New-York tribune., 1879-05-23
TIM CgRJsTI4Y ASSOCIATIONS

the international Convention OF the Christian
Associations held in Baltimore, the reports of the
affiliated societies working here and in other
lands show how important have become
these auxiliary branches of the church. They
exist and labor in almost every great
city of this country and in many of the
larger towns There were present several delegates
from England, Switzerland, Australia. rs well as
from Canada. If we were to describe the labOrs Of
these societies in single word should call them
practical. Their object is to meet definite wants III
definite way. They advise, exhort give, and, after
every possible fashion, seek to help those who need
helping Faith with them is much, perhaps in GER
tain sense it is all; but it ~ not faith without
works. They know that sin is suffering, but they
know also that hard lot may bring temptation
not easily to be resisted. They remember
that the young are easily led astray, and
it is the young to whose care they specially adj
dress themselves. They comprehend the value of
the sabbath and seek Its observance, but theirs is
mission for all days in the week. They serve
the church by seeking those outside of it.
and by persuading them to come in.
There is great variety in their system
of operations, but they have one single purpose
the making of men better and happier They
would promote temperance, virtue, industry and,
in all ways they would preserve lives, beginning in
beautiful hopes and opuent promise, from wreck
and from ruin
The great business of society is to save itself from
all which s suOyOrsye of that for which society eX-
ists. The battle is constant The moment 1t is
abandoned, the disastrous consequences are felt in
every household. Upon side are pauperism,
crime, disease vice, every form of selfish indulgence
and the neglect of the young-upon tho other there
are reiormatory societies, schemes of education,
plans for promoting personal and domestic econ
omy for arresug the reckless for strengthening the
weak Tor making bad men better and for keeping
good men from the paths of temptation What
these effect. may be deduced from an estimate of
what would follow their abandonment. We may
imagine the churches dissolved, the Christian
Associations disbanded, the place of wor-
ship in ruins, all the moral associations
given up all charitable work suspended. Who
can adequately picture the moral desoation which
would succeeds How long should we have a Gov
ernment sustained by the lawsi how long
would it be before lunatic anarchy would
take possession Of the land How long before
our material prosperity. upon which we so pride
ourselves, would give place to insolvency and
want Here questions which those who arc in
different to moral work will do well to ask them
selves.
Moreover. these Christian Associations were
hardly ever so much needed IA now. We live in an
age of scepticism or of positive unbelief. The old
moral landmarks arc no longer regarded with general
reverence. Men are seduced by novel specula-
tions and speeous promises from the ways sane
toned by the experience Of ages, by reason
and by tho eternal right. The poor hate
tho rich and tho rish are susDioious Of