Middletown transcript., 1896-05-02
ORIGIN, GROwTH AND OBJECT OF
THE YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN
ASSOCIATIONS.


THE YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN
ASSOCIATION.
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE FIRST SOCIAL
| MEETING, OF THE MIDpLETowN BRANCH,
/ APRIL 18th, By s. A. PITT
| Many times since it was determined to
form Y. M. C. A. in our beautiful town,
has the question been asked, wherein the
| necessity Of Y. M. O. A. In Middietown?"
Isimply desire to answer that question by
saying; first because we have young men in
our town. secondly, though we haye the
churches yet the millennium has not
reached, nor is It about to dawn in the lati-
tude and longitude in which Middletown is
situated; therefore the church is still the
church militant against sin and wretched-
ness. and every communicant, as also, every
good thinking man, will welcome every al
ly in the name of Jesus Christ.
It's a principle Of the young mans nature
to associate. There is a natural craving
for it. Aristotle says "man is more politi-
cal than any bee or ant. by which he in
dicated mans tendency to form associations
or communities. We cannot help their as
soclating. For lawful or unlawful pur-
poses they will and do organize, the only
question is whether between those extreme
terms Young Men" and Association" we
shall put in the link of Christianity and
bind them together with the constraining
love of God for the Masters Service. With
one voice, and with heart beating in unison
with heart. we answer-place the link.
There is nothing more divine than to help
man just at the time of life. when char
acter and usefulness. when every interest
for this and the life to come is at stake.
Who can measure the::responsibilities which
rest upon this time of life? What right
have we to let them 60 in the battle, If our
time. our talent, our money, our influence
or our homes can keep them up to the fight
for one day more! 1t may be the last day
before the victory. Who knows?
ask, shall we not help the.young men OF
our town to lend their lives while yet fex-
as man spake." We want that they shall
receive strength. not only of earthly, but
heavenly fiber. 8, that they shall stand
out as men of great moral worth, with
characters radiant with the graces of Him
who said: ITO him that overcometh. to
him will grant to sit with me on my
throne"
But I must turn to the origin and growth
of the Association. The parent associa-
ton was organized on June 9th, 1874 in
London, through the efforts Of George
Williams, an earnest Christian young man
twenty-three years of age. and at that time
junior clerk in large dry goods establish.
ment, of which he became the head.
The semi-centennial of this event. which
occurred June, 9Th 1894, was celebrated with
civic and religious functions of marked in
terest.
This jubilee year found over 5000 As
sociations distributed throughout the
world, in North America. Europe, Tur
key. Syria, India, Ceylon. China, Japan,
South Africa. Australia, New Zealand,
Brazil, Persia and many other countries.
The first Association In North America
was organized in Montreal in 1851: the first
in the United States at Boston few months
later. The following year, Associations
were established in New York, Washington,
Buffalo and Baltimore. After fifty years
we find in North America over 1900 As
sociations with q membership of nearly
half million.
These associations own total net pro-
perty Of $1s,O0O.00O.
Two hundred and ninety-one of them
own the buildings they occupy. Six hum
dred and thirty eight have libraries aggre.
eating about 100000 volumes.
Seven hundred and eighty nine have
reading rooms, 5000 Bible classes, and
5000 prayer and gospel meetings for
young men only are held annually. Three
hundred and fiftysreport educational classes
attended by over 10000 different young
men. Six hundred and twenty-seyen report
gymnasiums and other means physical cnl.
ture. Two hundred and twenty. -four literary
societies, 5195 lectures, and Ais soci-
ables. Over three hundred Associations are
doing Special work for boys, Onelhundred
and eight are established in the. interests
Of Rail Road Men-thirty-five among the
Indians: All this entails an annual ex-
pense of nearly 100000.
Eleven Hundred and Seventy-two Gen'l.
Secretaries are employed by 696 Associa-
tons. The International Committee has
employed So Secretaries
This is but an outline.the great work of
the Y. M. c. A. none can measure
The object of the Association has been
the salvation of young men through faith
in Christ. But in seeking first the spiritual
benefit of young men, they have also recog-
nized and sought to promote their intellect |
ual, social, and physical welfare through |
agencies consistent with christian disci- |
pleship, such as have been already referred |
to.
Mrs Barnett is prepared to furnish the |