The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-11-13

have been constantly maintained, and
are o-day the keystone of the organiza-
ton. And were any other testimony
needed to prove that the association is
living up to its principles we have only
to present the fact that 1923 Bible
classes, over 1900 prayer and gospel
meetings, and between three and four
hundred training classes are held reg
ularly each week in this country. 1t is
we'll worth mentioning too, that the
training classes have total membership
of over four thousand young men who
are studying the Bible along the line of
its practical application to the uncon-
verified. We could well occupy all tn,
time at our disposal, in showing you in
detail the practical lines of Bible study.
carried on by our associations and how
well they have been selected to supple
ment the work of the ministry but we
must pass on to what is termed the
Intellectual Department of our work.
| My friends, looking as we do on our
schools and colleges as the proper
educating mediums we have failed to
perceive that there is growing up along
side of them in our cities colleges of
another kind. These have been very
aptly termed the college of the Clerk
and Mechanic" In all our towns and
cities are found large numbers of young
men who have been compelled through
the death or poverty of their parents to
go to work very early in life. They have
never had an opportunity to obtain an
education and have been fighting the
battle of life at disadvantage. Many
of these young men have been endowed
with as bright minds and as ambitious
spirit as any thai ever matriculated in
college halls. How shall these obtain
the education they need and are longing
for? Our associations answer this ques-
ton with their evening classes. Already
many thousands of young men in our
cities instead of loafing in the evening
and forming bad habits are studying in
our building. This is a growing feature
of our work. There are now more
names enrolled in the evening classes of
number of our associations than are
carried on in the rolls of any college in
the county.
cannot be ignored, They will have
amusement and the association seems to
present that which will not only amuse
but elevate. Informal receptions, enter
comments of both musical and literary
characters. Social spreads of a home
like nature, games of all sorts, all help.
Last but not least we must briefly refer
to the Physical Work.
The gymnasium has come into our
association to stay, and it has work TO
perform that cannot be over estimated.
We believe that the gymnasium and the
bathing arrangements in connection
with it, are to do large share in solving
the question of personal purity among
our young men. The old idea of the use
of the gymnasium in developing acrobats
and pugilists is rapidly being done away
with, and its nobler aim is now better
understood. 1t now seeks to make the
weakly young men strong; to develop a
keener intellect in the student; by giving
the business man the systematic exercise
he needs enables him to do more and
better work. Many cases of defOrmity
can be helped il not entirely cured; and
many a bilious, dyspeptic and otherwise
afflicted person has reason TO be thankful
for this line of our work.
Though this merely bird s-eye view
Of the origin, relationships and work of
the association is far from satisfactory
and cannot do the subject justice, yet we
will have to be satisfied for the time.