Middletown transcript., 1896-05-30
.sOUR OBJECT AND HOW EACH
ONE WILL BE HELPED -
DIR. O. a. RrrcHIE

Several articles have been written show
ing the idea of various parties interested in
our Young Mems Christian Association. 1t
is to be hoped they wiilal be carefully read
and the best points picked out and applied.
Our Y. NJ. C. A. is certainly encouraging to
those Of us who take time to look into its
work. None can judge thing properly un-
less they examine il closely; and right here
is where our encouragement ,mes in, for
if any man does examine our association
closely, we will ever after own him as one
of our standby" members. There are
those all around US who say we will soon
go to pieces; that yariau. otiier org inizl-
tions of the kind have failel: AMI great
many other discouraging things. But
am happy to say that the majority OF those
who speak thus, are persons who (althougii
they have alta ined some rank in society
were seldom known To encourage or SUP
port anything except that which was OF
direct personal benefit. We know That we
have men behind us who have the interest
of the younger men al hart. We are now
down to working order. and while it will
be hard fight to get hold and to Keep
hold of the young men, yet We have ma
terial in our ranks that have stood the test
of time and who know that by persistant
effort and personal work. the young men
will be won to, and held firm in the work
A visit to our rooms will show you that we
are nicely fitted and that all are made vel
come.
But what of the mission of this organiza-
tion? An association is union of persons
for some particular purpose. Without a
particular purpose we cease to be an asso-
citation. Surely it was the sense of need,
(the greatest factor of civilization), that
led us to establish such an association. And
the particular purpose of the association is
the uplifting and up-building of men. In
unity there is strength; and in our 7. NJ. c.
A. our men are bound together in bonds OF
fellowship and christian unity. We should
first see to it that every man is a member.
This is the day Of organizations. Men
will get together. Men. especially young
men, will 60 to some place every night. They
work all day and they must seek some
recreation at night These are self-evident I
facts; and looking squarely at them as such |
we come to the queslion--where are they |
going? Without aliswerins the QUESTION, |
will say, that our object is to look after
Them and see that they come under an in |
fuence that will tend to the up-buiding |
of character. God ha ten the day when |
all men will strive to help each other. |
Good influences take care of mems bodies; |
they are more industrious; they are worth |
more to their employer they make more |
wages and are worth more to the merchants |
they deal with; in short, good influences |
make prosperous communities. And an |
organization like Y. NJ. C A. that takes |
care of "heads" of families. and those |
who will some day be "heads, of families,
is q value to our community. Now, how |
will we bring our men under this influence?
Some..want one thing and Others want some
thing else The way to get all. and to
keep them. is to see that the various wants
of each member are carefully consideredt
and, if possible satisfied.
But with all these wants our higlesr OBJ
ject (and the object which all else must
work up toy is the framing of character.
Character as pure as the morning sun; as
stable as the everlasting hills; character
that can triumph over the most adverse
circumstances turning them into means of
its own advancement; character that trans
figures and gloriies the humbTest lot. Men
old and young. we welcome you to our
rooms Be one of u.s. Come help us make
the plans that will govern us. Don't stay,
away and then say that it isn't the kind of
an organization you thought it would be
Come help us make it what you thousht it
would be and what you want it TO be. God is
our foundation and guide, this association is
our battlefield. and if we fight the fight of
brave men, heaven will be our reward.