The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-09
SUNDAY, MARCH. Q, 1890.



In no person should the risht-minded
members Of any large community have
more interest than in the young man VINO
comes as stranger 10 a city. In no other
place could he be a greater stranger ana
nowhere else are such temptations for him
10 swcr,e from the right, and SUCH oppor-
tunitios for c0ncealment Of wrong dong.
Not every young man who comes to city
il a saint. In fact, there is stronger
tendency for those inclined 10 evil TO graYi-
tate ciiyward than for the steady, sober
and industrious youths.
But the latter will come. They are thor
oughly grounded in the belief that the rapid
accumulation Of money is possible only IN
cities. Mans chief immediate end in many
instances is the accumulation Of compe-
tency. whatever may be the ultimate pur-
pose Of the wealth 10 be acquired. SO into
the whirl Of money grabbing he plungcs.
Perhaps some friends send by him kind
word 20 acquaintance in the metropolis.
The latter are glad TO see him; say God
bless YOU. When | may help you LET me
know. Drop In whenever you please and
are again wrestling with ledgers and
schemes for opening up new channels for
Investment.
By the time The new arrival has gained
his bearings. he discovers that business
frequently interferes with a cultivation of
his new friends. lnyOluntarily he is driven
into intimacy with his new associates, as
the social instinct will not down, and his
young friends feel that they must make it
agreeable for him, especially if his means
enable him 10 hold up his end Of the enter
tainment. Few men, young men, are free
from more or less vanity. A little vanity
and some small change are likely to reno, @
any great obstacles in the down-hill path Of
brash youth. Though he may imagine at
first that he has the world in a sling, he
will soon discover that the reverse is the
case. Becoming reckless, he will enter
upon any kind Of dissipation by which for
time he may forget self.
Forgetting self, he will forget his early
training in the old home, and will be obliy-
ious Of the fact that he has a mother or Sis
tiers or God. and then he is on the high
road 10 ruin. Ii is not his fault entirely;
not the lack Of interest felt for him by his
original acqaintances; not deliberate
plan Of his young associates TO blight his
life, that be has been brought TO such
state. But 10 cannot be denied that
the average young man in strange place
is more likely to form associations evil in
tendency than those OF good report To
meet and to counteract, II possible, this
natural inclination, number Of plans have
been made, and one Of the most successful
Of these the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation. should receive the hearty encour-
agement Of the community in which it may
be organized. IL does not consider young
man TO De- a namby-pamby, wishy-washy
sort of being with no particular indiyidu-
ality, no passion, and no ambition. But
ne is treated as a man Of flesh AMI
blood, inclined 20 be upright and
pure, but surrounded 10y every inducement
not 10 be. And so while the AssOcia-
ton does not compel its membership to
dwell always in an air OF sanctity, to occu-
py their whole leisure with attendance upon
prayer meeting or in works of superero-
cation, it provides, in addition TO bright and
CHEEKY reading-r0oms and libraries, lectures
on questions of living interest, well-eWip-
ped gymnasiums. and other attractions ap-
pealing TO the human mind means fer
growth in the spiritual life.
Hearty hand shakes Of a Christian gen
tleman have sometimes greater innuerce
for good than dozen sermons. A man
may be pure, gontlemanly Christian, and
still be a man. To demonstrate this is the
aim Of the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton, and its active officers and members are
always ready TO form the acquaintance Of
the stranger, 10 give him the CLASH Of friend
ship, and by Offering him, at night particu-
larry. attractive social life TO stand between
him and those who grow wealthy upon the
ruin of souls.
The last annual meeting at Portsmouth
showed that the organization in Virginia il
by no means lageard, and the results Of the
addresses, reports and debates at that gath
ering cannot but be for the good Of the whole
Commonwealth, and should lead lovers Of
their fellows 70 respond literally and
promptly to any request for aid TO promote
the work Of saving the young men.