Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-11

broadening Christian charity and drawing
ort their noble>t ,ympaihic'. IL gives
thCm patriotic. phlisnthropic, and Christian
worn which Trey alone are tilted 10 do, and
numbers 10 promote efficiency and excite
enthusiasm. IL makes them feel their re-
| spOnsibility for the salvation Of their neigh
| hors. and mStructs them how 10 labor for
! the accomplishment OF that Chrstly end.
We have eight thousand young men in
! ibis city, and we shall never have less, but
probably more with the increa,ins poDu.
latioD. Then, in defining the young
men-since p lac is always Older 1t twelve
than at twenty fve-we must include the
boy, for the boy is father OF the man and
makes or unmakes The nlan. And we
have men and boys who are In constant
and imminent danger. Associations we
hay c in abundance-ior Young men are
gregaTous- clubs. dfnciug companies. as
sOoiatiOus which nave for their Tallyng
point the saloon, the billiarG.room, the
gambling table, music societies, military
companies, dcbating societies. and secret
societies. II iSa principle Ola young mans
nature 10 associate. There is 1 natural
craving for it. We cannot help their a,sO-
ciating. For lawful aud unlawful purposes
they will and do associate.
How necessary then the place oi this As
,ocatiOn, which seeks TO furnish the loitIest
'asis of Union among young men, and to
present the wOrthirst and hoies- OBJECTS OF
pursuit.
Grateful ere we for the high reputation
which Richmond enjoys for the unity OF
Christian sentiment which pervades our
people. for the number and efficiency Of
our churches and dcburch-membcrs, for our
respect for the Bible aud the Lords Day,
and the staid conservatism bequeathed b
US by noble sires-in a word, for the healthy
moral atmosphere which enshrouds our
community and yet, Notwithstanding ali
these aids 10 virtue, i tell you there are
thousands OF our young men who are liable
to 90 down to ruin amid them all.
Think Of the strangers, the bOarderS, the |
homeless young men. The FIRST week OF n |
stranger in our city is crisis in his life
the first step towards God and heaven Of |
hell. That young mans heart will not stay |
empty long. He will find companions.
Evil VIII hold out ITS hands at every cor
ucr. Now, where will he a place where |
that Young man is welcomed! Where my !
be 20 without Introduction or letter OF |
credit and he cordially received! Our pas |
tors aIe too busy 10 look after him person |
slly. You do not care to present an un- |
known young man into All innocent |
uOlIts II etilOuS uuSiUCNN. IOu luluh /
Of the man who warmed 10 life i
the frozen viper in his bosom. The churches |
are open scsrcely more than two days in the |
week. Besides, the class most needing help |
DO not care 10 have ANYTHING TO do with the |
churches. Where shall the homeless 60 at |
the close OF bis days work for recreation.
rest, enjoyments More than two hundred |
saloons III the city are ready to allure him.
Shall we leave our young men 10 their ten
der merciesy Now, this Association is an
asylum for all homeless young men.
For twelve months, tfty-two weeks, and
thrse hundred and sixty.fve days Of every
year. this hospltable hall will fling wide its
portals. Hundreds, thousands doubtless.
will seek its blessed influences throughout
the years 10 come. and be brought by its
moral and spiritual powers into present
and everlasting salvation.
Let the building 90 up. The prayers and
good wishes Of eightythousand citizens are
its enduring foundation. Their approving
eyes will cheer the architect and nerve the
artisans who do his bidding all the weeks
which must elapse before it stands forth In
all its beauty, symmetry, and stately
~ engtb. II architecture be brazen music,
what an organ. and orchestra, and
aud chorus OF evangelical
psalmody body themselves in those
bricks ard mortar. II the edifce be q
poem In stone what sublime epic Of Para.
ise Regained il will chant forth TO the
,inuing and sorrowing and struggling in
his weary world. Let the building 90 up
u the name OF the young man Christ
Jesus" Goo manifest in the flesh the
,nly Mediator between God and man. the
Sedeemer and Saviour Of men. Let IL with
tand the wasting elements, war, panics,
eyoutons, social upheayals. all destruc-
i've agencies-su survive the death OF the great
epublic itself-as witness OF the imperish-
bic religion il imparts 10 the world till
'hrist shall come the second time In glory |
0 Judge the world sud reward His servants.
TUE BENEDiCrI0N.
when Or. Landrum closed his excellent
ddress Mr.. Christian asked that the choir
iould lead and the whole congregation
Din in singing the lOng.metre doxology,
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings
low"
Rev. Joshua Peterkin pronounced the
cnediction.
THE PRESENT OFFICERS.
The present officers OF the Association
re: A. III. Christian, Jr., president,
ames Caskie, first vice-president; John q.
reerpan, second yicespresident; Roberts.
osher, third yiee-president; Howard
wineford, james ID. Crump, James 4.
ray. ID. r. Lumsden. William A. Price, |
. K. WhIilock, Manfred Call, Joseph
ryan, directors; Charles X. Willis, tres- I
Wer; j. b. walthall, corresponding SEQ I
'tary; II. M. Clarke, general secretary; |
II. White, librarian.