The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-20
THE Y. NJ. c. A. CONVENTION.
The Savannah Representatives Talk
About the Meeting I'm Asbens

About the Meeting in Athens.
The recent convention Of the Young
Mems Christian Association of GEORGIA
held in Athens was one Of the most sue
cessful of the seventeen which have con-
Vened since the Young Mems Christian
Association was organized In Georgia.
The representatives Of the Savannah as
ISOLATION who attended the convention
have Just returned home. The people Of
Athens, the say, received and treated the
delegates royalty. and memories of the
spread in the auditorium Of the assooia-
ton building by the Ladies' Auxiliary will
long remain with all who attended it.
more particularly. as the pleasure was
intensified by recollections of similar
reception given two years before under
like circumstances.
While the representation from the vari-
Gus associations was not as large as was
expected. many having been prevented
from attending by the rainy weather,
which prevailed in that section Of the
state during the convention, and having
a vague knowledge that Athens is not
the most charming place under those
circumstances, yet the character of the
representatives was encouraging, in that
the flower Of Georgia's young manhood
was present to take part in its delibera-
tions.
On Friday night, the 18th inst. Mr..
Lucian L. Knight of Atlanta, Ca. a
representative of the Atlanta Constitu-
ton, delivered an Grafton on the subject:
The Young Man of the Nineteeth Cen
tury. His Perils and Possibilities" The
effort of this able and eloquent young
Georgian was eminently successful and
much appreciated by those who heard
him.
During the progress of the convention
Rev. c. p Williamson d. D., of Atlanta,
gave a series of three lectures on Bible
study, presenting TO his hearers the best
principles for searching out its truths. 1t
did not take long to discover that DR.. Will
hanson was fully equal to his task and
that he had a happy humor about him
which gave much enjoyment to his audi
ence.
Rev. Walter Tharp Of Augusta, Ga, was
present and presented the views of the
ministry in regard to the Y. M. c. A.,
speaking of it as an important adjunct
10 the church. and a mighty factor in de-
velOping young men 10 that higher life
which all moral and religious training
leads.
Mr.. r. c. Morse of New York was one Of
the most prominent gentlemen present. He
has large and extended experience in the
work as a member of the international
| committee we'll fitted him for an active
part in all the discussions which arose.
One of the most interesting points that
arose was the inquiry, made by a delegate,
as to the disposition of tire Y. NJ. c.. A.
towards the higher criticism" of the
Bible text This question arose because
of the comment made by a bright young
lawyer from Central Georgia upon Bible
study, in a paper read by him. and how it
would be accepted only in the light of mod
ern knowledge, and that therefore
the reference to Joshua Gem
handing the sun to stand still, is not
to be accepted in its literal sense This
caused the convention to declare itself
very concisely upon its attitude toward
Bible Interpretation, which declaration
showed that the association as a body
has no distinct theories. but that it boldly
and unhesitatingly follows in the wake Of
the evangelical churches, to which it is
appended as mere arm IN accomplishing
work.
Another most important disposition of
the organization was manifested, which
was that it is seeking to extend its in
huence more and more in the educational
field, and great emphasis was put on that
feature of its work 1t is seeking to pro-
vide means to perfect themselves more
and more intelligently, and especially in
those branches of knowledge which will
make them more valuable as business
men.
In all the work and discussion of the con-
vention the great central pur-
pose of its organization was
not lost sight of, but pre-
vailed throughout, and the discussion
of matters relating tQ its religious work
consumed the larger part of the time.
one of the most interesting papers read
in this connection was the one prepared
by Mr.. ]. S. Hunter the acting general
secretary in Savannah, on the subject,
The personnel of the devotionaF COM
mittee, and how to use it." This was an
important topic, and brought out consid-
cradle debate.
These conventions are held under the
supervision OF the state committee of
the Young Mems Christian Associations
of Georgia, which has general supervis-
ion of the associations in the state, of
which there are now twenty-five, en-
couraging them and assisting them
through the state secretary, Mr.. w. NJ.
Lewis, and also creating an interest in
this branch of Christian work in those
communities where there are no associa-
tons, and seeking to found them there
The associations throughout the state
are unanimous in their praise of the work
done by this central committee and of
the assistance they have all received
from time to time at the hands of the
able and earnest representative of that
committee, Mr. w. M. Lewis.
The representatives of the Savannah
association at the convention were
Messrs. c. M. Gilbert and John Nicolson
Jr.
CITY BREVITIEs.