Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-19
Y. M. C.. A.
THE TWENTY-THIRD ANNIVERSARY.

Atos -
tventv.tbird anniversary of the Young Mems
Christian Association of the city of Alexandria.
Oryanizcd in 1858, in the basement of the
Second PRESBYTERIAN Church, with Lawrence
2. Bayne, ESQ.,, as its first President, and num'
herring among its members some of the best
citizens of this city, and though called to pass
through many trials and witness maoy changes,
through all these wcnty-three years 1t has
never ceased the struggle never Ceased to
work for the extension of the Kingdom of the
Rcdeemer of Mau, but with Christ as the Great
Captain of their Salvation, Love as their ban
ner, and Christ and Him Crucifed, as their
motto, they have carried the Glad News OF
Salvation TO all men to the ~offcasts of society
to those who are confined 10 prison to the old,
and iofrm; to the poor, and to all who are
prevented in any way from hearing the Gospel
10 the regular meaus of grace.
The Association, at quarter bcfJrc seven
O'Clock, assembled in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, aud spent a quarter Of an hour IN
devotional exercises, singing praises to God,
and lifting up their hearts in prayers OF thanks
| giving for the mercies aud blessings that have
been bestowed upon them and praying that
| thew might consecrate themselves fully to the
cause OF Christ.
At half past seven the Church Was we'll filled,
and the anniversary exercises commenced with
a Chant of Praise, rendered 10 an excellent
STYLE, by the choir Of the Church.
Rev. Mr.. Boyer, pastor Of the Church, pre-
| sided over the meeting, and Rev. DR.. Bullock,
of the Uuion Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr..
Nichols, of the Methodist Protestant Church,
Rev. Mr.. Penick, of the Baptist Church, and
Rev. DR.. Little, and Mr.. H. W. Beadle,
President of the Association, aud Mr. A. T..
Stewart, Secretary Of the Young Meas Chris
tian Association OF Washington, occupied seats
10 the pulpit.
Rev. Mir. Boyer then offered up TO the
Throne of Grace a tervcot prayer, thanking
God for all the blessings Of the past, and pray
Ing for q blessing upon the meeting, and as
they were one family 10 Christ, for uuity of
spirit, and unity of heart, and that with one
thought aud one aim, they might work to-
gether for the extension Of the Radeemcr's
Kingdom, and that sipners might be won to
Christ.
Rev. Dr.. Bullock then read, in a clear dis.
tinct voice, the twenty third Psalm:
"rhc Lord is my Shepherd | shall not
want. He maketh me to lie dowu in green
pastures He leadcth NE beside the still
waters.
After which the choir and congregation
sang, as with the spirit and the understanding,
the grand old Coronation hymn:
-ANhaiI the power Of Jesus name,
Let angels PROSTATE fall,
Bring forth the royal dladem,
And crowo Him Lord of all.
After the singing Of the hymn, Rev. Dr..
| Nichols prayed earnestly for 4 blessing upon
| the exercises, that their Worship might be ac-
ccp.abie, ard for all the Interests OF ChrlSt'S
Kingdom.
Mr.. H. w. Beadle, President of the Also
| citation, said it Was the custom OF the retlIlug
President TO present. an annual report at the
anniversary meeting, but that the report of
all the activities of the Association had been
published in full in the newspapers, and he
would not reproduce it here, but be desired to
say hat no field of the Association had been
without special marks of Gods favor. He
spoke of the different activities of the Assooia-
ton, and said that there was not one Sunday
during the past year that salvation by faith 10
Christ had not been offered to souls that we're
bound with the chain Of sin, and that were be-
ing led by SataD down to death; to the prison
ers 10 Jail 10 the aged and lnhrm at the poor's
house to the men running on the canal, and
to all, by means OF an open air service, and he
wished to say to the members OF the AsSocla-
tion, that there was no place that he had ex-
perienced such joy and peace as he had while
working for Christ in this open air service.
In this city, he said, 10 this nineteenth century,
with ali the promises Of God standing tor eigll-
teen huodred years, there We're many souls go
ing down TO eternal death, and what was the
reason there was some reason tor it, aud the
great reason that they had no greater results
was not because of the enemies Of Christ, So
called scientific men, that are trying to under
mine the Fundamental principles OF the Chris
tian religion, or open in6dellty, but because
of the enemies in the Church, which were the
greatest enemies to the cause of Christ. He
thanked the members of the Association for the
kindness and courtesy they had shown him dur
ing his term Of Office, and said 1t was his duty and
pleasure to resign to another who had been s.
Iccted as their President, and in conclusion,
urged all to pull together for the success of the
Church.
Mr.. A. j. Fleming, one of the founders Of
the Association, and who, after the lapse of
twenty-three years, has been called, for the first
time, to the Presidency, said it was with pleas
urc that he appeared before that audience; his
election as President Of the Young Mems
Christian Association, of Alexandria, Was very
unexpected, for he knew nothing of it until be
saw the Dotice ofhis election published in the
papers. He had, he said, hoped the retiring
President would have presented his anLulI re-
port, Notwithstanding it had been published;
be knew it did not tell of deeds that would en-
bIazon the pages Of history, but it told of siIen;
deeds; deeds Of kindness and mercy; it tod
them that the. Jail had been visited, and that
the prisoners confined there had been pointed
to Christ, the Lamb that was slain, aud they
were urged to accept of Christ asthcir Saviour;
it told them that the poor's house had been
visited, and there too the unsearchable riches
of Christ had been proclaimed, and the glad