The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-17
Y. M. G. A. snassrs
ANNUAL WEEK OF PRAYER-DR. HoUGHs AID
r>Drcc-prpoDr on pREcInENT

Y. M. G. Ara aAs5F54
ANNUAL WEEK OF PRAYER-DR. HoUeH's ADJ
DREss-REPoRT OF PRESIDENT, &C.
The annual week of prayer set apart by the
International Convention of the Young Mems
Christian Association, at Cleveland, last June,
and also recommended by the Worlds Con-
vention of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation in London last August, was begun IL
this city on Sunday last Reference to the
subject and appropriate remarks were made in
the Church pulpits, and at the Association the
services were very interesting. During the
week appropriate services will be continued,
and prayers will be made for the Young Mems
Christian Association as an agency designed
for reaching young men. There has been re-
markable growth in these organizations in the
past few years There are now 2l0 young
men employed as general secretaries, giving all
their time to association work, an increase
from 8, in 1866, TO ia in 1878, and ISL in 1880
The value of property has increased from $780,,
600, in 1866, to nearly $3000,0O0 in 1881, and
the number of associations from SO, in 1866,
| classes have increased in the same time from
10 to 291, and weekly religious meetings from
| 100 to l 1888 Earnest efforts are being made
| by the international committee to reach the
| $50. 900 railroad men in this country. and in
their interest thirty-three secretaries at differ
ent points are working. The 10000 CONNER
cial travellers of this country are also attracting
the attention of the associations. In 100
| American colleges associations are accomplish
ing great good for the Students but there are
| 300 colleges with $1,000 students yet to be
| reached. There are twenty-three German
speaking branches, with five secretaries, who
| are looking after the interests of the 100000
| young Germans now in America. The half
million colored young men of the South are
receiving special attention
ANNIVERSARY MEETING.
| The 18th anniversary meeting of the Staun-
ton Y M. c. A. took place at the Association
rooms Tuesday night. A large audience was
in attendance The services were conducted
by Maj Newton, President of the Association,
and a male quartette, composed of Messrs.
Cooke, Tmberlake, Shirley and Eurett, ex-
quisitely rendered q number of sacred songs,
Miss Fannie Tams presiding at the organ.
TIE PRESIDENTS REPORT &
was not of a very encouraging nature. There
! had been want of interest manifested by the
older members of the Association, and the
support of the library had not been as liberal
as il should have been. A.,a...rs
The Staunton Y NJ c. A. was organized in
| 1874 in the Methodist church, with sixty one
members on the roll. Atpresent the member
ship numbers 3lS. of whom 252 are active, 50
associate and ID honorary.
/ During the year 4139 volumes have been
taken from the library and read OF these
5000 were from the domain of fiction, and the
remainder were of biography, history and
miscellaneous.
In closing, President Newton stated that he
did not believe that the full aims and purposes
of the Association were properly understood
and appreciated. He called upon his breth-
rem for more active effort, and expressed the
| hope that not only would the citizens be in
] duced to contribute more literally to the en-
| largcment Of the library, but that the City
| Council would be persuaded to donate the
rent of the room to the good cause.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Mai. New
the Methodist church, as the lecturer of the
| evening.
| DIR. HOUGH' g LECTURE
| In introducing his remarks, DR.. HOugh
asked Why is there Young Mems Christian
Association in this country and in every Bible
land on earth &? Some may think it inappro
priate alter SO many years Of successful ope
ration, thus to go back to question that
should now be regarded as settled, if it ever is
to he settled. But is it not living question?
one whose proper solution vitality concerns the
success OF the movement itself9
| We have already the church divlnely estab-
lished, and demanding the utmost service of
every member. Where then is the call for this
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES room for its operation
that will not trench upon the ground that, of
| right, belongs to the church? Is it not so
much of time and effort expended outside OF
the church, which if it were used inside of the
churchs field would accomplish more good?
So many think, and because thereof oppose
| the Association. Now if UNCONVENTIONAL lines
could all be wiped out if the church were all
one and all fired with the spirit of Christ, then
there would be force in this view The ques-
ton would then stand in much the same posi-
ton as does the question now stand between
the church and the benevolent orders, such as
Masons and the like Here it is lamentably
| trun in bo oth ho fIa
guage of judgment, some protested christians
belonging to both are better members of the
lodge than of the church
But denominatonalism does exist in the
church, and for one am no advocate of its
overthrow, for whilst it has it's drawbacks it
has also its advantages. This being so, am
forced to dissent from the idea that there is no
call for the Association. To illustrate my
idea, the speaker said, will refer to the use,
meaning and application of the word "circle."
Mechanically, a circle is curved line,
every point of which is equidistant from a
given point called the centre. But beyond
that it has "a vast range of application, apply
ing largely, to the churches Thus we use the
term Presbyterian Circle" Baptist Circle"
and so on, and in the same way we talk Of
political rings" "Tammany, rings" Court
House rings" and the like. Is such appiica-
ton merely accidental. or is, it, really express
i've and descriptive of facts, as they exist in
the denominations and among men? 1t is not
accidental, but an application based on facts as
they exist Church culture and efforts and
aims, if unchecked, do all tend towards the
circle idea, whichto say the bestso it, hardly
takes into it the fullness of a genuine catholic
christianity, but rather limits that fullness,
both in Its spirit and aims, as well as efforts.
And -. further, SUCH circle culture can never
meet all the felt need and yearnings of truly
regenerate spirit flied with the love of Christ.
Did you ever think of the absolute lmpossi-
bility of covering any plane surface with cir
Giles of equal Or nearly equal size? Suppose
every farm in Augusta county were an exact
circle, how much ,unoccupied territory there
would be! The possessions of one man would
touch those OF his neighbors only at four points
With squares, or triangles, or the like, the
whole area could be covered, but with circles
there must OF necessity be much unoccupied
prOInd IND tn fronofar tho cfi,r,,ro- fror, A..