The daily gazette., 1877-06-11
From the N. Y. Tribune. -arsg
HHE ". M. Q. A.

The Young Mems Christian Associa-
| ton met in Louisville ON Wednesday
in its twenty-second annual interna-
tional convention, and after electing
officers proceeded to view the work of
| the year with good deal of justifiable
enthusiasm aud its success. IL reports
one thousand working organizations
and over 100000 members. Money to
carry on the good work has not been
lacking, either. as the. expenses of the
State Association have amounted to
about half a million, and the property
owned by the Association amounts to
| three millions.
The organization, as we know, Is
principally composed of young men
who work In behalf. f.of their own class,
Now. .one word of plain common sense,
with regard to this Association, Moth
ing could be higher than the aims with
which 1t started out in. life; nothing
| more unworthy and unselfish than its
present motive power. 1t was natural
and proper that the young men of the
Church, seeing certain practical work
to be done on every side which the
clergy could not or did not reach,
should undertake to do it, and choose
o do 1t alone, unhampered by the
conservatism or forms of their elders.
They understood the temptations and
needs of young, men in large cities
better than did their fathers, and there
fore very fitly took this class as their
field of labor. They proposed to be-
come their friends and helpers, to find
them employment, care for them when
9 tk prov d. reading and anus ement
which should keep them out of the
way OF temptation, and gradually, If
possible, lead them into the Christian
Church. The most direct way to OBJ
tain this hold upon them was by es-
tablishing an attractive place of meet
ing. in which young man coming
friendless to city could fnd warm
cheerful rooms in which to spend his
evenings. games, books, newspapers,
and companions. The chief end which
these sincere men had in view was to
bring him into the service of Jesus; but
they felt they had gained much when
they had kept him from the temptation
which lay in wait for him at every
corner of the streets. a1
So far the Association deserves all
praise. There is no reason why with
its young blood it should not become
as powerful an organization for good
as any ever formed. It stal ted out,
like the Christian Church, with pure
missionary spirit, but like the Church
its dangers and its weakness lie in the
possession of money and the love of
display. The Y. N. G. A, during the
few last years, has begun to take what
appears at first sight commendable
pride in its costly buildings. Now,
costly buildings are good things in
their way, but their way ism to bring
wandering sheep into the fl ii of Cod
The shabby young mechanic or grimy
laoorer is daunted, not tempted, by
The display of stained glass and velvet
turns instead into the nearest
A dozen clean, comfort
able cofte rooms, in back streets, would
answer the purpose thoroughly and
cost quarter the sum. The forty-eigh
buildings owned by the Association
have cost the report states, 81, 100000
an average of about $4,000 each. In
Philadelphia boarding-house started
BY the Association, with laudable
purpose of affording board to poor
young men and boys at cost price,
allied for lack OF means. Yet the Asso-
,iation building is one of the most
magnificent edifces in the city. Surely
,nough of zeal of the folio wers OF
esus has been put into carved stone
md drapery in our costly churches to
lold the poor at a distance, Let the
'oung men show theirs by going into
he ghways and byways and COM
ceiling the poor and vile to come unto
'etter ways of living. Then the aggre-
ate nf 10D 00n har
larger record than $500 men provid-
d with employment in the last year.
ZACH man whose heart was in his work
ould surely have helped some one
oor wretched to word and wages in
MS hard Winter just past. f-.
We do not wish 20 be misunderstood.
We have only praise, and that the
for the good work and good
ltention of this great society. But. it
because it's work is so necessary ana
S intention honest that we utter this
arning. The moment a powerful
rganization begins to accumulate
ealth or to make vain display of it,
lat moment it attracts men whose in
ntions are not honest. In some of
le large cities already the YIN. c. A.
IS been made by these interlopers
)litical lever.
In those cities the very name of the
is tainted in popular opin-
n by contact with these men aud
cir aims. We are well aware that
e help given to the class it is inten-
ID to benefit has been wide and effec-
7e; but it is very intelligent, clear
GIFTED class. and will demand a high
lcerity in the men who attempt
lead it. We would remind the
'sociation too. that the Moravian
lurcb, the most successful mission
= organization in the world, sup
rted all it's missions last year at an
penfe of less than $250,L00. This
CUES, of course, exceptional zeal ana
f.sacrif1ce on the part of its mem
RS. With like zeal and unworldi-
IS and its large income, what may
I the Y. nj. q. A., accomplisnl But
'ney and power since the world
gan have had soiling qualities. The
ISOLATION must take care that its