The Portland daily press., 1890-04-28

The Work That 1t Is Doing In Behalf
of Young Men.
Addresses on the Subject by PronI-
nent Pastors Yesterday.

Work for young Men" was presented to
several of our city congregations by the pas
tors yesterday. We give outlines of several
OF the addresses which were very forcible
presentations of the needs of our city in this
direction. need which the Young Mems
christian Association is doing its best to fill,
ana which is to be hoped it will soon be bet
ter able to fill by having properly arranged
and furnished building as headquarters for
young men.
REV. MIR. WRIGHT
Rev. Mr.. Wright of the st. Lawrence
street Congregational church, took for his
text Amos II: 11-'And l raised up OF your
sons for prophets and of your young men
for Nazarites." Amos was reciting to Israel
the remarkable proof of Coos favor in the
past, among them the fact stated, equivalent
to saying God gave to you pious, devoted,
self-sacrificing young men. The Nazarites
were the highest type of holy manhood at
that time, men who were pure in all things,
temperate even to ascetieism Ii. themsthe
nation saw three things, wise and noble
self restraint, growing indifference to SEN
sual qualification, and entire devotion to
Gods service. Happy was Israel to have
scattered through the cities such bands of
young men. The order has passed away, but
the ideal exists. Modern Nazartes are
found in all communities, young men of holy
lives devoted to others. The handspring to
neral and spiritual strength is to know the
truth as it is in Jesus Christ, which will fit
man for all there is to come. Happy is the
city which has such companies of young
men united and pledged to do Christ's work.
Happy the nature which In all its great cit
les has such Christian influences at work to
blessed this nation in this thing?
Think that in our country there are 1878
such associations-YoungM Mems Christian
Associations. We have an idea of our Port
land Association, its membership, its aim
ana work, its methods, its departments Null
tlply this by 1878 and you have some idea
of what we owe to this institution through
out the land. 1t is one of the seven wonders
of the age. No institution has grown up in
the church in modern times which has gained
church. In the year 1889, four millions of
dollars were contributed for this work, for
the young men of America. Half of this
has been given for the erection of buildings
suitable for the work. Thirty four of such
edihces were completed last year, and many
more were in process of construction. Thir-
ty-four thousand young men were serving on
committees and as officers of 900 of these as
sociations = the concentrated strength of
our young Christian laymen, their work to
save young men by the consecrated organi-
cation and devotion of young men. The
question of the day is how to reach young
men. These associations answer the ques-
ton by creating an attractive and helpful
public resort for them, free from all vicious
influences.
To do the work needed, Portland should
have building equipped completely; it can
not be made too attractive, and we must not
be behind them in this; so attractiveness is
an Indispensable feature in this work. Read
Ing rooms, libraries, parl0rs, lecture halls,
art exhibitions, rational and helpful enter
tainments, gymnasiums and evening schools
are found to be important. All these should
be provided. A Y. M. g. A. building, fully
equipped in all its departments, would be an
unspeakable benefacti0n tn our beautiful
city. We believe this is the coming benedic-
ton for Portland. 1t is sure to come. Let
all pray for the speedy advent
REV. DR. THOMAS.
At the Free st. Baptist church Rev. DR..
Thomas of Boston took for his text Rev. xviii
49, Babylon in the scripture represents the
worldly city as Jerusalem does the city of
God. The words of the text suggest some
aspect of city life on its commercial side as
tending to degrade and neutralize the higher
elements of our nature.
First-The commercial spirit and its
tendency. 1t intensifes business life. Men
are its creatures and victims and through its
demands are not allowed to calmly improve
their best possibilities. 1t erects sordid
standard. 1t abstracts and preoccupies in the
struggle. Neighborliness gives place to selfish
ness and the plea is made business is BUSH
ness"
1t melts down conscience and makes it
RI io Cd
because it is a means of profit; men are
pleased not fori.their" but sour" edification.
Soul destroying. trade flows through this.
Young men are in peculiar peril on account
Of this spirit: They come. largely from
know. They are over confident because of
inexperience and because youth is sanguine.
One af the most touching stories in the Old
Testament exemplifes this s.Asahel the youth
inexperienced, buoyant, and fleet of foot,
follows the fleeing Abner, the veteran man
of war, as he flies with his defeated army.
Abner looks back and foreseeing the inevi-
table result, pleads with the youth not to
pursue his own danger, but in vain,, but at
strikes him to his death. And it came to
pass that as many as came to the place where
Asahel fell down and died stood still. How
often we have stood still by the young man
who has pursued danger until his life has
paid the forfeit. Young men are exposed to
loneliness and depression through lack of
sympathy and companionship. They are apt
to grow sour and reckless because of lack of
recognition and the strong passions just un-
folding in their bosoms rebel against tutelage
dies? First the Christian home must be
opened to them that its influence may be
over them through kind hospitality. This
will be but partial means at best.
The church and Sunday school must
reach out after them. The church is opened
but a few hours in the week, and the inter.
mittent effort along this line is not always
effective. For these and many other reasons
Y. M. G. Association is needed. Its work
Is constant Sav and every day Hto in the
its doors are opened, and the young
men can at any hour find cOngenial surround
ings and companionship. Then young men
can best reach young men. Old men forget
the dialect of the youth and lose sympathy
with its ideas, so cannot get SO close to the
young men as Is necessary, and besides are
engaged in other things.
Young men want something besides reli-
gion, and the Y. NJ G. A. blends social life
and recreation with religion, happy COM
bination. 1t completes and unifes the
partial power of the other agencies
REV. DIR. SMALL.
At the First Baptist church Rev. DR..
Small based his remarks on Prov. Xxx, 49,
'The Glory of Y Dung Men is Their Strength"
They may be inclined to feel their misfor-
tune is their weakness; that they have not
coveted education or skill or capital or posi-
ton, for the power which belongs to maturi-
ty and experience. But those who very soon
are to be kings and queens of controlling in
fluence are just now among the young men.
A sufficient reason why our thoughts are
specially turned to them, and why it should
be understood the important sense in which
their glory is their strength. Especially LIST.
Their prospective strength; the real
heir to a fortune or scepter is how
strong in that heirship. How
recently all eyes were turned to General
Scott as the nations chieftain. How quick
ly he was gone. and one whom we had never
heard of was foremost. The young are
strong to receive, strength. The mem
DRY, the palsied arm of the veteran drops it,
and the keen youth takes possession. The
young seldom consider what they should
count the glory of even their physical
strength. If they knew what they would
soon gladly give. for day of healthy vigor
how they would detest any foolish indul-
gence which destroys it. With such power
over what is best for ones future there must
not be forgotten the corresponding power
to squander it, The young can throw
away with what lavish prodigality how