The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-06-20
Christians in Council.
LOUISVILLE THE SCENE OF AN
IMPOSING GATHERING.

Twenty-Second Annual Convention
of the Young Mems Christian
ASSOCIATION.
LOUISVILLE, Juno 1.-THE twenty
second annual Convention Of the Young
Mems Christian Associations assembled
in Library Hall, in this city, on Wednes-
day last. The delegation from all parts of
the Continent was largely composed OF
leading men. The Convention was call
ed to order at IL \: NJ, on that day by the
president, Russell Sturgis, Esq, OF Dos
ton, n of the most influential Episco-
pal laylnen of this Continent. After de-
votional exercises, a committee on nolni-
nations for officers for 1877 was appointed
from each State, province, district and
territory represented. This committee
reported the following as their choice,
which report, on motion was unanimous
ly adopted:
For president, Hon. John V. Farwell,
For vfRce-presidents, T. J. Wilkie, To-
ronto, Ont; J. G. Black, Augusta, Ca.
| William P. Armstrong, Selma, Ala. w.
X. Jennings, Pittsburg, Pa; Rev. w. A.
Lipe, Omaha, Neb.; George Young,
Montreal, Quebec; II. NJ. Mcdonald,
Princeton College. N. j.; L. S. Field, In
dianapClis, Ind; J.. FL. Cheever, Cincin
natl, Ohio.
For Secretary, T. c. Horton, 1ndianan-
apolis, Indiana.
For assistant secretaries, f. G. Cha
pin, Davenport, Iowa; J. l.. Palmer, Lit
tie Rock, Ark. w. A. Davis, MontSom-
1890 u IL T 1.y Iynen AItcS
Mossrs, Hall and McCro reported the
formation of 16O Associations i'll the
Southern States in three years.
"The Associations now report over
l.OW organizations on this continent, with
4S buildings and property III which they
have a clear property, Sl.9G2, $50. Asso'
Citations are accumulating building funds
which already amount to S323,322. The
total property, therefore, belonging OF
due to tho Associations amounts to
81, 704, 5SS. Six hundred and siXty-three
report an average membership OF 1S,2ol'
| The annual current expenses reported by
All amount to S311, l73. Three hundred
and twenty-five keep open reading rooms,
and l46 ..of these report a daily attend
ance of II 1852. Two hundred and seven
teen own lsbrarics, numbering loS,lSt
volumes, and of these lS9 are valued at
S142, 233. Two hundred and ttty-four
own furniture, the estimated value OF
which is S1O9, 233. Fifty-tive provide sit
nations, and of these 80 have found en-
ployment for S,3G2 persons.
The evening session was devoted to q
welcome meeting, the large library hall
being crowded to its utmost capacity.
The stage was beautifully decorated with
flowers by the ladies, who displayed very
great taste in this matter. Frank u.
Corby, Esq, welcomed the delegates or
behalf of the Association, and was fol-
lowed by the mayor, &. d. Jacobs, on
behalf of the citizens.
The Rev. DR.. Stuart Robinson, n OF
the most prominent pastors in the South
crn Presbyterian Church, spoke on behalf
of the churches III all eloquent manner.
The following extracts arc from his ad-
dress:
II esteem it no ordinary honor to have
been called to the very pleasant duty OF
extending to the International Convcn-
ton of y. NJ. G. a. the distinctive well
come Of the evangelical churches to our
city. And now, in their name, l say,
brethren, welcome, welcomc-thricc
welcome! And you may rest assured
this is no mere empty word of formal
politeness OH the II hand, o Of gush-
ing sentimentalisln on the other, but q
word that comes from our hearts just be-
cause we like you, ana that because, from
calm, sober conviction, these churches
honorand appreciate your efforts to bring
honor to the Great King Jesus, whoil
they all recognize as their adorable Head.
And with your indulgence for a few min
utes l propose to present the reasons on
which our conception of your w~orthiness
Of this welcome is founded.
The first ground of u approval Of
and affection for tho Young Mems Chris
tan Association is that, though volun-
tary association, without any sort OF de-
noninational connection, you show the
churchliness OF your principles by de-
clining to set w any other interest apart
from the church, and have steadfastly
maintained that ground for many years
past. In the very admirable little man
ual to guide your official workers-a
model, as l conceive, of Il tract, keeping
it's one purpose in vicw-I find, in capital
letters, this rule: Advise young on
verts to join some Evangelical Church.
And added to this the observation: II
our work is to be lasting, it must lend to
strengthen, build up and increase the
power of the Church of Christ Thus
the y. NJ. &. A., recognizing fully the
visible church as IL divinely appointed
institute, in which Christ, the Head and
King, hath set some prophets, some apos-
tics, &C., claims only to 60 forth under
the broad commission given to every be-
lever. Let him that hcareth say come
to bring sinners into tho church. The
Association, III so far as 1t IS all eyanScE-
Ziug institute, has never sought its field
of labor among The churches, nor obstru-
ded its methods upon the order OF the
churches, but aims to reach the vast out
lying masses which, practically, are not
reached by the churches, and in that
mission field proposes only to aid the
efforts of the church to reach these
masses. II recognizes its work as sim
ply that of tho servants in the parable
sent out into the highways and hedges,
and into the streets and lanes of the city
to compel them to come in And when
they have brought them in and given
them in charge to the regular servants Of
the Kings palace their mission is finished
and they are OFT again to the highways to
bring others in! If the few excellent
brethren who still have fears and doubts
whereunto this will grow were only bet
ter acquainted with the principles and
practice of the Young Mems Christian
Association, as now organized, l am per-
suadcd they would be foremost to unite
with us in this welcome of approval.
"Spcaliing not as for churchly men, al
low me TO express special appreciation of
your wisdom in keeping clear OF an 'er-
ror which so many in tn e church have
fallen into-the error which finds its ut
tcrance in the saying, Preach the gospel,
and let these u%tterances Of the church
alone
"This approval of the evangelical
churches rests upon the ground of that
singular wisdom and prudence display
ed in the history of your work for many
years past in Keeping you clear Of the
hobbies Of one-idedliSm, the sensational
extravagances, and the tanaticisms which
have wrought the ruin Of so many vol
untary organizations in time past. I at
tribute this wholly TO the fact that you
have been un;ler the guidance of the
Word Of God, with the enlightenment of
the Holy Spirit; whom you have so earn
cstly sought to honor. Hobby-riding has
been the great destroyer of politicians,
but still moro fatal 10 moral reformers.
Once the hobby has been contriyed by
the patentee of some new idea, then by
stress Of public opinion he forces good
men of far more sense than he to mount
it, if only for experiments sake. But