The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-11-28

are SO interested In this work. and may speak |
more particularly OF the young women l once |
heard OF very bright young woman the eo daugn
busting her fathers study one day and hiking |
papers, books ETC. In their place when her
father was called out on some duty, ana IN nxing
the last OF his sermon; II was as follows: 1.-THE
young men are the most interesting class In any
this Those ope my amy
too" Now do not know how far this senti-
ment goes with the young women OF Owosso.
come to him In distress, asked her three aues
lions. He said, SIS II well with theef Is itwell
with thy husbands Is II well with thy children
questions to many OF the christian mothers in
this city. Is 1t well with thee: The answer
would be- why yes, it is well; have given
my heart TO Christi he loves me and am trying
to serve him." And should push the question
and ask further, is 1t well with thy husband the
answer Of some would be II Is we'll but with
some there would be little hesitation, and
then II pushed the question still further and
asked, Is IL well with thy boyy there would be
some christian mothers who would say, well
don't know as to John The Is not bad boy but
he has grown q little out OF my influence, and l
do not have his confidence as l used 10 nave,
and l am not sure 1t is well with my boy"
Speaking of woman's interest reminds me OF
one time while was secretary of the Associa-
ton in Richmond, Va, was sitting In my ONCE
one morning when the door was opened and
about my boy. She said he was arrested and
had laid In jail over night and was to have his
trial that morning, and IL he Is sent up snail
die, asked her what could do Well, she did
not know only she thought instinctively that
could help him, and she wanted me to go down
to the court and see what could do 1 asked
her IL he had ever been arrested before and she
said believe he was once, and the Judge told
him II he was ever brought before him again he
would have to pronounce sentence. Well !
promised to go down so went to the courts and
| waited through number of trials until Johns
| trial was called; the charge was being drunk
and disorderly and after the offcer had stated
the case and Just as the Judge was about TO pro.
| nounce the sentence stepped forward and ask
| ed II I might be permitted to say few words
NY request was granted; ! then stated STAT that mat
her only support and that II would kill her II he
| were sent to Jail. Well the end Of 1t was that
| he was let on on suspended sentence, and John
| M. went out of that room free man. IT was
| christian interest and that mothers love and
interest In her boy that did IT.. He went with
| me to the rooms and there made his first start
on the christians life, and am thankful to say
| that he never departed from 1t. You may smile
| but tell you my friends that the christian
| women OF this city are doing much to mould this
| work; they have sufficient ut stake to interest
them.
There is one more class of people about which
perhaps l should have Spoken that Is the inter
| est that the young men have in the Association
| He has several interests that might mention
| First there Is his selfish interest in this work
| the young men are made to feel this interest
He feels that the reading room Is for him; the
| gymnasium is for him. The work in every way
Is for him and his selfish interest, in this
work. l tell you have noticed this about young
| men.
do not know as the suggestion comes origin
ally from me- do not think II does. The
Young Mems Christian Association can be oil
vided into two classes: first there are the active
memb ers and second the passive members, ant
what was going to say of the two classes was
this, that the one class called active members
come there to do something and the passive
class come there to get something Now thinl
1t is good thing for men to come anyway, but
think II is much better IL they come for boil
purposes, viz, to do something and to get some
thing have my opinion OF the man that Il
| contented to get along without being getter
but am greatly interested in the young maj
that takes every advantage and uses 1t to
profit and the developing of himself.
Then think the young man has an interest II
the Y. M. @. A. in proportion to the interest h'
takes in the work: 1t is his association, he cal
| value that association as the one in which he Ii
especially and personally interested. There arr
men that take part in certain organizations, ant
when they come into 1t they feel an individual
! interest in its work and welfare.
One more thought. The Young Mems Chris
| tian Association was never in such a hour1snlnt
, condition. there are many thousands of none.
put into association buildings in this countr
I every year, and the work constantly gainin
strength, and has grand work before It,:
Now want to leave one message with you
this Is an interest that you cannot AFFORD u
, neglect. You have heard in your report of tn
, | results of the past year, and while this Is YER
gratifying there is no means OF measuring IN
+ good that has been done; and what has bee
! done in the past should be spur to every one Q
you to press on with this work and do eyerythin
4 within your power towards saving the youn
> men before they have gone aStray, ana Dr1n
them up to be good citizens ana promote mora
ity. Remember immortality is "a tax on con
;. munity. Improve every opportunity Tor gooe
or you may wake to find that 1t is too late to say
5 some that might have been.