Bridgeton pioneer., 1889-03-21
STATE CONVENTION.
THE GOTH ANNUAL Y. Nj. q. A
CONVICTION of n. j.
A large and Enthusiastic Con-
ventiOn of Young Shrlstian
Men--Each Days Proceed
ings--Sunday's Services
The Farewell.
THURSDAY NIGHT.

THURSDAY NIGHT.
The formal opening of the State Con-
vention of the Y. NJ. G. A., at the First
Baptist Church tonight, called forth
an immense outpouring of people.
The church was literally packed full
and an overflow meeting was impro-
yised for the lecture room, but the
people refused to overflow. A service
of song by chorus choir of 100voices,
led by T. r. Janvier, opened the SER
vices. They were accompanied with
cornet and trombone, H. H. Shoe
maker presiding at the large organ.
Some disappointment was manifest at
the absence of IT. F. Williams, VINO
was to have conducted the singing.
He was detained by important rail-
road work, and it is expected Wesley
A. A. Gardner, a distinguished musi
cal director, of New York, will be here
to, day, accompanied with his wife, to
conduct the singing. Prayer was
offered by Rev. T. 6. Cass, and the adj
dress of welcome was delivered by DR..
T. J. Smith, President of Bridgeton
Association. DIR. Smith said that the
committee of arrangements had as
signed to him the pleasing duty OF
greeting the brethren of the Young
Mems Christian Association of New
Jersey, and welcoming them to the
homes and hearts of the people of this
city. He said it had been long ar
IDENTIFY desired to have the annual
State Convention meet here, and he
was now happy to greet and welcome
it here, and prayed the Most High
that He might guide them in all their
deliberations. He said the Bridgeton
Association was the oldest one in the
State, and though its course had been
an eventful one, yet it still held on
the even tenor of its way, and now.
with membership of four hundred, bid
the Convention hearty welcome. He
felt that the meeting of the Convention
in this place would stimulate livelier
an extension of the work in this Con-
gressional District. He assured the
Convention that noble band OF
Christians awaited their coming, and
they would find here to welcome them
Jealous pastors, ready to give them
Christian aid. The homes of the city
were open to them, and their gates
stood nailed open for their entrance.
He esteemed it a great privilege to eX-
tend to them the best welcome and
was glad to have the chance to extend
to the Convention, in behalf of the
churches and citizens their warmest
welcome.
The words of welcome were re-
sponded to by Mr.. John Cook, Vice
President of the last Convention, in
the absence of the Chairman of that
Convention, Mr.. Drake. He responded
with a hearty Thank you" He then
appointed the following Committee on
Permanent Organization, VIM. r.
Janeway, of New Brunswick; Ellis
worth Vanaman. of Millville; Theodore
Hampson, ofNewark Samuel Stratton,
of Salem, and John HI. Theis, of
Bridgeton; and then he introduced
Rev. Chas. H. Parkhurt, D. D., pastor
of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian
Church in New York City.
DR.. PARKHURST's ADDRESS.
DR.. Parkhurst's address was severe
ly pessimistical. He proceeded on the
popular assumption that correct Chris
tianity was within prescribed bounds
that the clergy was by right, its par
ticular custodian, and that the Chris
tian ministry was its proper receptacle.
Addressing the Convention, as though
he represented the clergy, he boldly
assailed this assumption. He began:
I'VE are engaged in the same work
you and |; we participate in the same
Christian ministry-you and 1" He
said the clergy had been disposed to
monopolize the work of Christianity
to itself, and to arrogate to itself the
right of being the keeper of the Holy
of Holes. But the way was open
for all in the work of Christianity; no
veil existed to exclude any of it's work
ers. The Church was now the little
Republic in which all believers were
on the same ground and all wore de-
pendent upon each other. There were
no combinations" in divine grace; no