Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-04-20


 department which does got do an aggressive, effective physical work is a hypocrit, and we cannot expect spiritual results from the work of hypoerit.
 When man has no respect foryou. for what you really are. but tolerates you because you are connected with the !. NJ. C. A. you are not the pror- CT instrument for the salvation of that mans soul When he respects you because Of your own character you can hope to influence hIn for good
 Just SD when the public respects the physical department because of it's high purpose and intrinsic worth the field is white for the harvest from this work
 Ii you are used as an instrument in ,iod's hand for the salvation of souls you have first been strengtEe ed and built up and made a strong aggressive Christian character.
 So let us work together as Secre- taries and Physical Directors to place the physical department on the high plane, which because of it's intrinsic worth, it deserves to occupy in Association work, and their de- mand of it that it bring forth much fruit. That it start many young men i'll the Christian life. For bodily exercise profiteth for a little time, but Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.'
 So while there is great and noble work for the physical department i'll the physical world, how much more important it's work in the spiritual l world.
 It is in the physical department that the Y. M. C. A, comes in con tact with its young men who most need q Savior. It is sadly true that frequently the young men of com munity who are most interested in their physical welfare; the young men who are most anxious to have strong, graceful bodies, are not the moral and spiritual element. In fact the majority of the young men in onrgymnasium classes all over our country, are not identified with any religious organization except the |. NJ. c. A.
 How important then that here they come Tn contact with spiritual influences, that in our rooms their thoughts may be turned to spiritual things, that here we do well the work that no other organization has an opportunity to do. How then shall we interest these young men who need a Savior i'll their own spiritual welfare?
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 Aud when he learns to know the Y. NJ. (. A. as it really is, he will realize what it has been to him in tke physical and social dapartmen nts i is only an earnest of what it will be to him when he lets it mould his spirit as it has moulded his body and mind.
 He will realize that the AssOcIa- tion is greater than he Secretary. greater than the physical depart ment, greater than hesocial depart ment, or the intellectual department or the spiritual department. He will realize then what it means to mould spirit, mind and body.
 When he knows the Y. NJ. C. A., as it really is, he will realize that the ! young men who have been his associates and friends need the in- l fiuenees that may be found in the ! Y. M. C. A., and the Association will 1 have added another worker to it's ! roll, and whether he comes to us 1 through direct personal effort or 1 through the physical and social i under the spiritual influence, it is only when he is a worker that the duty of the Association is done.
 When Jesus raised Lazarus from 1 the dead he came forth bound hand and foot with napkin about his face. without the ability to work or talk, and then the command was given to those who witnessed the miracle. Loose him and let him go
 And so when d soul which was 1 1ead in trespasses and sin is brought 1 by divine power into life in our Associa ton, the command is to us '.loose him and let him go. And by opening his eyes to the great need 1 IOF q Spliltutf Npih dHloHS SOuHes men and giving him q plan for doing 1 that work, we remove the bonds of prejudice and ignorance and doubt l and fear and disinclination which have bound him hand and foot, and send him forth in the ful possession of his faculties with ability to work and speak, s powerful instrument in the hand cf God for accomplishing his holy purpo e. Wese dhim forth a young man with the Nj nlitv and energy and enthusiasiasm of youth conseeratel to the Lord, at the age when he k vigorously sowing that l which will be multiplied for him to 1 reap in kind. panl says: Fl wrote unto you young men because ye are strong. aud who can estimate the strength of u young maI9 How strong he Is ill body and mind. How 1 Ii l.Ann far fha