The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-12-12
Spirit and Purpose of the Young Mems
Christian Association.

There has been growing conviction
among our public-mnded citizens that
something should be done for the increasing
number of young men in our city, m IRE
permanent and therefore more beneficial
than anything yet attempted Liberal has
been the provision for children and youth
in our school, but the large hearted and
broad. minded common sense OF our people
demands audibly that concerted action be
taken to encourage and advance the inter-
ests of those who, having graduated from
our schools, are now young men in our
sto :es offices and workshops What these
| young men are and will become, our city is
and will be. This action should be by
young men for young men, aided and
strengthened bg the counsels and means of
our most matured citizens This convic-
ton has taken form in a roposal to organ
ize and carry out in successful operation in
Montpelier Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation. That proposal has met with gener-
GUS response in its very inception.
The question, therefore, is an important
and vital one: Is the Young Mems Chris
tian Association competent to do this work?
! Is it liberal enough to open its privileges to
all young men? Is 1t conservative enough
to give assurance TO tn SO who might de-
| sire t. help it with money and effort, that
it has stability of purpose and idea, war
ranting the belief that its work will not be
! ephemeral but permanent, not for year
| but for generations. The preamble of the
Association, worldwide in its operation,
/
subscribers, desirous of the spiritual, intel
| lectual social and physical welfare of young
men, and impressed with the nportance of
concentrated effort, do hereby form an AS
sociation therefor, and do adopt for the
governm ent thereof the following cons titu-
ton" This certainly is liberal, inclu ding
in its scope all young men in their varied
| interests.
Is the Association liberal in the form of
government provided for in this its consti-
tuti lat artipla second 81 Mem her,
ship T." ans yer this question in its third sec
| tion. Young men over sixteen years, OF
good moral character, shall be eligible for
associate membership. They shall be en-
titled to the same privileges as those OF
| active members, excepting those or voting
and holding office" Certailly this throws
wide open the doors of the Association to
all, irrespective of their creeds or religious
beliefs, welcoming all to whatever the AS
sociation may ha 7e to offer of library, Ey NJ
nasium, entertainments social LIE. Iner9
is nothing to forbid Catholic or Protestant,
Jew or Mahomedan or Budd list, If they so
desire, and are of good moral character,
from enjoying all the Association can give
them. Gould liberality go further than
this? Are not the gates of the Association
like those of the Heavenly City which John
saw twelve fold, opening north, south, east,
west, and not shut to any who would enterY
The Association is certainly liberal in Is
scope but iJ it wisely conservative? Does
ment to those who may endow it with
buildings, money other donation, that
such gif ) shall never be perverted to the
dissemination of intdelity, materials o.,
agnostcsm, socialism, communism, anarch-
ism, or any other ism which in the seething
ferment of opinions may for moment. ris-
ing to the surface, proclaim itself as the
prophet of progress? Not only navtouaL hut
international, with societies throughout the
world, has this society as whole any one
| lnrfva irip nd lAa ari I'M
itself in rule, and so out of these many maxi
ing one? Such idea it has in the one word
of its title Christian" Such rule it has
in section second, article second, of its con-
stitution, giving the right OF voting and
holding office to all members in good stand
ing of churches maintaining the Holy
Scriptures to be the only infallible rule OF
faith aud practice, and the Lord Jesus
! Christ to be the divine and only Savior of
men The Association distinctly declares
that it extends its privileges and member
ship to all, but places its control through
office in the hands of those who in faith and
profts tssion are ia sympathy with the belief
, and practice of the Church Univer 'al,
This Association is not Congregational,
nor presby terau, nor Episcopallan, or
Methodist, nor Baptist, but simp y selects
/ Christians for its otfi ,e-holders whate or
l their denomination or church connectIon'
. This rule makes it the duty OF these orfice-
> holders to hold the gates wide open ana TO
) sire for themselves and others spiritual, in-
= tellectual, social and physical welfare.
, Could the Association be more liberalf
| Could it be less conservative, and be as II
4 is now a world. wide influence for goof2
3 A half century Of effort crowned with sue
cess beyond the dreams of its founders an
9 swer the question. The Young Mems
|, Christian Association is to-day known, re-
. spected, helped throughout the world by
4 men of all faiths. Il has CONNIE nded itseli
y to universal pect by its works, evincine
n both its liberality and its conservatism. II
has justified the verdict pronounced upon
4 it by one of Americas great men: INC
i other agency has yet been discovered II
i which are combined in the same degree
o cath 'licity, economy, originality, progres
II siveness sympathy, efficiency and vitality
n This Association comes to Montpelier anC
. offers us its efficieucies at once so Ii bera
o and so conservative. Will we help thi'
d Association to help u.s. aud take our plac,
i with other communities in the forward
3 march of its liberal, conservative philan
& thropy?
o meeting of all those interested in tn,
IS formation of such an association as tn,
3 above in Montpelier will be held TO. nigh
o in Bethany chapel at eight o'clock Claul
o Olandt, secretary of the International com