New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-09
YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

| lAouSaHuS Oh hearts, ana recall 10 reason
and peace hundreds of perverse people.
YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
Every Saturday evening on Camp
street, between Poydras and Natchez,
the passer-by may hear swelling on the
air the sound of some fifty or more mas
culine voices, engaged in singing sacred
music. They are accompanied by par
lor organ of commensurate power, and
the effect is very pleasing. This music
| comes from the rooms of the Young
Mems Christian Association of New Or
| leans.
This society, which was organized in
March last appears to be the lineal sue
cessor of an older association, having SIM
liar objects, which existed before the war,
and, like many other things, was extin-
guished for the time being by that dis
pensation. The old association, which
was organized in 1852, and ceased in
1861, although carried on with the best
intentions, never exerted the influence or
was attended with the success which was
SO desirable for the meritorious objects
which it had in view. The reason is
probably that its conductors had rather
slow consciousness of the social necessi-
ties of the class which they intended
to benefit, and did not seem to appre-
ciate the doctrine that there is no neces-
sary connection between recreation and
immortality. .-
The managers of the Young Mems
Christian Association, as it at present e X
lists, while they inherited the library and
some other means and appliances Of their
predecessors, appear to have left most of
their ideas far behind, standing in the
same relation to them as one generation
does to its predecessor, knowing all they
did, with a great deal more Hence it
happens, no doubt, that the present So
ciety has done as much during the short
time it has existed as the old society did
during its long life of nine years.
There are three hundred and fifteen ac-
tive members, each of whom pays an en-
trance fee of two dollars, and an annual
fee of the same amount. The expenses Of
the society are made up by the contribu-
tons of the benevolent, payments for life
membership, etc. There are two large
rooms on the first floor Of No. 81 Camp
street, containing library Of at least one
thousand volumes of standard and light
literature, one hundred daily and other
papers from different parts of the country,
including the city dailies; to these addi-
tons are constantly made. A number of
the periodicals are contributed gratuit-
ously. There are, of course, ample seats
provided for visitors.
Above the two apartments used for
literary purposes, is large hail used for
religious and other purposes. This apart
ment contains a fine organ, which was
placed by Mr.. Werlein, the music seller
of Baronne street.
The reading rooms are open from eight
o'clock in the morning until 10 P. VI.
In making the rooms of the association
attractive to young men and strangers,
for whose benefit they are designed, the
managers have greatly improved upon the
old association. Light literature is not
discarded, nor are such amusements or
recreations as are not necessarily i'm
moral 1t is understood that the checker
board, in quiet moral institution like
the one in question, is a very different
thing from the same article in a bar-room,
where every game is accompanied with
drinks"
The purposes Of the society go. too,
far beyond affording moral recreation to
strangers or other young men. Among
other committees for the management of
affairs, there is one for the purpose of
procuring employment for persons unac-
quainted with the city, and in any other
way rendering assistance to those who
need it.
The members of the society comprise
persons belonging to every religious de-
nomination; and of visitors nothing is
required but propriety of department.