St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-11-16

pare we the way of the Lord" by the
North and South churches, the general
secretary of Y. NJ. c. A. read the script
ures and offered prayer. "Jesus shall
reign where e'er the sum-" was sung by
the congregation. After few intro
ductory remarks by the president who
explained that the meeting was to give
the public an idea of what the Y. NJ. C..
AS all over the world, and in this state
and town, are doing, he introduced
Rev. Z. T. Sandford who in speaking
of "The work of the International Y.
NJ. C. A. committee" gave a brief
sketch of the formation of the first
Young Mems Christian Association or
ganized in the world. In June, 1874,
George Williams, poor clerk in a
store in London, England, felt the need
of some special work for young men
and began it by inviting young men
into his bedroom. Mr.. Williams, who
still resides in London, has lived to
see the growth of what E. X. Hendrix,
d. D., president of Central college,
calls "The religious movement of the
nineteenth century" Dec. 9, 1851, an
association in America was formed in
Montreal and twenty days later, with
out the knowledge of the Montreal as
sOciatiOn, the first one in the United
States was organized in Boston. Now
there are associations in all parts of
the world but China. DR.. T. l.. Cuyler
says, "The association has cut clear
way for itself into every civilized land
on the globe" In abiding to the rail-
road work of the committee, Mr.. Sand
ford made a strong appeal for special
work among railroad men.
Rev. Henry Fairbanks spoke of the
estate Y. NJ. C. A. work." beginning
with the evangelistic labor commenced
in 1875 through the suggestions of
Messrs. Moore and Remington of Mass.
He told of the wonderful results from
gospel meetings and pointed out the
gradual change in the character of the
specific work for young men. He
called attention to the fact that the
population of Vermont is changing !;
the American born young men leaving
the farms at an early age, and the for
eigners remaining this brings new
responsibilities to us. We must lead
oar American young men to Christ be-
fore they go away, and we must Chris
tianize and so Americanize the foreign
element. One practical way was
through Y. NJ. c. A. work. He stated
that during the past year the executive
committee employed a state secretary
for three months and one result was
that strong associations were organ
lied ut Brattleboro and Rutland and
general secretaries placed in each
tOwn,-the one in Rutland receiving
his salary from the pay roll of the
railroad company, the same as an en-
gineer would. 1t is hoped that ID. F.
Moore, the state secretary who is now
working ut Lyndonville, may this year
be employed for at least six months.
Rev. E. T. Fairbanks spoke on "The
! PASTORS relation to the Y. NJ. C.. Az
He thought the feeling of one pastor
represented that of all well-informed
pastors, and he was glad to give the
right hand of fellowship to the work
in this village. Time was when the
pastors were suspicious of the new or
ganization every new thing must be
tested this new movement was scruti-
nized and bore the test. What we
, have learned elsewhere and seen here,
makes the pastors relation to the Y.
NJ. c. A. similar to his relation to the
Home missionary society. He was de-
lighted with the Straightforward, prac
teal work of associations.
"The Y. NJ. C. A. an Auxiliary to
the Church" was the topic spoken upon
, by Rev. H. W. Jones. The church is
one and manifold. The association
: furnishes a chance for the expression
of sympathy existing between various
sects. Some kinds of work must be
done by more than one church. We
see Il stone in the brook which we want
to pick up. We poke at it with stick
and move it into deeper water ! We
use a pair of tongs and lift it out
without trouble. A denominations
stick may drive sinner into deeper
water unite the churches into Y
VI. G. A. and then use these tOngs and
the soul will be reached.
, Rev. ID. H. Adams spoke of 'Tht
benefit of Y. NJ. G. A work to the
Church and How" He said the spirit
that organized professionalism by Luther
did the same for the Y. NJ. C.. A. The
future pastors and deacOns mnst and
will come from just such young mel
as he saw in the young mems meetings
at the Y. NJ. C.. A. rooms that p. III
The best workers in the church arr
association workers. Think of the
mighty influence felt in the churcl
through the 2400 associations now or
ganized Association workers infused
!, new life into the church and furnished
her with lay helpers. Another benef
was that all Christians were brough
into oneness and sects were then ant
there forgotten.
"What the Association has a right t.
:, expect from the Community" wa
II c,,ol,,,, of L., Dow L. w r,Iyar ~ l..