The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-03-02
ON YIN. CA. WORK
Address by ]. r. Mott at
Association Hall.
What is Being Done in Other COun-
tries-Work Among
Young Men.

At the reception in the Y. ". c. \.
hall. Tuesday evening. February 23d. J.
r. Mott delivered the following ad-
dress:
Ar such a time as this it is we'll that
We examine the foundation Of our be-
lief in the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION. They need only be brought
before us TO deepen our convictions and
strengthen our faith in the organiza-
ton. Why. then. do we believe in the
Young Mems Christian Association?
We believe in it because Satan is put
ting forth special efforts TO reach and
ruin young men, and because they are
yielding in such appallingly large num-
beTs 20 his onslaughts. He is directing
the great forces of gambling, impurity,
intemperance, opium, and ayaTice pri-
marily at this class. The Church. there
fore, animated by this spirit of Him
who is not willing that any should
perish, united in establishing this light
house, this city of refuge this life-sav-
ing station. to conteract the forces of
the evil one. We believe in the
association because it seeks to
reach the most influential class of
the communicative young men.
You save an old man and you deal in
addition; you save a young man and
in the association, because its mission
is to the whole man. 1t aims to build
up the body, TO train the mind, TO en-
rich the heart, to save the soul-thus
sending out young men to stand four
square to every wind that blows. We
believe in the association because it
unites and works for all classes of
young men. In its successful efforts
on behalf of such classes as students,
business men, clerks, merchants, sail
ors, it has become all things to all men
that by all means it might save some.
Moreover, in working out this question,
it has shown worldwide adaptation.
The Young Mems Christian Association
is today firmly intrenched in nearly
5000 centers, and has a membership
of 100000 young men. We believe in
the Young Mems Christian Association
because men and women of consecrat-
ed wealth believe in it. AS a result OF
their benevolence. in the United States
and Canada alone, within the last 80
years. over 300 association buildings
have been erected at cost of $1S,000,-
900 in gold. Even railroad corporations,
which are said to be soulless, believe in
the association, as is seen from the fact
that last year in the United States they
to the current expenses of
this work from corporation funds,
nearly 100000 in gold. We believe in
it, moreover, because college presidents
and professors unite in saying that theaI
500 associations of students in differ
ent parts of the world constitute the
great fact in the religious life of our
There are deeper reasons still
for our belief. These associations are
yearly leading thousands and thousands
of young men to become believers in |
Jesus Christ, as their Savior and Lord, |
and to identify themselves with His |
Church. 1t must never be forgotten |
that the association is not church, |
nor in any sense a substitute for the |
Church. but is simply union of young |
men of all branches of the Church of |
Christ to reach other young men and |
draw them into the Church. And not |
only are these associations leading |
young men to become Christians, but |
they are also training tens OF thousands |
Of young men in methods of Christian
work and sending them back better pre-
pared to take positions of leadership in |
the forces of the Church. Not least |
among the foundations of our belief is
he fact that the association is a great |
to help to realize the prayer OF
our Lord that we all might be one.
Where is there more practical demon
;tration OF the fact: There is one
BODY and one spirit, even as also We
we're called one in hope of your calling;
me Lord one faith. one baptism, one
God and Father of all. Who is over all,
md through all. and in all For these
ma other reasons, we believe in the
Young Mems Christian Association.
.ioTe than this. we believe that their
work Will endure. Those who give
ime. money and influence to this as
ISOLATION: place time, money, and in
iuence where they abide. For. after
hese walls have fallen and this stone
hall have crumbled 10 dust, the influ-
nee of this association shall go on and
IN. because il is founded on the word
# God. and Heaven and earth may
,ass away but My word shall not pass
way Moreover. Jesus Christ is Him
elf the Chief Corner Stone. and He is
he same yesterday, today and forever"