Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-09
A Y. P. c. U. RALLY.
Interesting Meeting at First
Universalist Church.
Timely Addresses by Rev. E. W. Whitney
of Milford and Rev. A. w. Grose on
the Work of the Union.

The rally of the Young Peoples un-
ions of the southern central district of
Massachusetts, comprising delegates
from South Framingham, Milford,
Webster, Southbridge, Spencer and the
local churches at the First Universalist
Church Tuesday afternoon and evening,
was a very pleasant gathering. The
attendance was not large, but the re-
marks of the speakers were full OF
timely suggestions and the interest was
lively.
The exercises opened at 8 O'clock with
a devotional meeting on the subject of
Loyalty" under the leadership of
Ralph F. Kneeland of Milford. A ques-
ton box discussion followed, which Rev.
Omer G. Petrie of Palmer conducted.
The afternoon session ended shortly
after o'clock and an hour or more
was spent in the church socially At
$50 the ladies of the church provided
supper in the vestry.
The evening service began at 7.45. The
general topic of the evening was, "Our
work" In opening, Rev Dr. Gunnison
announced that, as the speakers were
to leave the city on evening trains he
til the close Of the services.
<Rev. E. W. Whitney of Milford was
introduced as the first speaker, on Per
sonal responsibility" He said, When
we look al the character of the Puritans.
we may find something narrow and big
oted, but we are forced to admit that
there is something strong and great in
their sturdy character. This is time
When the comforts and luxuries and re-
1t- of
moral and spiritual fibre.
There is danger that we pay too much
attention to the pleasant things of life
rather than to what is emphatic and
necessary. A wit has remaSked that the
difference between children of today
and fifty years ago was that in old times
children obeyed their parents. but now
parents obey their children. The fact is
that many sons and daughters do not
leeI their responsibility to their parents
When they are married they expect to
start in life with all the luxuries of their
parents, forgetting that they have been
accumulated by years of labor. If there
was moral responsibility it would
make the home happier and confer a
benefit on the rising generation. We note
a greater increase in the young men at
tending college, but l doubt if the aver
age young man is as much in earnest as
We're the boys in olden days. Then a col
lege was selected on account Of the
learning of its professors, but now we
find successful ball nine or foot ball
eleven has much to do in the way of
determining a selection. Everything
makes for sport and outside enjoyment.
am afraid the young men i'm many
cases spend four years in the easiest
manner possible. We should be aware of
the slack, mental training and look for
that which gives control to the mind and
will
I sometimes think 1 find the same
thing in the churches. 1 am afraid that
| am obliged to say that the present
generation do not make good the places
of their fathers and forefathers do not
believe they have the loyalty the devo-
ton, the readiness to stand by the
church. Many people go to church be-
cause they like the minister the music,
the social end and because it is bene-
fetal to their business. The real strength
of church depends on the number of
members who can be depended upon at
all times, who come to church not on
account of its attractions, but because
they have a loyalty to the truth of God.
This truth may be applied to the Y.
P. G. U. meetings. When the bicycle
season comes along, many will find it
difficult to attend the meetings. l am
not Puritan, but 1 am afraid we may
go to the other extreme. I think the
young people ought not to forget moral
and spiritual claims. If they fail in this
they will be unable to take up the work
Of their fathers. The ideal union would
be the one where every one felt per-
sonal responsibility resting on him and
fulfilled it as nearly as possible
Rev. Arthur w. Grose, state president
of the union, spoke on Methods" II
want to urge upon you" he said, "that
we have commonness of purpose, aid
and sympathy-the feeling that we
are not doing the work alone, but in
common with the young people of the
state and the nation. AS to methods,
there should be spirit behind it all. 1t
does not make so much difference what
wheel you ride, as it does how you ride
it. Some methods are best. They have
been demonstrated so. A great deal de-
pends upon the force we use.' In clos
ing, he spoke of the suggestiveness of
the name of the association. 'It stands" ="
he said, first, for youthful methods
There is an enthusiasm and conviction
about it. If you believe a thing ought
to be done, believe that 1t can be DONE
even when you find that a large part
of the work falls on a few. To achieve
success we must undertake the work
with such enthusiasm that we will inn
press those about us. Our movement
ought to be a popular movement. We
ought to plan for large work There are
fields all about us. We need organiza-
ton, cooperation, a willingness to fol-
low the wish of the greatest number.
Let us do what seems best to US with
spirit of courage and enthusiasm.