The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-17
Young Mems Christian Association
Convention.
THIRD Day MORNING SESSION.

at 10 O'Clock Saturday morning, and spent
a season In very pleasant devotional exer
cises lead by Mr.. j. ID. X. Sleigbt. Colonel
! w. l.. Munford, DR.. A. q. Brown, Mr.
Bentley, and others lead in prayer, and Mr.
Bentley lead the singing.
On suggestion OF Mr.. Roberts, OF the
University, that the time fixed for the next
Convention would not suit the colleges. the
resolution fixing the 30th Of September %
the time for the next meeting was recon.
sidered, and the time OF meeting referred
to the Executive Committee.
The Convention next took up the regular
order. " Associations in literary institu.
tions" was the topic for discussion, aud
was opened in an admirable speech by Mr..
j. b. Adger, OF the University OF Virginia.
He spoke OF the power for good which
can be exerted by bringing TO Christ young
men who are TO be the leaders in society.
The college association Is in some measure
in the room OF the dear old church at home,
and should, therefore, be active and de-
voted.
He urged that college associations should
begin their woIk at the very opening OF the
college session, while the influences Of home
are fresh IN the minds aud hearts Of the
new students, and before evil associations
have been formed.
He urged that college prayer-meetings
and other meetings OF The Association
should be brief, spirited, and interesting.
He spoke OF the mission work done by the
| University Association in the Sunday
! schools among the destitute, and other SER
vices held in the regions around. The
work was largely one OF restraining men
from evil, and although quiet, the personal
contact and influence Of these Christian
workers are often very potent.
Mr.. Adger made 4 clear, practical, and
every way excellent address.
Mr.. Bentley sang very sweetly "Keep on
Praying"
Mr.. Thomas X. Cree stated that there are
now about $50 Protestant colleges in this
country, and about 10000 students. He
said hat during the past year about 500 col
lege students had professed conversion.
he gave very interesting statistics OF the
work at Princeton, University OF Tennes-
see, at Knoxville, and other colleges, where
great good had been accomplished. lie
earnestly insisted that this is grand held
for useful, hopeful work.
! DIR. J. William Jones said that it had been
his privilege to see much OF this college
work and TO rejoice in its power. He had
assisted in organizing ut the University OF
| Virginia in 1856 the first college Young
Mems Christian Association ever organized
! in this country. He spoke OF the grand
work done by this Association, with its
prayer.meeings, its library and reading
rooms, its mission Sundsy-schooIs, &C., and
OF the potent influences it is eXerting.
He alluded to the Washington and Lee
Association, which had been organized at
the suggestion OF General Lee in 1866, and
Of the noble work they have been doing,
and OF the Virginia Military Institute Asso-
cjation, where they have maintained Tor
years a nightly prayer-meeting, In connec'
| tion with which during one session tnere
had been over one hundred professions OF
conversion, many OF whom he had since
met scattered all over the land, some OF
them ministers Of the Gospel, ard most OF
them earnestly working for Christ.
He spoke OF the power and influence
these students are TO exert on the future
welfare Of the land, and thanked Goa that
in Virginia no infdel occupies professor
chair, while most Of the professors are ac-
tive members of evangelical churches.
Mr.. j. ID. X. SIeight urged that in this
college work there should be used rs Tar as
possible the social feature.
| Mr.. Bentley sang "The Days Oh Cnilu-
hood" with fine effect.
Major J. w. Newton, Of Staunt0n, spoke
of the work Of the Young Ladies' Christian
Association in the Wesleyan Female In
stitute, Stauuton, where one session there
had been about forty professions OF CONVEX
sion.
Rev. W. G. Schaefier expressed his warm
interest in this topic and his high gratlhca'
tion at the statements which had made
especially the statement that we have no IN
fidel filing any chair in any university OF
college in Virginia.
J.B. Watkins, ESQ.,, expressed bis high
qualification that the time has come when
our institutions of learning have ceased 10
be schools Of vice. but that the young man
who coes there will find hallowed Influences
to bring him TO Christ. He spoke earnestly
! of the great importance OF having all OF
our education sanctiIed by the grace ol
God.
The following report was then presented
and unanimously adopted, the resolutions
being considered Seridtim:
Your committee on the report OF tht
State Executive Committee respectfully re-
port that we have carefully examined tht
| recommendations coHtained in it, and re-
commend
/. That in view Of the evident need o.
the Association work of the State, we heart
ily endorse the recommendation that state
secretary should be secured as soon as pos
sible.
9. That we urge upon the Richmond As
sociation that in securing trained genera
secretary they have in view the qualihca
tioDs necessary for a State secretary, an(
that two months OF the time OF their secre
tary be given to State work, under the pa!
and direction of the State Committee.
3. In view Of the need for information II
regard to the extent and varied agencies II
use in our work, we recommend tnat eaci
association subscribe for the Watchmdn
the organ Of our associations, and that
club for it be made up at this Convention
to be enlarged on their return home by tht
personal cooperation OF each delegate.
4. That we have heard with heartfelt gratl
tude Of the great work God Is doing fol
Young men through the agency OF the Inter
national Committee, specially among rail-
road men, young men in our institutions Of
learning, commercial travellers, German
voung men, and the colored young men o
the South, and that we recommend eacli as
sociation in the State in their observance oi
the day OF prayer In November that they
take ND a collection in aid OF the work IN
trusted to the International Committee.
5. That the success that has attended tbt
work in the district OF which Staunton /!
the centre demonstrates the need iol
district work and district conventions
and il is recommended that the STATE
Committee divide up such sections o
the State as may be practicable, and WI
urge upon the associations the i'm
nortance OF extending their work by stimu
lating and organizing associations IN th'
section contiguous to them.
|. @. We rejoice TO know OF the good wori
our .ssociations are doing in our instltu