Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-27
THOMAS X. CREE'S
Address on the Necessity for the Estab-
Iishment Of q Young Mems Chris
tiaR Association,
Delivered at Meeting Held On Sunday
Last at the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church-First Steps to that End.

Young men OF hemphis, and to hesr 40 ad-
dress BY Mr.. Thorn az K. Cree, OF New York,
of the International organization OF
the Young Mems Christian Association.
The Rev. Mr.. Jones offered prayer. Mr..
Cree read come selections OF Scripture. After
singing, the Rev. Mr.. Daniel offered prayer,
asking the blessing of God on any move
ment having for its object the welfare OF the
young men OF the city.
10 opening the meeting MIR. Cree said he
had consulted with most Of the pastors and
found them heartily in sympathy with an
association movement. Hesaid the Rev. Mr..
Steele had been member Of the State Young
Mems Christian ASCOT alton in Virginia.
The Rev. Mr.. Jones had tried TO carry on
work for young men, using the rooms an his
own church; the Rev. Mr.. Mahan had been
debating the thing in his own mind for some
time; the Rev. Mr.. Daniel was in sympathy
with such movement; the Rev. Mr.. Ven
able would heartily cooperate; the Rev: Mr..
Lamar had just organized Young Mems
Christian Association In South Carolina,
and saw the importance OF the work here.
The Rev. DR.. White said during many years
of his rectorship he had been grieyed at the
going sslray of 30 many young men, and he
would heartily second any effort in behalf Of
this importan class. Mr. Cree said they had
iuat raised $4,000 in Nashville for the ssso-
citation the coming year. In Chattanooga
thev had secured $500 for the work the
prssept yeaT, ard in Knoxville Sl2OO, ana
ii at a movement here meant not less than
$1,000 "a minimum cum, the securing OF
good rooms and the procuring OF trained
sscratarv. = youpg.nasu fully acquainted with
Young Mems Chrisiias Association WORK.
capable of organizing young men, ' " '0"
secrated Christian fellow, enthusiastic and
leyel-hesdee, as good business man az be
was a Christian,
Mr.. Cree said Southern divine, ID aking
tour Of the world, had said he regarded the
Young Mems Christian Association as the
great religious movement OF the nineteenth
century. He had met with it, and found it
actively at work III every country he had Wis.,
tied. In the Holy Land he had iousd ii at
Nazareth, the home OF our Savior; at DAmss-
cue, the old city where Paul first preached;
at Joppa, whittier Jonah went as he was flee
ing from the call of duty. He had found
them not only in London. Paris and Geneva,
but in Constantiuople, Yokohama, Hong
Kong, Calcutta, Capeiown in Africa, and in the
islands of the sea. Mr.. Cree referred
TO the special temptations of young men,
and said they were, as class, largely
outside Of churches and Sunday-schools,
and that the places Of vice were filled
with them. He said the association
work now meant deh1ite WOLF for young
men by young men. Ii recognized the
fact TAT young men had social, intellectual
and physical natures as well as spiritual,
aud that the association catered TO all these.
While it provided young mems prayer meet
ings and Bible classes, 1t also provided at
tractive readiDg-rooms and psflors, musi-
cal and literary entertainments, and aided
them in seeking employment, getting board
inghouses, and was home for the stranger
young man. Mr.. Cree spoke of the
associations work in colleges AMI on the
line Of railroads. He also referred to its
work for boys AZ being one Of the Important
branches of It's effort. In closing he said
Memphis was the only city OF it's size that he
he knew OF in this country that had
not Young Mems Christian Association,
with a secretary and an active work for it's
young mep. Mr.. Cree's address was clear,
logical and very interesting, and while mar
rating how much was being done by ChriF-
tian effort in all the cities of the world for
the encouragement and welfare of the
thousands of young men who continually
throng TO them from their distant homer; we
were not surprised at the alarming in8ifier-
ence for the churches and religious services
by the young men of Memphis, who DOUBT
less have felt the almost criminal neglect for
their spiritual and moral welfare, exhibited
by the young men themselves aud by the
business men of the city.
The Rev. Mr.. Steele said he had been con-
nected with Christian Association work be-
fore coming TO Memphis, and was surprised
to find there was no association here, and
thought there wss great need Tor such an
agency. He said in the University of Vir-
ginia, with which he had been connected, the
Il A
citation wss simply wonderful. They carried
on all the religious work OF the institution
In Richmond, where he had been a pastor,
the association had handsome rooms, and
had carried on successful courses OF lectures
and revival among young men that had
gre atty strengthened the churches had its
inception in The meetings of the Young Mems |
Christian Association. He expressed his de- |
ire to co-operale with such an agency, and |
elt the need there was for it.
The Rev. MIR. Jones said the great need |
If the city was some place where the young
men could go and spend their evenings. Al |
1rt sent there was no place, only those OF
nature. To establish a per-
nsnent association it would be necessary to
ecure suitable and well furnished rooms.
This would involve considerable expense,
or without such rooms the organisation
would soon have merely a name and local
abita ion. He thought if the matter was
rought before the merchants and business
nen Of the city that they would see it would
e TO their Interests to provide place where
heir employees would spend their evenings
rec from The vices incident to city Lille.
loney was easily raised to equip the mill
sry companies of the city, and it could be
lore easily raised for this nobler purpose.
Re urged the appointment of a committee 10
ring the matter before the business men.
Mr.. Pepper said he had been connected
Iith the old association here some ten years
go. 1t had done a very good work, bht
bose connected with il were young men Of
united mesns, add they had found them
elves unable to bear the financial part of
ne association and had very reluctantly
bandonsd it. He said it had probs bly, failed
rom lack of some one man whose business it
-as TO make il a success and 10 manage the
fairs OF the association. He thought there
as great need for some such worK for young
len as The Christian Association proposed
, do.
DR.. Mshsn said he wss old in years, but
OF in heart, that be had been connected
18th the old association, and knew the bust
esq men of Memphis would literally sus-
lin work that looked to the welfare of the
otog men of the city. He felt the need
as good rooms and an efficient secretary,
ne young in years and trained in the work.
The Rev. Mr.. Venable suggested The wis
ON OF selecting come large-hesrted, leading
tiseus, who feel a deep interest in the
Iorals oil young men, 10 thoroughly canvass
lie matter among the business men. He did
Of think it we'll TO have too many on the
,m nIittee.
Judge Heiskell said there was r pressing
eed for work for young men. The city was
III OF them, sHd they were coming in large
lmbers. The Christian people owed it to
emselyes TO provide a nice attract i've suite
rooms that they might offer as a substi-
lie for the places of vice which abound
ere, as they do in every city, and which
ere largely resorted to by young men. He {
I'D The business men would respond liber- I
ly to any call that might be made on
em 10 sustain such work. He offered 4 I
otlon that a committee of five be APP
'inted to confer with Mr.. Cree, and TO take t
oh steps as may seem wise to secure
edges for the amount necessary TO secure q c
aimed secretary, open rooms and carry on
e work Tor one year; TO prepare constitu- r
IN and to call another meeting when they /
e ready for it.
Dir. Cree suggested that all who favored
e organization of Young Mems Christian G
isocistion should rise, and the whole audi
&c stood up.
Mr.. Bstting suggested that the committee U
naue one from each church.
After discussion, the motion appointing
e was adopted, and the following gentle
N were nsmed as members of it: Messrs.
ltler Jack, E. F. Wills, F. P. Anderson,
OF. w. 5. Jones and George Fox.
On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet :
xt Sunday evening, at o'clock, in The /.
mberlsnd Presbyterian church.
PERSONAL. I