St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-12-07
FOR YOUNG MEN.
The Story of a Convention OF " M. G.
A. Delegates In 81. Johnsbury.


The necessity and Importance of
work for young men in Vermont was
the general theme which brought
together Y. M. c. A. workers from
different sections of the state in con-
vention here last week. beginning on
Friday evening. The attendance
was good, some 70 or more delegates
being present, and lively interest
was manifested in the several fea-
lures of the prepared programme,
which touched upon numerous
phases of the work with view to
bringing out suggestions that would
be helpful in every association in the
state for the ensuing year.
THE WELCOME EXERCISES.
These occurred in the Y. M. c. A.
hall on Friday evening, when at six
o'clock a bountiful collation. was
served by the Womau's Auxiliary,
who spared no pains to make this
opening event success in every par
ticular. After the fine repast had
been sufficiently discussed, the visit
ors were most cordially welcomed to
town in a short speech by Chas. H.
Horton, president of the St. Johns
bury Association, and to this well
come brief responses were given by
Rev. c. M. Lamson, Rev. H. A.
Spencer of Montpelier, Gen. ]. ].
Estey of Brattleboro, President G.
F. North of Rutland and Principal
c. E. Putney of St. Johnsbury.
THE OPENING ADDRESS.
The delegates adjourned to Music
Hall, where also goodly number OF
our townspeople had gathered, to
hear the opening address of the con-
vention by Rev. DR.. John E. Tuttle,
the newly-chosen pastor of Amherst
College. A short song service was
held. conducted by E. A. Silsby, and
devotional exercises were partici-
pated in by Rev. Edward T. Fair
banks and Rev. A. l. Davis. Presi.
dent North introduced DR.. Tuttle,
who gave an admirable address on
"The Youth and the Hour" of which
we give the following outline:
Touching his country, the American is
land is like his own. He believes in its
past, present and future. The famous
remark of Sidney Smith regarding
the strawberry, doubtless God might
have made better berry, but doubtless
God never did, " he applies without quali6
cation, save possibly in the first clause
to his country. Whatever he might
have done. the Almighty Designer OF the
universe never fashioned land SC
beautiful, one so good to live in and SC
worth dying for, as this union OF states
which in an unbroken bond OF peace
clasps hands under the starry flag. This
, optimism is justified not merely by tn,
possibilities OF our country, but by two
, hundred years OF glorious history. VIZ
have solved, in a generation, problem:
over which the mightiest monarchies o
the old world have struggled in vain fol
centuries. Present facts warrant hope
E fulness. Our institutions, the intel
ligence and integrity of the people, th'
unparalleled interest in all questions o
r moral reform, the power of consecratet
wealth, the practical outreaching oil thu
church to the masses, and the sublime
, spectacle afforded in similar splendor ii
. no other land of young manhood band
} ed together for righteous law and living
t are most hopeful signs in our nationa
e horizon. But the hour is also on,
( lraught with grave apprehensions. Th
horizon is darkened by clouds of porten
tous biackness. The corruption OF ou
polticallife the encoachments OF capita
: upon the rights or labor and the disre
gard of labor OF rights of capital the i'm
. purity of life in great cities, are ominou
= facts. We cannot shut our eyes to tn
measureless evils of intemperance O
| WHICH fOWucTly S6yS- luC hquoi puSS
, ton is after all, the only labor question
worth talking about" nor to the vice o
gambling. not merely in stocks but il
breadstuffs and necessities of life. Th
age is permeated by the spirit OF Midas
and like him men are praying for tn
! touch which will turn all things int
gold. Our country and age is material
: istic, largely, in its tendency. We ar
t placing emphasis on things seen an
temporal at the expense oil things unsee
=, and eternal. What we can grasp an,
hold bv the hand ol flesh is worth NOR
!, than what we touch by faith. We ar
j painting false ideas upon the canvas G
: national life. 1t is for the youth c
$ America to come to the rescue. Their
y are two kinds of criticism-one that find
fault, one that crticizes by doing bel
ter thing. This is no day for faulI
: finding. The hour calls on youth 10
+ splendid example and high achievement
: The Christian must be patriot. N
man can be friend Of Christ unless he
j. friend of his country. The only Chris
h tianity worth the name is the Christian
!. ity that works. The kind OF man who
=. "invisible in war aud invircibe in peace
= is not the man for today. In this coul
: try this is particularly true. We al
= settling here the problems, the ages an
!. the destiny ot man.
Il