Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-21
]. NJ. c. A.
A History of the Organization-Its OBJ
jects and Aims.

piled, was for the salvation of Young men
1t is fact undeniable that at the present
time there are demoralizing influences sur
rounding young men as never existed in
the past, and if they will not come to US
we must go to them. He gave brief his
tory of the origin of the Association in Lon
don-how it was brought about by young
man who was employed in a commercial
house with eighty Others of the success
that attended his efforts; of its elevating
and beneficial effects of its Endorsement
by the employers of its immediate recog-
milton and rapid spread until to-day the
organization has
SPREAD ENTIRELY AROUND THE WORLD,
Until there is no cline, no country, no
island of the sea, that has not heard of or
felt its beneficial effects. A passport from
the general headquarters, letter of in
dorsement from the International Commit
tee, will find recognition in every inhabit-
able part of the globe. The Young Mems
Christian Union is the religious movement
of the nineteenth century. 1t has come to
stav, and because of its numerical strength
it cannot be dislodged The speaker then
proposed to take tour of the world, start
ing from its birthplace, London. He gave
the number of associations in England,
Scotland and Wales, and stated that even
in unhappy Ireland % were to be found.
Crossing the Atlantic to Nova Scotia, we
find in the city of Halifax an association of
600 young men occupying building of
their own, which cost SAC, 900. All through
Maine, and in fact every considerable town
in the New England States, the association
had footing. The association
WAS FIRT PLANTED IN AMERICA,
At Boston, in 1852, and here we find an
Association of 1900 young men who have
outgrown their building. which cost $500,
000 and are now erecting a larger and
more imposing one at a cost of $780, 900.
In the town of Worcester they have
building which cost $4,000. In New
York city the Association occupies build
ing which cost 100000, every dollar Of
which has been paid. Here fully 1000
young men pass their evenings, and, on an
average, from 600 to 500 congregate there
nightly Their Reception Committee is
composed of some of the highest and best
Young men in the city, several of whom
are millionaires, who devote much of their
| time in hunting out the young men who
are strangers in the city. They entertain,
| educate, restrain from vice, secure employ
ment for and elevate all they can. They
have gymnasium second to none in the
country, reading-room with 600 periodi-
| caiS-all the best that are published
schools for teaching bookkeeping, French,
Spanish, German, mechanical drawing,
music, etc.
PRAYER MEETINGS ARE HELD
One night in the week, and they are well
attended. Philadelphia has a building
| that cost the Association 100000, similar
in every respect as to management to that
of New York. In Washington City, the
Capital City of the Republic, the Y. NJ. G..
A. occupies an elegant building that orig
inally was erected for heightened club.
I The citizens of the Capital City purchased
the building for the Y. NJ. C. A, and to-
day it is used to elevate and not degrade
young men. In all of the cities along the
trunk lines of railway to Chicago and in
| the latter city we find the Association
equally as well housed and prosperous, and
all doing a great and humanitarian work.
Across the continent the same thing can be
said of every considerable settlement. In
crossing the plains we find
| CITY AMONG THE CLOUDS,
The most elevated of any in the world save
one, a city which celebrated divine has
cassed as the wickedest in the world, but
we even find in Leadville that the Y. NJ.
| G.. A. has a footing and is doing excellent
service in the cause of Christianity. He
passed quite complimentary remarks upon
the flourishing condition of the Association
in Sacramento, of its excellent manage
ment, and of the large amount Of good that
the Association in this city was accom-
plishing. IN San Francisco, city that
has more young men in proportion to its
population than any other upon the globe,
the Association was well organized and ac-
complishing a great good. Other cities
throughout the coast had their local Asso-
Citations. that were in highly prosperous
condition. There are in the United States
to-day upwards of LOCO Associations, with
an aggregate membership of 10000. In
| 1866 they did not own a single building !;
to-day they own ninety, valued at upwards
of S5,000,000 In the United States and
Canadas
! THOUSANDS OF YOUNG MEN
| Through this Association are furnished
respectable and remuneratiye employment,
led into Christian boarding houses, visited
when sick, etc. Intelligent ability is be-
ing consecrated to Christian work every
where in the workshop, the commercial
house. in German settlements, amongst
railroad employees, etc. The railroad cor
porations have not been slow to perceive
the good work of the Y NJ. c. A. among
their employees, and to-day siXty-five sec
retaries are on their regular monthly pay
rolls The railroad companies contribute
annually to the Associations maintenance
100000. Continuing the journey, we find
a fourishing branch at Honolulu, occu-
pying $4,000 building; twelve cities in
Australia; several in New Zealand.
South Africa and Madagascar have
associations that are doing much in
this great work. In the city of Nazareth,
where Christ was despised; in the city OF
| x--t,a hot in bp 10 .
in Damascus, and in all the cities of Pales-
tine are these associations to be found. The
same can be said of Egypt, Turkey,
Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Switzer-
land. In Germany it has a strong footing.
In Russia it has lately entered. and the
Gar has discovered in the Y. NJ. c. A.
THE ANrIDoTE FOR NIHILIsM.
Over forty associations are working in
the good cause in Norway and Sweden.
Thus it will be seen that the Y. NJ. G. A.
has grown in forty-,wo years until it has
encircled the entire globe-the great world
is its parish. 1t is vigorous in its methods,
aggressive in its policy and far-reaching in
its influence. 1t reaches multitudes OF
young men that the churches could never
reach. He rejoiced at the healthy condi-
ton of the Society in Sacramento. II
spoke well for the city. 1t should have the
moral support OF every Soou lnaH anu
woman. They should also contribute coin
necessary to its support. 1t appeals to the
business men and taxpayers. Shall the
young become taxpayers themselves, oI
a burden upon the taxpayer? The Assocla-
tons rooms are open 365 days in the year
and are fighting the saloons in the most
effectual manner possible. Many young
men get their first lessons of evil. take the
first downward step, by frequenting saloons
to while away an evening simply because
they have no other place to go. Once they
visit the y. NJ. C. A. rooms they are lost &c
the saloons. A young man, if he is any
thing, he is social, and society he musi
have. In the laying of cornerstone of q
Y. NJ. c. A. hall that cost half million
dollars a speaker said g If this building
during the time 1t remains standing, is the
means of
SAVING But ONE YOUNG MAN,
1t is wise investment After the exercises
were over the speaker was approached by
a matter-of-faot business man, who asked
did you really mean what YOU said thai
this enormous investment would be a wise
one if it was the means of saving only one
young man" The minister eyed him for a
moment, and then replied, I" Yes. sir; and
so would you if that young man was your
son.
A representative of the RECORD UxIoS
learns from Mr.. Watkins the following
: concerning the work of the committee
, which he represents The international