Morning journal and courier., 1882-06-10
LOCAL NEWS.
The Y. M. c. A. Work.

Second Days Proceedings-Topfcs DIs- cussed-The Field of Labor-Various Aspects.
 The convention of general secretaries of Young Mems Christian associations in prog ress at the Atheneum is generally lively place, the interest taken in the meetings in- dicating that the laborers are heartily in earnest and warmly interested in their inn portant field of labor. The convention yes- terday opened at 9 a. m., s. A. Taggart, State secretary of Pennsylvania, in the chair
 ''Hallelujah, thine is the glory" was sung, one of the secretaries accompanying upon the grand piano, and the convention joining vigorously in the singing. Wonderful Words of Love'' was proposed by MT. Tag gart and sung with spirit and impressive eff feet R. W. Oates, of Glasgow, offered prayer Then the convention sang finely "Revive Thy Work, Oh Lord" Mir. Fol man, of New York, offered prayer, after which 'Something for me to do" was sung.
 R. R. McBirney, of New York, read the first regular paper of the day, the topic be- ing "Secretarialism snare in association work" He said the secretary should be a
 
 various activities. He should keep himself in the background and seek to have the wor k done by his members. He should not be a pastor nor city missionary, but simply an organizer and developer of lay talent. He must not ''secretarialize" the association. MT. McBirney's newly coined word eGcited the applause of the conference. The paper oc- cupied ten minutes and was followed by discussion participated in by State Secretary xae VIn1Z oil Eoto ,e consin Lewis, College Secretary Mishard and others
 The discussion took wide range, ques- tions as to all phases of work being answered by MT. McBirney, the point to determine be- ing what part of the work the secretary should take.
 One delegate then asked if there was not danger of making cast iron rules and discour- aging the secretaries through their difidence. MT. McBirney thought not.
 One secretary from the West told of a plan in his association by which every Saturday night some of the members were gathered together and taught to become workers in public meetings, foregoing their supper and being provided with simple tea at the asso- citation rooms. "Who pays for the tea ?" in quired one. ''The association" was the reply.
 Mir. Mckinney said that his association had adopted a rule to prevent the election of of ficers of the association by clique, without sufficient notification to all the members State Secretary Munhall of Indiana said that under the present order of things nearly every secretary a salaried officer and at tended the conventions as the representative of his society. He thought it would be pre- fe1able oftentimes to have the organizations represented by members who were not among the officers.
 State Secretary Lewis, of Wisconsin, said he Ennyy Of oCS0oiatiNcc yrbara foitbfn1 yuork was done by the committees. aided by the general secretary, and yet the latter had suc- ceeded in keeping himself entirely out of view. This was what was wanted. One of the most difficult duties of a secre- tary was the leadership of public meetings. There was often great trouble in getting young men to take part in these meetings. They were difident or lacking in zeal. Did not the members want to be instructed in this share of their duties as well as in other things
 MT. McBirney replied that the secretary should strive to instruct the members in the whole range of Christian duties. He remem- bered the case of a secretary who was back
 ward in prayer to pray aloud in his own room daily until he had overcome his timid- ity about offering prayer in public. l Richard c. Morse. of New York, secretary of the international executive committee, | said he did not fear the apprehended danger CQaG bue ASSOCIATIONS WOuIO D6COul6 Secre- ! tarialized," as at the last national convention at Cleveland, of 4O1 delegates who attended | less than ninety were secretaries At this point the members of the conference rose l and sang F'Only for Thee" after which a | discussion was resumed upon the paper read Thursday by Walter c. Douglass, of St. Louis upon E'the secretary's relation to young men, showing their fitness for the sec retaryship."
 A delegate wanted to know what consti- l tuted ''call" to the secretaryship, and in | response to the request of the conference l MT. Douglass related how he was convert | ed and brought into the work as a secretary. Secretary Williams of Ohio, thought that | the work should seek the man, and not that
 the man should be looking for place. Mir Wilkins made the point that men se- I lected for the secretaryship should be earnest, 1 Godly men, and that before they chosen | some knowledge should be had of their pre- l vious religious work. Further, they should | be tested with difficulties to try their perse verance, should be tried in committee work, etc. Mir. Wilkins added that many young
 men, after these tests would be found better 1 fitted for the ministry, as they might be de- | ticient in the business tact necessary in asso- | citation work.
 | MT. Watkins, of the international commit l tee, read a series of questions a coniden- | tial note sent to reliable men to ascertain the I l ship. As the answers kept on file at the 1 office in New York, one delegate feared that l possibly a candidate might sometime see l some of the answers which wonld not be complimentary to him. The chairman sug- | gested that it might be good for him. An l other secretary, after hearing MT. Watkins l circular, asked, Ibid you ever find man to | fill the bill ?" Laughter drowned the an- | swer. There were several more humorous | comments upon the confidential circular mat
 ter until sober minded Mir. McBirney pro
 tested against the levity and asked that there
 be stricter attention to the topic Much of 1 the discussion was lost to many of the dele 1 gates through the inability or disinclination | of several to speak loud, and calls of loud l er' were frequent.
 l Mr Hall, of New York thought that if | man felt special solicitude for the souls of | young men and had ability for business de | tails he was called to the secretaryship, as l distinguished from call to the ministry, ! which is simply a burden for the salvation of
 souls in general It was this distinction, he
 thought that should be the guiding principle
 when a man in doubt as tQ which branch l of the Christian service to follow. | Mir. Weidensall of Chicago, inquired in a | sarcastic voice why it was that so many men l who had failed in all kinds of husipes1 they
 had undertaken felt called upon to take up
 Christian association work or the ministerial
 
 Mir. McBirney replied that he knew of no
 such case among the present list of secreta- l ries as Mir. Wiedensall had described.
 "A Secretarys First Duties in New
 Field' was the next topic. The discussion
 was opened by the reading of paper by Mr,
 Yahtnlan. It was an able paper. The sub
 iect was ably handled. He thought the sec
 retary should be on very intimate terms with
 the Lord have watchful eye on the ap-
 psarance of the rooms and see that they are
 kept tidy and attractive and systematize this
 daily. If things do not move, move them,
 [applausel, but not under high pressure; it
 will not pay. Find opportune moments for
 calling members and business men the
 secretary ought to be alliterative enough to
 have push, piety and power, and use tact
 rather than tongue. The paper was replete
 with witty and sarcastic remarks and was ap
 plauded
 Several other new secretaries gave their
 experiences on this point. MT. Shelton of
 Worcester, said the association rooms in that town had been formerly lighted with kero