The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-06-17

began to call conventions and thus
place within reach the advantages
of such practical instruction as
might be gained from these meet
ings. The result of this systematic
effort has been that conventions
have been held in almost every i'm
portant state, the number increas
ing from 5 in 1867 to % in 1878.
ITS CHARACTER.
1 come now to speak of the char
ter of these societies, and on this
point l shall be brief, only giving
an outline. The American socie-
ties, as a rule, were formed on the
basis known as the Paris basis. In
carrying out the leading principle,
and to keep control of these organ
iZationS, the American associations
have, from the beginning, required
as the best available test of active
members membership in some evan
gellcal church. In ali the conven-
tions held up to 1868 the Paris ba-
sis was reaffirmed. But in 1868
they adopted what is known as the
Evangelical Church Test" Csee
foot notes adding in 1869 the def
milton of the term evangelical. +"
The universal adoption of this test
has secured for the American asso-
Citations the active sympathy of
churches and christian commune
ties. ,....
The Y. M. @. A, therefore, is
neither a substitute for, nor the
equal of, the Church of Christ. 1t
is an auxiliary, but subordinate
agency, and one so greatly blessed
by the Head of the Church that
there is now no room for question
in respect to the propriety and fit
ness of it's continuance. II is
strictly a christian organization.
It's prime object should be kept
prominently before the minds of
those who propose to become mem
bers, viz: The conversion to Christ
Of those young men who can be
brought within its influence; who
do not know and love Him; and the
strengthening and development OF
those who love His cause, in all
christian powers and grace.
ITS WORK.
The early work of the London
parent association was altogether
of religious character, but it has
come to be very generally recOg-
nized that it is within the province
of these societies to reach and help
young men physically, socially, in
tellectually and spiritually-physic-
ally, by means OF gymnasiums, etc.
socially, by a pleasant evenings
recreation, or social reception; in
tellectually, by the wise use of liter
airy exercises, by lyceums, readings,
debates and a good library; splritu-
ally, land here is the paramount
influence by constant work, grow
ing out Of fervent zeal and active
piety. But 1 can be better under
stood on this point by asking you
to consider the statistical survey OF
the work, as reported at the Balti-
more convention in June, 1879
where 1 had the honor to be. Eight
hundred and thirty -nine associa-
tions reported; 81 own buildings to
the amount of $2,451 900; 81 have
accumulated building funds to the
amount OF $2S0,190. The total
property, including other real es-
tate, besides buildings, amounts to
So, 297, $50; CSC report an average
membership OF 67,739; the current
expenses reported by 403 of these
associations amount to 1917, 632;
291 keep open reading rooms; 232
own furniture valued at $l56, PA;
81 found employment for 1884
persons; 81 hold daily prayer meet
ings; 497 hold weekly prayer-meet
ings; 100 hold 115 open-air meet
ings per week; 341 other weekly
meetings in jails, hospitals and else
where have been held by 16S asso.
Citations; 6S report railroad meet
ings; SO report sunday schools
conducted by their members; p
hold meetings at aims houses; l64
hold neighborhood meetings; Ia
hold college prayer-meetings; ID
hold temperance meetings; 152 con
duct weekly Bible classes; 141 per
sons are acting as. general secreta-
tries and agents of the various as
sociations, on salaries, and who de
vote their entire time to the work
at rs points special christian work
for railroad men is being done; l.
general secretaries are employed
There are AZ associations of Ger.
man speaking young men; four oil
these employ general secretaries.
Thus [ have given, as briefly as
possible, an outline of what work
is being done, and these associa
tions are steadily growing in mem
bership and strength as their pur
pose is becoming better defined and
better understood by christian PEG
pie. Nor are they confined tc
christian countries. Already we
have reports of Y. NJ. G. Associa.
tons in Cairo, Smyrna, Damascus
Jerusalem, Nazareth, Calcutta
Hong Kong and Yokohoma. A.
the Worlds Conference o. the Y
Nj. G. A. held at Geneva, Switzer
land, in August, 1878, there were
present $50 delegates from IL diff
ferent nations, and it had represent
atives from 1900 associations will
10000 members. Nearly 1000 as
sociations have been formed in thi:
country alone. The Y. NJ. G. A. i:
doing a blessed work for the young
men and for Christ. Thus 1 have
spoken of the origin, history, char
acter and work, generally, of the Y
NJ. C. A. in as condensed q form a:
possible, without being tedious.
Now, some one may say, II would
like to know something of the worl
at home. Permit me, therefore, tC
refer for few moments to the wori
IN our own state. There are in
Tennessee to-day "a associations
and most or nearly all of these ar,
doing active christian work of on,
kind or another. Fourteen of thes'
thirty-four are in our colleges ana
institutions IF learning, and Tenn
essee can boast of being the banne
state in college associations. eye
this work has only been going o.