The San Francisco call., 1896-10-16
YOUNG MEN IN COUNCIL,
The Sixteenth Annual State
Convention of the
Y. M. c. A.
The S ssion Opened Last Evening
at the Association Audi.
torium.

Delegates to the sixteenth annual State
Convention of the Young Mems Christian
Association of California arrived in large
numbers yesterday afternoon and an in
formal reception was held in the spacious
parlors of the new home of the association
at 6 o'clock. Mr.. Mccoy, assisted by
large corps of young men from the local
association, received the guests and at 80
O'Clock all sat down to repast in the din
ing-hall onsthe fifth floor of the building
After ample justice had been done to the
edibles about an hour was INDUCED in
"reminiscences of past association days, re-
marks were make by visiting delegates,
local clergy men and officers of the San
Francisco association.
Prom pity at o'clock all repaired to the
handsome auditorium of the building,
where numerous friends were in waiting
for the delegates proper, seats being re-
served in the center of the hall for the
representatives OF associations out OF the
City. After brief praise service, III. J.
Mccoy, general secretary of the local as
sociation and president of the State Asso-
citation for the past year, called the con-
vention to order. After some preliminary
business, Rev. Charles r. Brown, the new
pastor of the First congregational Church
of Oakland, was introduced, and delivered
an address. In part he spoke as follows:
AS rule the work of young men is monoto-
nous. They are simply a part of great ma
chine. They do not make shoe, but only
part of II. If they work in large store IL is
not to sell all that the store carries, but some
spec ial articles as suspenders or neckties. So
you see that the young man of the present
day is only q cog in the Wheel His chance to
rise is very uncertain.
In social life he has very small chance to get
into the society OF those whose cul ture Will be
a benefit. l mean by this, not that he cannot
find companions of good principles, but that
his vocation depriyes him of such company in
general as will tend to lift him to higher
mental, and, in some cases, moral sphere.
The young man OF whom / have bt en- dis
coursing is he who is city bred, and that fact
leads me to mention his facilities for going
wrong In the country a young man is gem
orally held pretty well in the course of recti-
tude by the force of public opinion. He is
known by everybody. But in q large city he is
not so well known, and can do wrong without
many, perhaps, being aware of it. The tempta-
tions are vastly stronger.
To these baneful influences the Young Mems
Christian Association is an offset. 1t gives him
employ ment in his leisure hours, both men
tally and physically: His mind is enriched
with the kind of knowledge that will give him
higher ideals bis muscles, imperfectly de-
veloped by one kind of work, are made SYM
metrical by proper gymnastic appliances.
The young man OF the present day is lament
X
economy. How many OF them have even an
elementary understanding of the currency
question, for example? In this particular of
late the association has done much work.
Debates have been alternated with addresses
by learned lecturers and much good has E.
suited.
The following programme will be the or
der for the next three days:
This morning at o'clock Bible study, con-
Quoted by Rev Dr. Chapman of Oakland; 9 80,
INVENTION
from associa ations; 1880, 1.-The Association
Membership Privileges and Their Limitation"
paper by Grove F. Elkins general secre-
tary Sacramento association; paper on
''The Financial Relationship and Extension"
by N. Fl. Jacks, general secretary OF Oak
land and Association; ?, M, devotional exercises;
leties; To What Extent Should We Encourage
Prizes and Rewards9' A. G. Brock, physical
director Oakland association; $50, reports
from State department and consideration of
future State work.
Evening-7:3 80, song serv ice; 8, college ses-
sion, in charge of international Agent C. G.
Michener.
Saturday mornings O'Clock, devotional ex-
erciscs. conducted by Rev. DR.. Chapman; 8 80,
building Mistakes and Their Remedy; IL,
"The Foreign Element" r. Horner, secretary
of the German branch OF San Francisco.
Saturday afternoon-Penthalon field day at
Presidio athletic grounds.
Saturday evening" 80 o'clock, song SER
vice g. symposium on association work (dele-
gates only.
Sunday morning at Sour Spiritual Con-
dition''; "Associational." C. c. Michener;
Personal" C. w. James, general secretary
Riverside Association. 11-Services in the
various City churches, assisted in by the visit
ing delegates
Sunday afternoon at 3-Union mass-meeting
of the churches in the City at the association
auditorium, Mason and Ellis streets. z 80,
evening-Services at the various churches
9-Farewell meeting at the association build
ing.
The public will be welcome to all ses-
sions of the convention.
On Monday conference of general Sec
retaries OF the State will be held.
G. C. Michener, international college
agent in New York City, will also be in
attendance at the convention and conduct
the college session to be held this evening.
Mr.. Michener's field is the United States.
He is one of the fifteen agents employed
by the international committee whose
time is constantly occupied in this extern
sive branch of association effort. There
are four times as many college students
identified with the Young Mems Chris
tian associations in the colleges as there
are belonging to all the fraternities in con-
nection with all the colleges and UNIVERSE
ties of the country.
Charter Publications Free to All.