Smyrna times., 1894-01-17
Young Peoples Societies and their
Relation to the Church.

US to consider the need of such or
ganizations. If there be no need for
them, then they, of course, have no
proper relation to the church.
They are, however, here, and doubt
less here to stay. They are here in an
swer to a demand made upon the
church to properly school, train and
house her young people. Whether
they are the true answer, as
they at present are found, is a ques-
tiOn. The proper care of the young
people is one of the greatest works
laid upon the church.
The young people of to-day will be
the Church of tomorrow" And, as
these are trained to-day, 40 will be the
church of tomorrow. They are the
morning of Society,"" and as they are
taught to be, SO will be the noon and
evening hours of society. If they are
properly taught their relation to God
and their fellow men, society's noon
will be, as it ought, brighter and more
glorious than the morning hours.
Then, as l look upon it, some sort of
organization, to meet this demand, is
necessary. They, first of all then, bear
the relation of necessity to the church.
The regular and stated services of the
church are not all that is necessary to
meet the wants of young life. Thev
must be dealt with as Young people.
The tide of wOrldliness must be stem.
med. SOciety--sO called is making its
demands upon young life. 1t is haunt-
ing its inducements in the face of
every girl and boy, and every Young
woman and young man. There is a
ceaseless current, the course and ten
dency of which, is to bear those who
allo" themselves to drift upon its
bosom out to the fatal sea of frivolitv
and sensuality. 1t is daily claiming
Its victims, aud they are taken from
the very ranks of the church.
Worldliness, irreligiOn and crime do
not get their recruits alone from the
families of the unchurched and goddess
The fathers and mothers who sit in
high places in church, and uDon the
upper seats Of the sanctuary, bv mat
tentiOn and inconsistency and other
grlevOus faults, sit suDinelv by and see
their sons aud daughters drift on to
swell that already too great a multi
tude OF worldly minded, Dleasure-seek-
seeking, frivolous, trlfling young peo-
pie, VINO have no higher purpose than
70 please themselves, no greater aim in
HE than to see what they are pleased
to call good time" And these.
when they are older, constitute the
goddess, indifferent, sensual parentage
OF the coming generation.
The Church, as the conservator of
morals a 1efr
must stem this tide of worldliness.
must direct this great force of Young
life into the proper channel. This she
Is seeking to do, and this effort has
been the parent of these societies
through these she seeks to plant in
her young people desire for whole
some literature, and thus suppIant that
yellow back, daredevil dime literature.
which burns out the very moral life of
its victims and prepares them for a
record of crime.
Through these societies she seeks to in
struct in the Word of God. Through
these she seeks to inculcate inthe Young
proper social ideas-to teach them
their relation one to another. This
she does in the mercy and help de-
partments. Seeks to show them that
there is a higher aim than to be found
IN the giddy swirl aud swim of So
called society. In fact, these societies
are the result of the effort of the
church to direct TIE young into chan
nels of social, intellectual and moral
usefulness, and through these to abid.
ing peace and happiness. So that.
when the springtime's gaudy visions
nave worn themselves into the summer
OF MES realities, and they shall be
compelled to enter upon the stern du.
ties thereof, they may do so as one
armed for the battle, and not stumble
upon them all unprepared
These societies are here. Thev are
mere IN answer to a demand They
are here as the product of the best
thought of the church. Thew are a
necessity in our church economy. as
we now see it. But, while they are
good, and meet demand in order that
they may fill their mission, they must
be confined to certain spheres of ac-
ton. They should not lie allowed to
go beyond this sphere, nor in any man
ner trespass upon, or detract from the
other departments of church work.
They are by 70 means substitute for
the church. We would say then. that
in active operation, they should be a
subordinate cooperative organization.
A separate organization they will
De whether necessary or not. We
have zeal, in this country, that
amounts to almost a craze, for organi.
zatiOn. Labor, social, fraternal. d Oliti.
Cal and religious organizations. and a
certain amount of it is good and neces-
sary.
While these are separate they should |
IN no sense, be independent, We |
want no new church organization.
We need sometimes, additional ma
but we need no new mill.
They should be subordinate and
subject to both the church and its Das-
tor, and nc officer in such societies
should be elected without proper con.
with pastor and church Off
Gals. When it is done otherwise II
engenders spirit of separation. They
'hOuid, at all times, feel that thew are
SIMPLY part of the machinery of one
great whole, and that their business is
20 cooperate with the church. There
should be, ia no degree, among its
members, a feeling of Substitution
NO member of such societies sbonId
eel tnat ne has discharged his obliga.
ION TO the church and its regular ser
1lces, by attending to the duties of
iuch society. "
IL ltne society should be co-oDera-
i've. The supreme aim of all it's WORK
mould be the interest of the church
inuer which it labors. This Thought
mould pervade the mind of everv Off
er ana member. | believe that in the
!, nteht OF the founder of these societies
MS was prominent, and no person. as
understand it, can be a consistent
nd conscientious member of either the
lpwOrth League or Christian En-.
eaVOr, and not do this. The member !
! such societies who turns his feet |
rom the door of the lecture room of !
he church when the bell in the tower |
calling him TO the service in the |
pper sanctuary, without an excuse G
hat will stand the scrutiny of Gods
ye, is false to his vows. {
And to do this, as some do, at the q
ictatiOn of various senseless wbims. '
D stroll the streets, to participate in c
Moonlight excursions, where idle gos. j
p holds sway, and trihing jest sup c
lants the message of God, which Is o
eing delivered by His servant. IL to q
rand themselves as trifling and hypo. o
ritical. IL is to make such societies n
this becomes general, a farce. and To 5
I'VE 1t no higher standing than sen. o
rate, semi religious club. This Is an t
nuse Of the infant oF ~. .s.t-.- | N