The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-25


active sympathy. that the grand work FOR
our young men may be complete success.
My utilization with the work dates BACK
forty years. and the association of when
was then a member has now beautifui
building of Its own, and ! earnestly nope
that the time Ii not far distant when you
as members and helpers. may see the
cause far advanced in our city, and may all
look with pride and pleasure upon a beauti.
full home dedicated to the salvation OF
young men.
The reading Of the address was followed
by several announcements. A general col
lection was taken UP, after which Prot.
V. Benthuyscn sang the onertory, Folio"
On"
Mr.. x. u. Alling, A business man OF San
Antonio, was then introduced and he de-
livered an address of about thirty minutes
duration. The meeting closed with song
and bcnediction.
Mr.. Alling's address was, in brief, as fol-
lows:
While this audience is probably composed
largely Of those who understand the aims
and methods OF the Young Mems Christian
association, there are doubtless some VINO,
through misunderstanding of It's work,
feel that IT is in sense rival OF the
church and is made substitute for 1t.
In speaking on the topic The Relation
of the Association to the Church,
speak as one who loves his church. VINO
has for twenty-five years labored for her
ana shared her benefits. ] also speak as
one who has come to highly value the work
of the Young Mems Christian association
ana to consider 1t not a rival Of the church
but IL most efficient helper and co worker.
The question arisesIs special work for
young men needed?
me value OF Il young man is generally
conceded. "All the world loves lover
and all the world admires a bright active,
enthusiastic young iI,an Among savage
tribes or civilized people he Y held in
highest esteem for what he Is now and for
what he is to be, and everywhere the de
sire is to see him make the most of him
self. Man has threefold uature--the
body which acts. the mind which thinks
and moves the body. and the spirit the
only roal and lasting part of him. that
moves and dominates all. The development
OF the nobest manhood is only possible
where all these are combined, trained aud
developed
lin the young man, appetite and senses
predominant and largely control. Taking
advantage of this. Satan masses his forces
against this gateway to the soul. and
through the saloon gambling hall. evil
companions and vile literature seeks to
capture the young mat.
How shall he be saved from these snarcs
and from evil? VIII the regular methods
Of the church suffice? VIII sermons and
eXhortations. counsels and warnings? often
he will not hear nor heed viii fathers
prayer or a mothers tear? Too often he
rushes on over a fathers gray hairs ana
mothers broken heart. What shall We
do?
When the settler on the Western prairie
sees the torrent of flame rushing swiftly
on to destroy all he holds dear he trusts
not 10 the little water he can use or to
his feeble arm to stay IT, but quickly sets
which ina fnrvs ard nntu
the invading flame and saves him from
death. So we must fight the fire Of evil
with the fire of good-meet the attractions
of sin with the attractions of virtue. against
the evil resort put pleasant and attractive
resort.
And also remember the tide ever flowing
In from country to city. Moved by amh-
ton. The best of the young men OF the
country are constantly seeking the cities
What shall be done for them when they
walk the streets homesick and lonely, de
string companionship? The saloon is open
for them What shall We offer them in its
place?
But" says one. this is the work of the
church. So it is. The Master went up and
down tho valleys of Judea and Galilee
doing good, healing and comforting as
well as preaching and warning. And the
greatest success and usefulness OF tho
church comes when her sympathies aud en-
u hi'a ldht HDlu on INC minus ana nDtlt s
Of men well as their souls.
But tho successful doing OF this work
Tor young men calls for money and work.
crs beyond the ability of the average church
to supply. The occasional Constitutional
church, with its parlors. reading room
gymnasium and other material attractions
successfully meets tho need, but not one
church in hundred can command the
money or tho workers to do this.
Here the association steps in and makes
possible for tho dozen churches of com
muuity what is impossible for them singly.
and by the wise and loving cooperation Of
men Of all denominations, whose hearts
20 out for the young men. furnishes an
organized effort that successfully meets the
great demand. And these workers in no
wise sacrifice their loyalty and devotion to
their own church; they give up nothing
they simply add a new force by doing here
what they would gladly do In their own
churches were it possible. The best asso-
citation workers are as n rule those who
are most active and faithful in their own
churches.
What is association work? And what
is its aim? Some very erroneous and alb
surd ideas regarding this are met with
and have TO be constantly combattcd,
1t is not free soup or lodging house.
nor an institution for the dispensing OF
charity. n convenient place to send every
applicant for money or work, II is not an
organization for the reformation of all
hard cases
II is an effort to build together self
respecting young men into c brotherhood
strong and effective. for the development
of the broadest ai&~A~est manhood Il
sound mind in a sound body and sound
spirit back Of all. Aud further that this
brotherhood shall not only be helpful to
themselves. but shall exercise a force and
influence on all young men about them
who arc in danger of going astray, or have
gone, and win them into the way of virtue
and righteousness.
And so. through the attractions of gym
nasium, athletics, reading room, cduca-
tional classes, lectures. etc, there is a con o
slant effort to draw and attract the young
men Of the community. But the work
does not stop here. The association con
sders these things but means to an end
the bringing of the young man to Christ
and until that end il accomplished its
work is not done. However praiseworthy
and laudablo the results these accomplish.
they are incomplete until that final end Is
attained