Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-12-17
Local.
THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEYMEN.

Local.
THE CHRISTIAN J0URNEYMEN.
STATE CONVENTION OF YOUNG MEN
CHRISTIAN AssoCIATIoNs-wHo CON
POSED SUBJECTS OF DISCUSSION
-CLEnGY AND LAIrY-THE N Ew BIBLI
READERs-A SINGER OF ISRAEL,
&C., &C., &C.
The State Convention of Young Men,
Christian Associations, that association Of
of Christian journevmen in the work Of
beneftting society and bringing souls into
the church, held its second annual session
in Staunton last week, commencing Thurs
d. day morning. the President OF the Staun
ton Association welcomed its members a.
representing the intelligence and VIRTUE
of tho communities from which they Came.
and the whole tenor of their speech aud
conduct during the session affirmed the
welcome. The discussions were conduct
ed with Christian courtesy, and or at dis.
cretion in handling very delicate subjects,
and marked vein Of strong cominen sense
ran through all the deliberations. The
business Drg4niz .tinn and reports we gave
last week, ii 1t only remaius for us now
to give spectators view of the two days
work done. the most important step
taken by the body WAS the rejection, Or
rather piistp ,nement, of Il proposition To
employ State Secretary, and the substI-
tuition for it of a proposition to the Asso-
catims to do the same sort Of work by
continuation among themselves; that is, to
false a fund commencing with, say SlOO to
pay the expenses If some members Ut the
Executive Committee, who shall operate
at various points to increase the member
ship Of the Association.
Among the more prominent speakers and
workers present. were tnree gentlemen from
abroad, who had come Oh with President
Munfurd from Baltimore, who might be
called, for want of a better name, the
COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS
o. Christianity. One Of them was Rev.
Geo. A. Hal, Of Washington. gentleman
who has just been elected by a meeting Of
the working members Of al the Assocla-
tiols Of America, to accompany Moody,
the Evangelist, AS his Bible reader. He IS
about 40 years Of age; OF small figure;
dressed in dark business suit much at.
ter the style worn by commercial drum
mers. He wore beard, tinged with grey,
which also sprinkled his hair, and his
coaptenance had that quick, ready look
that marks the active business man. Ills
Business manner pervaded al he aid. ex
c.pt some of his pathetic appeals of a
minutes duration, which were inexpress-
IDLY touching. His ser. ICE, which he call
ed Bible reading J" was truly wonderful,
even more 80 then the rapidity with which
he 50. Ike, the last often being at the rate "t
800 words per minute-enuugh to appai
even photographer. This Bible reading
consisted Of sriecti,. 6 d subject, taking Il
quotation If Scripture applicable to one
view of it; m king it clear rs light by ali
h0lnely illustrations; then twenty wor $
urging its Importance, and about ten OF
appeal for its reception Icy his hearers; then
q verse of hymn bearing On the subject,
sung by DR.. Curry, Of Baltimore: then
another verse bearing upon another side OF
the subject and touched in precisely the
same way. The effect was RENAL kable,
and often during the reading of MI. Hall
the audience was affected to tears. He
had great play Of ceuntenance, Il VOICE
capable of defining all emotions, and ex-
traordinary tact at getting the measure Of
his audience, with whom lie gets Oh the
most, SO to speak. familiar terIs.
Mr.. Il. c. Morse, Of n. Y, another visi-
tor. is tile Secretary OF the International
Y. M. &. Association, and was introduced
to the Convention by its President. as the
main spring of the work. He is small,
Sic der II an, about thirty FIVE years of age,
witt, clear cut, sharp face, ard enormous
side whiskers. He has an extremely cour-
teous air, and states his facts ad con-
yictiens with Difference not often found
in s.main springs His inform ton on
practical subjects was the result of Y 'ars of
experience and Intelligent observation, AMI
was invaluable. His bible Reading
Was of miIder and different type frm
MI. Halls, and t!l"ugh On pretty much
the sxsae plan, was not SO effective.
The third innovation OH the old establish
cd style, WAS Ir. W. II. Curry, of l'alti-
more, VINO sluz solo hymns, playing his
own accompaniment on the nicholson. He
has \ strong baritone Voice, with almost
the sweetness If u tenor. His singing Of
the Ninety and Nine;;" Scatter Seeds OF
Kindness" and JESUS" was most effect
Hi 80 oh ho o.ar1la
axe with his companions, with denseiy
black beard, and quiet. self-possessed
maAner. The hymns are set to different
airs fastn the usual church tunes that drive
men desperation, and go deai o.
dramatic effect was used in rend ri &
them.
THE sTRANG Frs IN THE CONVENTION.
The Convention was composed chiefly
of the working members Of the dItfere ut
Associations of the State. The Pr sdent,
Col. VIA. Munford, of Richmond, is a son
of the late Geor e Wythe Munford, q name
well known in Virginia. He is a gentle
man about IS years of ag =, of fine presence,
and model presiding officer. He has ueen
the ..main spr Dg" of nearly all the coop.
arative good works in VIrgi ia for over
twenty years. He is an Elder in the First
Presbyterian Church, of Richmond. lie
fills the position of Secretary Of the James
Riy.r Il kanawha Canal 90.
Rev. j. w. Jones, the Secretary, is a
Ba,tist min ister. He is ab tut forty years
of age, Of short, full person, and a face
strangely marked with energy and intel.