Smyrna times., 1893-04-05
Our Young Men ald Helpful Organ
izati onA
o THE EDIToR OF 'rHE TINFrs :

To The EDITOR OF .EHE TIMES
As an individual can, of course,
only express an individual opinion,
but it seems to me that at this time I
cannot do less than express my opin-
ion, especially since l hope it may
meet with a ready response among our
substantial business men and our we'll
tO-dO residents.
Development is law of nature, but
not more absolutely sure in its opera
ton than that law of our being which
impels us to seek human companion
ship in free, social intercourse-in the
right way or the wrong way, but ia
some GOGy.
How else can be explained the tire.
mendous influence which the saloon
has acquired and held over a large
part of our population everywhere? 1
know that the love of strong drink
becomes in time an irresistible tyrant.
but that appetite as a rule, has to be
created. And this in the great major
ity of cases would probably not be
done If the saloon did not constantly
hold out such allurements and attrac-
tiOns in a social way.
At any rate in such belief as this I
contributed to the best of my ability to
the equipment of the Hose Company.
knew that we must have fire protec.
ton in an organized way, and l believed
that such "A room as the young men
have had would prove the strongest
kind of wall to the rum shops. 1
believe that our past experience has
justified this position. Accordingly |
have always maintained, and have
used what influence 1 may pos
sess, to keep friendly attitude toward
this organization When | have heard
the charge made that cards were
played there on Sunday, have replied
that l had not seen anything of the
sort, and | should regret being com
PEELED now to believe such a charge.
But conditions are now changed. In
a social way the Hose Company has
had but limited range of influence.
There are now hundred young men
at the very least, who will need to be
surrounded for months if not years to
come, by thevery best of Christian.
social influences.
The Christian people of this town
have duty to perform, the results of
which, rightly done, only God can
measure. But will they do it? Evi-
IDENTIFY the World thinks not, for
it Is reported that a rum. seller |
said in substance, You've got them
converted but you can't summer them |
over" He means that most of the |
young men of our town who have fre. |
quented his place, are under religious |
influences now, but as soon as the |
CHRISTIANS 90 to sleep and warm |
weather Genes, beer will flow as before
and Woodland Beach will be patron.
lied on Sunday. Shall this be
Will it not be best to develop
Last night Y NJ. c. A. was pracri.
cally organized. 1t will meet eyerv
requirement. The Hose Company will
M still exist in its own legitimate sphere.
The clubs are not distnctively, if at
all Christian, in their influence, and
they are exclusive. The Y. NJ. G.. A
will be distinctively Christian. will not
be exclusive and will be conducted for
young men, by young men. But it
VIII need financial support. MANY of
me members will not be able to con.
tribute largely, and outside help to
secure furniture, books, magazines
daily papers, gymnasium apparatus.
baths, etc, is absolutely required.
The cost will be somebody's cold
tollars: the result may be the saving
u some souls. Shall we not have the
money! G. B. TAYLOR.