The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-08
WILL STICK TO IT'S LINE.
A CASE SUPPOSED FOR THE BENZ
FIT OF THE Y. M. c. A.
Friendly Suggestions from Different
Minded People, and How They VIII
Ultimately Break Down the Structure
Notes of Meetings.

Prepared 10y Secretary W. d. Laumaster.
Many OF the good people OF Memphis
still have AN entire misconception OF the
aim and object OF the Young Mems Chris
tian association. They think we ought to
look after every tramp that comes along,
young or old; that we ought to dispense
charities of all kinds; that we ought to
work for women as well as men; that we
ought to do temperance work; that we
ought to hold evangelistic meetings; thsG
we ought, in fact, to DO ready TO take up
any particular line of work which has in it
the promise of good results. Why, bless
your hearts, ii il was only work We were
after we could find millions OF it all around
us-good work, too. We could be
up 10 our eyes in good work from
January TO December 81. II we
were to follow the suggestions of some
OF our friends, and perhaps in all
that time not be doing stroke toward the
improvement Of the spiritual. mental, So
cial and physical condition OF young men.
Now, dear friends, you people with big,
tender hearts, who are so anxious TO see
good work done that you would rejoice to
see the Young Mems Christian associa-
ton do it, are you doing your part OF this
work Haven't you rs much time and
talent and bigger net income than the
y. NJ. &. A.? Suppose for a moment
you are dry goods merchant. You are
making fair profits and doing well. but a
friend one day drops in and says: 81 say,
friend Brown, why don't you 20 into the
stationery business, there is lots OF money
in it," And suppose you Immediately go
out and rent another store and set up
stationery business. Things 20 tolerably
well though somehow the dry
goods trade gets a little dull and
don't pay as well as II did. One day
another friend drops in and says:
Drown, do YOU know there's lots OF
money TO be made now in real estate?"
And NJ once yOpl 90 ont and pay S75 q
month ior room ten by twelve for n real
estate office. You are Obliged TO spend
some time in the dry goods store, and
while You are there a man with lots OF
rocks, " which he proposes 10 exchange
for Memphis quicksand, comes along, but
You are not in, so he goes to Smith 4
Jones and buys OF them. Next day while
you are out spending s. or $40 giving
some man who is supposed 10 have de-
sire 10 purchase dozenlots, but who only
wants to see the town, free ride, the
agent for the big Chicago dry goods house
comes along, and being in a hurry, goes
on to Nashville, and you miss your order
aud some Of your customers have 10 60 10
Nashville 10 get what they want.
Now we have supported this case: we
are positive no merchant in Memphis
would DO such thing. But don't you
think that II you followed that course n
short time you would be obliged to settle
for less than four-bits on the dollar? Now
the Young Mems Christian association is
older than It's name might indicate. II has
had an experience OF fourty-iour years,
and experience teaches us that We had bet
ter stick 10 our own business, and let some
one else look after the other lines Of good
work and that's just what We intend to
do.