Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-10-13


men aud let those who have had more ca
Jericncc than | have answer the second.
The average American boy might be placed
n one of three different classes. |. The one
who is his mothers boy. He will usually
remain his mothers boy. When his hair is
turning gray he will yet be his mothers boy.
She amuscs him, reads 10 him, takes him 10
proper places of amusement, cultivate benc-
fetal tastes in him. AS he grows up, his
father, begins to take an interest in him.
lie goes with him everywhere. The boy
becomes acquainted with his father, and
thinks him very good father indeed.
.. The second boy may be the sou either
If wealth or of poverty. His mother IS a
very good housekeepcr-so good that he Is
sent ont of the house to prevent his making
dirt and noise Nor is he seldom seen out
with his father except at the circus. While
the chances that the first boy will become Il
Christian are ninety-nnc in one hundred,
those of the second boy are about even, with
the balance against him. 1t is possible that
he may grow up a respectable and even "A
moral man.
D. The third boy is sometimes the child
of wealth, but usually of poverty. lie has
no training. lie does not 20 to Sunday
school or to day school lie is poorly fed
and clothed. He runs in the street, and is
well vcrsed in street education lie is sharp
and shrewd, but most desperately wicked
These are the boys who are to become
young men. Before doing anything for them
we must prepare ourselves to exercise the
proper influence. AS | said before ! will
not discuss the fact of the subject, further
than to make these three propositions; First
the boy must be reached. Second, he can he
reached. Third, the reaching of him is the
r;, oF Ia, N.n,Y Non'o ('hriu
tian Association. This is work that needs
faith and trust Let us trust in the Lord,
and work. whether we see immediate results
or not.
In the informal discussion of the topic
which followed, the following points were
made Christian discipline must not be too
strict. Work for boys should be constant.
not confined to Sundays and particular oc-
caSions. Young men, by reason of their
manliness have the greatest influence over
boys Y. VI. Z. a. work is concerned only
with the second and third class Of boys men
toned by the speaker In the country, work
for boys shonld be Sabbath.school work.
The next topic assigned to President Buck
ham, was necessarily omitted on account of
the speakers inability to be- present. II being
near the hour appointed for the collation. at
Y. VI. c. A. Hall, the convention then ad-
journcd, to rcassemble at > o'clock.
A bountiful collation. was served at noon
for the delegates n, the \. NJ. {. a. hall
Grace was said by the Rev. DIR. Worcester
of this city.
Afternoon Session
At O'Clock Il prayer and conference meet
ing was held, attention being directed to the
work in Vermont especially. At 230 tho
topic Importance of meetings exclusively
for young men was taken up by Charles IL.
Sage OF st. Johusbury. Such meetings are
important he said, because they tend TO devcl-
up our youugmen. lthclps them in their Chris
tian growth. \ separate meeting is better be
cause young men work by different methods
than the old. With an audience II young
men only Young man feels more free and
uncmbarrassed. The sentiment of the audi
cncc is more friendly. Too often an Ole
mcus meeting is called II young mems meet
ing. Ii it ia made up OF men over forty,
omit the word young. In AN exclusively
young mems meeting, delicate topics may he
brought upand pressed home to them. Coin
into II strange place the young man naturally
seeks acquaintance of his own age. Why no
use this natural tendency and turn it to goot
account:
The next topic taken up was "Ihc Wort
Of Associations in Small Towns and How
Can they be Made Permanent for Good,
introduced 10y Secretary Small. The larg
number of or associations in the small
towns. where there are but few young men
and the work is consequently carried on in
somewhat different manner than in the larg
place. In all places The Objc is the same
the salvation OF souls In the smaller place!
the work necessarily takes on more of til,
evangclistic character The work primaril,
concerns itself with our young men. Thci
interests ought to be the foremost thought
The work in the smaller places must from
the nature of things be directly personal
The associations should know every youn!
man in their towns. Forthis purpose the tow
might be divided into districts, thus maxim
the work easier. We must educate ourselve
TO have Il personal influence over the youn
men, and never rest until we bring them int
some church. To make the associations pei
mancnt for good there must be real gOodncs
| IN them. and to this end there must be good
ness in their members. Speaking OF TIA
cause of the decay of some associsions, MI
Small condemned smoking and dancing, AN
urged purity and goodness upon all member
of the organization.
G.. W. Kennedy of Waterbury, thought
young man would find the worst influence
among the small towns of Vermont -wors
than Battery street, Burlington, or the Fy
Points, and he drew IL dreadful picture of tn
aforesaid unhappy towns.
A Rutland county delegate told the stor
OF the organization of young mems assocl'
tons in that part of the state and spoke
high praise OF the organization.
Another delegate spoke Of the best metl
DDS of performing Christian work by am
among young men.
George +. Davis said the work Of the "A
sociations must necessarily 60 on Il dlilc
cnt plan in the large and small places, ii
had been surprised by the sin and iniquity I
hc found in the smaller country towns. W
should rcdOuhlc our Efforts to do sOmcthin
for them.
The moral condition of the small town
was defended by Mr.. Sargent. OF Castlctoi
lie did not believe that the towns were 1T
tcrioraing morally.
Mr.. Watkins thought that there were ;
many temptations in the small places rs
the large, lie made some practical sugSe
tons as to association work
How to awaken and retain the nterc'
of the public in our work was considered |
John &. Lynch, secretary ol the Burllngto
y. VI. G. \. We should first, hr sai'
thoroughly understand the objects Of OF
| uSSbIlull'u anu lii'l ll'th' NV PN'ih hi'''
stand them. The fundamentally of Il
papers ought 10 be used. Anniversary NEE
Ing should be held. our publications shou
bc circulated freely. Our work ought
he kept prominently before the public,
A number OF questions about associate
work were asked by several delegates III
answered ny Mr. Lynch, and n general di
cusslon followed.
The meeting WAS then adjourned in ord
tina, delegates might visit the Home for ID
slitute Children in compliance with an i
vlalion from the managers.
Evening Session.
The meeting in the evening was held Al Il
Methodist church, which was well filed I
the occasion. 4 praise service was held I
half an hour, after which came the addre
by Rev. j. II. Rabbit of SwantOn on "1I
Holy Spirit and our Work" AS there a