The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-05-24


The Sunday afternoon meeting OF the
YIN. C. A. was held last Sunday at the
First PRESBYTERIAN church. A large num-
her of the members of the Y. NJ. q. ~.
met in their hall in the Opera House, and
marched in body to the church, where
thew took seats in the front pews, and led
in the singing. The church was densely
packed. it having been announced thab III.
r. j. Mcbride, OF Lexington. and Blshop
Randolph would deliver addresses. Ut.
Mcbride took for his subject the influence
of the Y. NJ. G. A. in cooperative work
among young men. He spoke of its intiu-
ence in developing individual effort IN
making laymen more earnest in Christian
work, more helpful to the ministers of the
gospel. and in bringing them in closer
sympathy with each other, and with Chris
tian efforts. lie regarded the \. NJ. G.
A. as living Illustration OF the Christian
unity for which all of Gods people are SO
earnestly praying. He Illustrated by for
chile examples the power of young men
over and among young men, when by Work
in the Masters cause they have made
themselves thoroughly acquainted with
the weapons of the Christian warfare, as
furnished by the word of God, and de-
clared that from experience and obserVa-
ton he was convinced that the best way
to learn the truth, was to teach 1t. Dr.
Mcbride is fully identified with the
Y. M. G.. A. work, aud his address was
therefore thoroughly practical, ard was
highly instructive.
Bishop Randolph delivered by special
request his address Oh the Bible. 1t was
the same address delivered before The I.
M. 4. A. State Convention at Petersburg.
WIS a magnificent production. andlwas high
ly appreciated by the large audience pres
ent. who came away delighted both with
the address and she Bishop. He regarded
the Bible in lis unity and entirety. as the
greatest influence III promoting Christian
unity in the world. AS help to the unity
of GOSPEL creed, and as The rule Of Chris
tian action and practice, the Billie was
the instrument for educating the world,
was one book and makes Christians oner-
Was one in its origin, one in its author
ship, one in its inspiration, one in its
channels through which il comes TO man.
Though kept and preserved for 1900 years
| by the Jews, it told them OF none OF their
glory and honoIs, but of their sins and
shortcomings. and yet through all their
wanderings and amid all their bondage.
they clung TO the word Of God and pre-
served it from destruction. And God has
wonderfully preserved the jew as his
chosen people, to whom his word had been
committed, who without country or com
| merce, Or art. Or arms, or colonies. had
survived the wreck and ruin which had
swept other and mighty nations from the
face of the earth.
1t had its enemies through all the ages,
and yet has survived them all, and was to-
day the great store house of wisdom, Of
history. of poetry, of song and revelations
to,man. He declire that Christ was the
Bible theme from Genesis to Revelation.
promised in the Old Testament, and re-
vealed in the new.
In the application of the Bible to the
practical operations Of life the dstin-
guished divine declared it to be progress
sive and revolutionary power in religion
and morals. oyertnruing the false religions
on the one hand, and giving to the world
code of morals taught by no other creed,
and in no other book. 1t had raised
! woman from state of degradation. and
made heI grace and ornament to homes
and society. by whom the moral atmos-
phere was made clear and pure.
He made an earnest plea for purity of
life and character, in social life, in bust
ness and in politics; declaring that poll
tics should not be brought into the pulpits
and churches and religious life, but that
! religion should be the rule of action in pol
! itios. purifying and elevating it.
1t is hardly possible to do justice to this
| splendid address. 1t is day long to be
| remembered in the history of our local Y,
M. G. A. in affording the people an oppor-
tunity of hearing two such addresses as
those Of DR.. Mcbride and Bishop Ran
| dolph. Sunday last.