The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-27

were quite a large number of gentlemen
who have been prominently identified
with religious movements as well as Y .
NJ. G. a. work.
The ceremonies began with q service OF
praise led by d. NJ. Lawrence, at which
the congregation sang 1.-The Banner of the
Cross, ""Rescue the Perishing," Coward,
Christian Soldiers" II Hear Thy We'll
come Voice." and Labor On"
The praise service over the anniversary
exercises began with ]. ]. Valentine pre-
siding. All sang as an introduction the
hymn Coronation" after which Rev. w.
A. RAIDER, pastor of the Third Congrega-
tional Church, read the twelfth chapter of
Romans as scripture lesson. Rev. r. ].
Briggs of Centenary Methodist Church
led IN prayer, and quartet sang selected
hymns.
Mr.. Valentine addressed the audience
briefly, announcing that the meeting was
held 60 celebrate the forty-third anniver-
sary-and then reviewing the history of
the Y. NJ. G. A. throughout the world. H e
said that the year just closed was favor
able one for the association in every land
and new friends were springing up on all
sides. He introduced the subject of debt
upon the new building and declared with
emphasis that 1t was pressing hard upon the
management, and unless the balance of $685.
600 were paid by friends OF the institution
there was grave danger that the building
would have to be incumhered. An appeal
was made for contributions that the asso-
citation could proceed IN its path I'M
trammeled by financial difficulties.
The latter portion OF Mr.. Valentines re-
marks were in favor of education and
moral influence as bestowed upon young
men by the association.
The hymn, ''While the Days Are Going
By" was sung by the audience standing,
Il DicI,,
duced.
The Bishop began by saying he was glad
that he was permitted to speak before a
San Francisco audience on the Young
Mems Christian Association. 1t was Joy,
he SAID, that he could stand before the
audience and speak the word of truth.
Turning to Mr.. Valentine he said he be-
lieved that when business man stood up
to plead the cause of Christ his words had
a greater weight even than those of the
minister OF the Gospel, who was too often
! looked upon as paid advocate of a stated
cause. And SO he was most deeply i'm
pressed by the address of the president.
why is it that when you enter large
city traffic carries you through and you
first see the lower forces before seeking or
! finding the spiritual?' he asked. Into
cities railroads pass at the backs of resi-
| dences, by low saloons. These considera-
! tons present the fact that men are sup
| ported, Influenced, carried on by forces
and that men who know the most of the
| forces in the world to-day are most sue
cessful. The Bishop said he believed these
forces could be harnessed in behalf of
! Christ. The Y. M. g. a. was the outcome
of forces around men and was Harvesting
| those energies
| Bishop Goodsell described his impress
sions of San Francisco. What impressed
him deepest was the cable-car systematic
no puff of steam, no flash of electricity.
| He searched for the force that carried
! those cars along.
| when l looked ND to the sun I ex-
claimed: There, there is the source of
| power. And when | saw globes, worlds.
whirling about it | saw the source OF
power was beyond and | knew it came
| from the arm of God"
Fairness demands that all forces should
be inv estigated, and if there is an energy
| in this City that would make man look
| into himself that force is well worthy of
study. 1t is the power of the Holy Spirit.
The one thing men need 20 know is
themselves Every one feels that the
greatest advantage that can come to any
itself and compare it with some ideal.
These forces are around men and the great
| point of education is TO know how to use
them. A great thing has been done for a
soul when it has been made to look upon
itself. study itself and by comparison see
how it may be improved.
In this City there is an awful waste of
power somewhere; there are numbers of
men and women playing with toys with
out realization of the ideal of Christ.
Wherever are churches, Christian associa-
lions. there are the realization, the deveI-
opment of forces.
Wealth had not been laid literally
enough at the door of the association hail
| to make it the institution that it should be
for home for young men, and Bishop
Goodsell prayed that people would come
forward and support it as it deserved.
The services were concluded with a
benediction pronounced by Rev. DR.. Coyie.
The San Francisco branch of the associ-
alton was organized in September. 1858.
and first located over the Postoffice on
Clay street, opposite the plaza. Monthly
meetings were held in the little German
church on Dupont street, near Pine.
Early in SO the headquarters changed to
Armory building, Sacramento and Mont