Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-11-24
Keeping Their Birth Day.

Young Mems Christian A. ssociation. The
Staunton Musical AS ISOLATION led by DR..
Brown. had been drawn on for some of its
best talent, and the choir Of the occasion
including Mesdames A. H. Fultz and /.
Berkeley and Misses Annie Smith, Fannie
Tams. Annie Goode, Ollie Hotchkiss and
Rosa Tams and Messrs. Abby, Cooke,
White and Haines, furnished some ad-
mirabe music, consisting of the hymns
usually sung at the Sunday afternoons of
the Christian Association.
DR.. Robt. s. Hamilton, the President of
the Christian Association, after prayer by
Rev W. @. Hullihen, made short ad-
dress. He said the Association had its
own work which was separate and distinct
from the church, each had it's own part to
do and he was not one of those who claimed
ha the laity could or should tresspass On
the grounds of the church. There was no
UNCONVENTIONAL differences in the Associae
ton, where all met On the broad platform
of Christian Love and Charity. Looking
back over the past year it had reason to be
encouraged by its success. Though there
had been no novelty to attract he public
for the last eight months, the regular
meetings had been held without single
intermission and the attendance on them
showed but slight falling off. Still, ne
said, the interest manifested in them was
not so great as formerly.
Col. J. H. Skinner who had been reques-
ted to make some remarks on the lnterna-
tional Work Of the Y. M. G. A., referred
to the origin of the Association thirty-two
years ago, giving some interesting statls-
tics of it's progress and showing that it
now had loo, 900 members and owned ST.
600, 900 of property. Such a large body of
workin Christians he thought must do an
incalculable amount Of good. Abiding to
the special work of the Association-to
bring young men to knowledge of the
gospel truths, he said the object was to do
work which as the church had not done in
the past. it was presumed it could not do.
There was nothing better calculated to eX-
pand and brighten the Christian character
than Just such actiUe work as is expected Of
members of this association in order to
carry out its designs. A man can't stoop
to lift fellow creature out of the mire
without being himself strengthened. He
can't undertake to lead blind brother
without having his own sight quickened.
He can't speak to another of the heinous-
ness of sin without looking into his own
heart and seeing the sin there. Col. S. in
concluding alluded to the want of funds
by the Association and urge the people to
give their support and patronage to its Ii
brary, and thus while beneftting them
selves aid it.
Rev. DR.. Barnas Sears said he was glad
to meet with the Association, an organiza
ton to which he thought the city was in
debt for the tone of morality whichpreyail-
ed and which it had been instrumental in
bringing about. The work of an Association
was the systematizing of what eGch Chris
tan would like individually to do. DR..
Sears spoke of tho worldliness Of Chris
tians and the indistinctness of the line
which separated them from the world, and
dwelt at length on the wonderful nature
of man, the great value of the immortal
soul, the danger Of heretical and pernici-
GUS doctrines, the great responsibility that
rests upon us in view of the imminent
danger to which our fellow men are ex-
posed and the duty Of the members Of the
Association he was addressing to come to
their rescue.
Rev. VIM E. Baker thought the Asso-
citation had just reason to be encouraged.
He knew of other and larger associations
who had not the confidence in each other
even to hold prayer meeting, for fear
they could not maintain one it commenced.
He endorsed what Col. Skinner had said
about the library and congratulate ted him
self upon possessing access to SC valuable
a collection of books. He spoke of the
rare opportunities the members had of
visiting their fellow men in business inter-
course, in which they had an advantage
over the church and urged them to go
among those far removed from religious
influences and strive to bring them in.
Rev. Macduff Simpson said he was glad
to see the idea prevailed here that the As
ISOLATION served to bring together the diff
ferent branches of the church. 1T was a
He spoke of the power of assimilation and
showed it by several striking Illustrations.
He said lasting hold would be obtained
upon outsiders by getting them into an
: habitual attendance upon thes meetings
and the reading room gatherings, and
begged the members to be alive and ener-
getic in pushing their good work.
Capt. T. D. Ransom, ex-President Of the
Association, said if there was any tendon
CIV to failure in it, it was not due to any
lack of sympathy from the community for
he could not recollect single instance in
which the people, particularly the ladies,
when invited to aid it had not responded !,
and warmly seconded its every effort. The
ministry had also cordially supported it..
1t was it's own fault if there was any flag
glng or lack Of interest. Capt. r. spoke
warmly of the kindly Influences that had
been exercised by the Association in draw
ing together those who would otherwise
have been separated and the fast friendships
that had been formed for good by means
of this organization He exhorted the
members to united effort and renewed zeal.
Col M. G. Hartman said he thought the
great difficulty was the lack of suitable
place for meeting and he hoped the Asso-
citation would exert itself to procure one.
After hymn: and a few moments spent
in silent prayer the assembly received the
benediction from ReY. W. E. Baker and
dispersed.
NINETY DAYs.-CIarence Harris was ar: