The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-03
Y0UyG HENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Dedication Of the New Building-Speechcs by
Vice President Colfax, Governor Hoffman
and Others.
The dedication OF the new and splendid building
OF the above association on the corner OF twenty
third street and Fourth avenue, took place last even
ing. The building has already been fully described
in the columns OF the HERALD. The meeting was
! held III the large hall OF the building, iWhich
| was crowded to excess by respectable
| and influential auditory. Mr.. W. b. Dodge,
| Jr, President OF the association, occupied
| the chair. After the reading OF portion
| of the Holy Scriptures by Dr. De Witt PRAYER was
offered up by the Rev. DR.. Tying. The President then
stated the objects OF the meeting and reviewed the
operations Of the association. He concluded by call
ing upon the hon. Schuyler ColIax to address the
meeting.
Mr.. CoLFAx was enthusiastically received, and,
when the applause had subsidized, he addressed the
meeting as follows:-
Mr.. PRESIDENT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-I come to
you tonight from the capital though pressed by the
burden OF many cares and duties at the invitation
OF your Officers, and which invitation found myself
unable TO resist. But shall resist the temptation to
speak TO you at length tonight, foryou have so many
representatives here from various spheres OF society,"
but ] shall cOnhne myself 10 few hur-
nedly constructed sentences The name OF your
association emDodies and 1t betokens Chris-
tan unity and Christian unity means Christian
power and Christian strength. But better, SIR than
all else, 1t means Christian concord and Christian
fraternity IL means resistance to all powers OF
temp and evil SO thoroughly organized around
us. The inducements held out by the association
are beneficial in themselves. ] rejoice when hear
OF Christian union-when | hear OF Christian union
like the recent reconciliation or the two Presbyterian
acknowledgement applause-the line OF antagonism
which long divided them being removed and
the reunitlng stream lowing on and on but with a
more powerful and majestic current than before the
separation. Divisions IN the Christian world are
necessarily EVIL IN thems elves but sometimes there
might be power IN this apparent diversity. Out OF
this difficulty comes compact unity, and IN this light
do regard the various religious denominations of
this world, WHO are all willing 10 obey the inJunc
tons OF the captain OF our salvation. What uncon-
querabe power hidden in all these organizations
one OF the most wonderful things this day has been
this organzation-t has seemed to leap onward with
a sudden impetus. IL IS not one-sided in It's sphere
and usefulness; unlimited power and usefulness Is
us motto. II will help the poor IN their poverty the
weak in their weakness, the miserable IN their
misery. The principles or the association are the
principles OF truth. One Of the many incidents
which endear the memory OF the association In the
hearts OF the people Of the United States was Its con-
duct during The war under Its h0nored president,
George H. Stuart. tAppIausel Having briefly al.
luded TO the OBJECTS OF the association he resumed
his seat amid loud applause.
Governor HOFFMAN was then called on. He wa
also most hayteringy received aud spoke as fols
lows
LADIES AND GENrLEMEN-I don't come to you to-
night with any formal speech. left Albany to-day
at three tor tue express purpose OF being with you
and return at eleven Tonight Personally my pre-
senee here Is nothing. ! am here Governor OF
your State TO tender you officially my congratulations
upon the completion OF this building to DE devoted
TO the good work you have naugurated. tApplause.)
do not mean 10 say that it has not personally nv
support and counlenance from all people ] say it
mas my personal wishes and sympathy. have not
| forgotten what New York was twenty years ago,
when came, like many other young men, 10 try my
/ fortune here. l thought too, OF the young men
| ing houses near the Park, and now to
/ night nearly all Of you assembled here live from
! rwenty-tnlrd street up. and whers churches and
chapes and cathedrals now stand the ploughman
| ploughed and the cattle grazed. The city has
grown IN vice and virtue and Wlckedness and great
ness; 10 has grown In weakness, but IL has grown
IN power, aud II VIII grow and improve as great
city ought TO. There are young men here, l know,
VINO know what 1t Is to come from tie country into
a great city to seek their fortune, who have 10
soyourn in their small and cherries lodging room
III gloomy boarding house with no kind words to
cheer or kindly action 10 extort admiration. The
Keeling cannot be described, but 1t can be felt; but
II they seek this place they VIII obtain that which
will enable them 10 overcome this heartsckness.
desire 10 say one word TO this association, and
think It VIII not be out OF place, and that is that
IL ought TO be based upon the good fundamental idea
OF CHRISTIAN religion aud Christian deeds, and these
not by compulsion but by loveto receive young men
OF all nations and nationalitss IN love and charity
who seek our shores. III any association can accom-
psh this II will be q blessing indeed. You cannot
10y law make mans moral standard; you cannot by
legislative enactment make every mans conscience
square with mans. A few years ago a statute was
passed making It penal TO play nnepins; out II was
soon abolished, ana yet see you nave bowling
When Legislature attempted to deal with this ques
| ton as with others there was still way to go on
| declared that legislative enactment was wrong
| This monument will stand as model OF good
NOTks-yOunB men trying 10 DC good themselves
and trying TO make others like them. May 1t stand
as q lasting memorial OF the age, and my friends, II
you need anything 10 benefit your association WIN
see that IL passes all opposition and If there is
nothing Objectionable IN IL viii promise not 10 veto
it, daughter ana applause.)
Addresses were afterwards delivered by DR..
Adams, Rev. J. h. Hendricks Rev. j. Ridgeway,
General Howard. Or. Thompson, e.. II. Stuart and
Others The chairman having announced the receipt
OF colRTauatOry addresses from kindred associa-
TONS at Montreal, Baltimore. Philadelphia and
Brooklyn, the vast audience dispersed alter the
singing OF The doxology.