad enough
distinction here to make IL pay for the ADDED
expense which ID implies, by thus creating
still another analogous institution without
varying Its modes Of action essentially ftom
that established BY the churches themselves.
What we mean Is, that with the exception OF
the establishment Of reading room by the as
ISOLATION, we notice very much the same pro-
ceedlngs and round OF prayer, conference,
and revival meetings, which Is peculiar to
the Church. And In so far as this, We do not
see the necessity Of thus going outside Of the
Church to do the same things which are done
In II, and which legltlmately belong tot.
We do not sec any sufficient reason for
this, and We cannot appreciate tho demand
for 1t; because 1t only divides effort 10 the
use Of the same means and dissipates atteu.
ton from the common centre, where all such
effort ought to oncentrate-whlle II Is
simply making the association missionary
agency and nothing else, which Is nothing
more than what the Church itself Is con.
stantly using In Its revival work and in III
missionary and tract societies, which hav,
so long put forth Just such efforts to reform
and save the world. -.
Now what we want TO suggest Is this
There Is q philosophy and propriety In the
principle and action Of Christian assocla.
tions, as we understand 1t, but It does not
run in Just the same groove that VIC have
been considering. 1t seems to US that suct
an Institution should be founded outside o.
the Church proper; but under the direction
If you please, Of Church Christians, with {
view of gathering the young men unde
Christian influences by furnishing them will
the means Of intellectual development ant
innocent amusement, SO Interpreted AM
blended with moral and religious forces o
to mould and vitalize the habit and charac
ter Into these elements-inyoluntarlly as
were through the social and sympathetl
attractions which permeate the place an
gravitate Its surroundings.
1t should do this, not by creating the lde
among outsiders that, by coming In here
they are coming into q church because
you do this. you gain nothing more than 20
do when you invite them into the church II
self; and Of course you will find the sam
disincllnatiou TO overcome, the same preju
dices and difficulties to meet, and you ma
therefore expect no better success. But 20
should establish the idea that 1t Is o soci,
Institution, where the passion for enjoyner
and amusement, which has such swa
among young people, may be gratlned In
more reasonable and sensible manner tina
anywhere else. There arc ways enough
do this without detractlng from the mora
and and rIellglogs. 9taplRss .whIch. L.. sasigpSd
this kind. Hence, the way should be cas-
and the door should be open to Invite In tn
class referred to, without exciting in the
minds that rcpulsc which so often arises |
their imagination at the door OF the chure,
By doing so you Offer them strong Undue
ment, without any apparent formal como
lions. You take them In without seeming
detract from their own self-conceit and tn
self-complaceny which surrounds most u,
in all conditions OF life. This satisfies the
craving for indulgence, while, az the sau
time, you have spirited them away fro
baser employments and those more DANCE
Gus and seductive pleasures which lead dow
to the chambers OF destruction. You ha
engaged their attention and lifted them up
higher plane Of lawful pleasure and sent
BILE enjoyment, which places them und
moral restraint aud Christian influence
You have thereby lifted the dark pail Wink
they have imagined lay between them al
the Church, and, ere they are aware, tn,
find themselves endowed with new tastes oil
new dispositions, and fairly within the ram
of those more positive and distinctive age
cies which the Church demands, In It's nc
especial work, as to the absolute saving
the soul.
Therefore we say let the Church do lts ov
work, In It's own way. And let the Chr
tlan Association organized outside Of Il
Church, but lnslde Of the Christian brothr
hood, adapt Itself to this state Of thing
Let ito aims and methods be so far secular
to embody the Ideas We huvs set forth,
ciuded In mental Improvement, social dcv,
opment and Innocent Amusement, witho
including those other methods peculiar TO I
Church, which must be avoided II II wor
have any wider range or more attract
method through which 1t may enlarge
vision over ths wide waste OF Immoral
that covers the world. Do this, and you "
have distinctive agency, whose power a
influence will be felt through all the raml
cations Of society. Instead Of calling In
your beautiful rooms, during an ovcnin
some twenty-five or perhaps one hundr
individuals, almost all Of whom are {
ready members aud attendants Of Christie
churches, you will Hnd them crowded
those other classes, from without, who
moral interests you would care for, b,
which you will never secure until you ado
some other means to bring them with
your reach than thosc against which /
drlft of this article Is almed--of course,
we mean 50 far as this subject Ia concernt
and no further.
The INPEAcnHEsT TRrlt.-G Gen. BUD
was interviewed In New York on Friday
reportsr Of the New York SIN, and Is I
ported TO have said that the story receut
publisled about hlI connection with n