The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-07-26
Convention of TIN Young Mems Christian
Association.

States aud Canada. met in Toronto, Canada, on
Wednesday, j ally l2.h. About five hundred dele
gates were in attendance. The afternoon meeting
was held in ShaftesbuB Hall. and meeting for
welcome 10 the Metropolitan Church at night
The convention represents seven hundred and four
associations with Neutrality-suspicious. thousand mem
bers. Ga q subsequent day they listened to an
address from the venerable George Miller, of Ion
dor, and accepted an irritation to visit Hon. John
Macdonald at his residence. 1t voted latter an an
mated debate, it is pr,sumabe that it is inexpe-
dent to admit women hto their associations, The
next annual Convention will meet at st. Louis Mo.
The Toronto Globe gives full account of the
closing session
Major Hardie, Selma, Ala, spoke on the sub.
ject OF Association wok among the colored people
in the South, which he deemed to be one of the
most important whcl could engage the attention
of the Convention J was work of great ma gni.
tude which lies at ou doors, and the Associations
were called upon to cme up and help the Lord
1t was work wbichthe young men of america
must do. Hitherto here had been many him
ORANGES and obstacle in the way of work among
the colored young men, but they had been re
moved, al d the field vas now open and the Asso.
Citations we're invited b enter in and occupy it. As
president of the Richnond Convention, he laid the
subject before the Convention, and called on the
young men of Americato take up the work. Dur
ing the past twelve moths comparatively little had
been done in that direction. This was due not to
lack of desire on theDart of the Executive Com
mittee to undertake tie work, for they were aDx.
ious to do so, but the. had not the means to do
so. There was no trolbe in regard to workers
the Executive Committee were offered the services
of suitable man, NGthern man who had lived
for ten years in the Soth, and who within three
months could organize associations in the principal
cities as nucleus for association work. The pitt
ful sum of FIVE hundre, dollars necessary to secure
his services could not, However, be raised 1t the
convention felt. an interest in Southern work he
trusted the necessary money would be granted to
enable the Executive Committee to undertake it.
Although it might be bit by some an extraordinary
circumstance that Southern men should be inter-
ested in work among colOred people, he assured
such weighed heavily "a their hearts, and God was
calling on them to hke hold of the work and go
forward With it. III cklored people had souls to
be saved, and there we fewer obstacles in working
among colored people tan any other class, though
they, were Ignorant ano prejudiced. The Young
Mems Christian Associatiun was admirably adapted
to meet their necessities, The colored people were
Intensely blgoted. and tnose.who belonged to the
Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian borders
raised lofty walls around eacl other, and would
have nothing to do with each >ther. The work
Quoted. Associations should be fomed at impor.
tant centres as rallying points for uture opera.
tons. The Congregational Church Vas doing q
good work in the South, was ready tooo.operate
with the Young Mems Christian Assocaion, The
devil was at work among the colored peo,le and
was killing them with whiskey. Young Mems
Christian Associations were, however, in existence
at several centres in the Southern States, but Iey
need assistance. Y
Rev. DR.. Robinson, Louisville, Kentucky, move
That the convention make special effort durin
the coming year among the c0lored people of tn
South. The motion was carried, and subscrip
tions were Immediately offered to carry on the work
and within a few minutes 5000 we're raised.
At the farewell meeting an address was read BY
Rev. Dr. G. FL. Read. of Richmond, on behalf O
the delegates from the Southern States. We max
the following extracts from this address:
We have felt quite at home on the floor of thi
Convention. If as general rule, we of the Soutl
have taken no very prominent part in the discus
sion of the various topics introduced we have fel
deep interest in everything relating to the ad
vancement of the common cause, and when uuietl,
listening to others we have often heard our owl
sentiments better expressed than we might have
expressed them ourselves. In prayer, praise ant
exhortation, led by the representatives of whatever
nationality or sect0n, we nave felt the glow o.
Christian fellowship we have seen the blessed
image of our dear Lord and Master in those whose
names and homes and UNCONVENTIONAL connections
were unknown to us; our counsels and commun
ings have been copfding and sweet; and in view
OF separation we have the precious hope, as it is
our prayer that henceforth in our diyerging paths
every step of every member may be 10 paths Of
Christianity aud on the way 10 cur Fathers house
in heaven.
1t has been special pleasure to US to have met
here the representatives of the various Young
Mems Christian Associations of the Province OF
Canada. As temperature and climatic influence
have been assimiated during our stay here so thet
We have experienced no rigors, but haze felt as we
might have been all the while in the "sunpy
South so have the ha6d grasps, the faces, and
the speeches of our Canadian brethren and OF those
from across the sea- been joy to US which we shall
cherish with loving remembrance. May it ripen
into the Joy and fellowship of eternity.
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