Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-10
YOUNG CHRISTIANS
Appealed to in Behalf o. The Projected
Ass0ciation--St:rring SPEECHES by
Mr.. Cree, Of New YORK.;
Judge G.. W. Heiskell, The Rev. Mr..
Sweeney and The Rev. Ir. Lamar
Interesting Statements Of Growth
Elsewhere.

The S cond Presbyterian church was filed
TO overlooking on Sunday night, on the occa-
sion Of the meeting 10 the interest OF the
Young Mems Christian Association. After
an opening anthem, rendered in good syle
by the excellent choir, Mr.. John Pepper, the
presiding officer, introduced the Rev. Mr..
Caldwell, who read tue XVIIIh Psalm. The
Rev. Mr.. Lamar offered the opening prayer.
After stating the object Ct the meeting,
Mr. Pepper introduced Mr.. Thomss K. Cree,
Of New York, secretary Of the International
Committee, who spoke as follows:
Mr.. Cree said: 81 hold ia my hand a
little pamphlet in the Syrisc language. 1t
is the report OF the Young Mems Christian
Association, Of Beirut, Syria. From little
notice which l cut from paper, l read
that the Gar Of the Russias, at a recent
u citing Of the Moscow Young Mems Chris
tisn Associ alton, presented them with sJme
books and Bibles and Russian obligation Of
100. / saw recsntlya an invitation to & new
year reception of Young Mems Christian
Association, printed in Chinese. This illus
,rates how universal are these organizations,
and that they sre workiog for young men
in every land. Ia Great Britain there sre
400. Germany 425, Holland, 450, France s.,
Spain 10, Italy 20, Turkey %, Russia 7,
Asia 81, Africa 10. n this country there
are S9l. with a membership OF 100000,
owning properly worth 100000, and en-
ploying 500 general secretaries. The asso-
Citations are reaching out after all classes OF
Young men. Fifty-sIx secretaries are at
work among 100000 railroad men, and
railroad companies pay $4,000 per an
nun 10 this work, and say it pays.
Fifteen secretaries are at work among the
$50 900 German-speakiDg young meD. AID
effort is making for the 100000 commercial
travellers, and 180 associations are at work
in colleges among the 60 600 students. The
associations are now doing definite work
for young men, and recognze the De-
cessity for having young men do the work;
a young man as general secretary and 4
young IN management 10 the associations. In
Memphis there are 5000 young men; some
are in the churches, many more are outside
Of them; some are in good homes, many are
strangers away from their homes. The asso.
citation wants to reach and help this class,
and it il an assured fact, az $1,000 is pledged
toward the work.
The Rev. Mr.. Sweeney was introduced and
said the Young Mems Christian Association
was organic d in London, in 1914, by a
Young man who felt the need OF the COM
partnership of other young men, and saw the
great field open for effort by young men for
Young men. The little seed thea planted
has grown until it has become strong tree,
whose broad, plant branches stretch out over
and embrace ia their shelter All nations, auu
under them are gathered young men of every
nationality, speaking every tongue. He said
the Young Mems Christian Association was
the practical fluff .lment of the prayer of our
G.. Ill he hnl q iorhf he
In its work we forget our denominations
differences, and present 10 the world uaited
Church. 1t gives us broader ideas, more lib
eralily and a common sympathy in great
work. Speaking of !he growth Of the work,
he said there are nearly 1000 associations in
this country, owning large property, con-
trolling large interests and doing magui6-
cent work. He retentsd an interesting Ia
BILE showing the growth Of the. Chicago $780,
citation in single year, work in which he
had been actively engaged. In speaking OF
it he said some one had said, "If the work
was we'll done in Chicago it would influence
the great Northwest. What moved the
Northwest Influenced the couatry, and this
country was The growing center OF the world"
So he would say that Memphis was a COM
manding central point in the Mississippi val
ley; through it flowed the trade and influ-
ences that went out into all parts of the
world. So that work we'll done here would
reach out TO an unlimited extent. He re.
ferred incidentally TO The fact that the
Young Mems Chrislisn Association h sd pro-
duced such workers as Moody, Saukey,
Whittle, Bliss, and others who had nightly
moved the religious thought OF the day.
Judge Hsiskell wac introduced, and spoke
of the influence OF young men and the pos
abilities of young manhood; OF the import
auce Of of definite effort for this class. He
said: The churches and pastors are doing
much, but they cannot DO it all. Many young
men never go to church, never hear a ser
mon, and if they are reached il must b,
be done by laymea and outside of the usua
church effort. He spoke of the remarkable
growth OF the association work, giving fact
aud figures. He said in 1870 there were bu
three associations south of Virginia; nov
there are niUety- five. In the States west o
Ohio 10 1865 there we're but thirty-nine as
sociations; now there sre 236; then Their
were no association buildings, now there ar
| eleven, worth $200,00 He spoke of the rail
road work and OF the fact that thoughtful
| shrewd railroad men said it paid TO inyes
| s65, 900 per aunum in this work among thei
| employees. He alluded 10 the work in col
leges and among the Germans, giving yer.
| encouraging report OF the growth OF III
work in every direction. He made an earn
est appeal to the business men TO sustain
this WORK, and in doing 50 alluded to tn
| gIittering temptations this city offered I
| Young men. He said the Association waDte
| 10 offer rooms that will vie in attractive
ness with those offered by piece
| of vice; wan, 10 attract young me-
| by cures, music, companionship, liters
lures games ard social life, as wei
| as by its more direct religious agencies
| He said the busiress men of Memphis viii
| find the money invested in sustaining tn
work here paying investment, but its yau
could not be recorded in dollars and cant
| only; it was the difference between useful an
blasted lives, and its influence went on an
could only be measured fully BY the stand
ard Of eternity.
| The Rev. Mr.. Lamar was Introduced, an
said he was thinking of the fsct that 50 man
young men never went 10 church, neve
heard a sermon, and the poiot was TO cate
them. He illustrated the Association ide
by countryman's idea of how he caugh
crows. He made an earnest appeal for tn
Association and for the young men OF the city
| and expressed his deep interest in The Assc
citation movement. The meeting Close d wit
| the benedietion by the Rev. Mr.. Daniel.
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
| The following are those who have coptribr
| led toward encouraging the establishment
| Young Mems Christian Association: