The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-08
TO YIN C. A. WORKERS.
Judge S. P. Spencer, of st. Louis, Gives
Interesting Lecture.

Leavenworth, Dec S.-Selden P. Spen-
Ger, Judge of the circuit court, st. Louis,
drew A full house at the Y. NJ. c. A.
meeting, to hear his address on The
association as factor in the attainment
of the true type of Christian manhood
THE greatest factor in the life of
community" he said, lis the young men.
They are the operative power in the
business world, in the home, politics and
the church God has chosen young men
for his work since the days of the old He
brew theocracy. The prominent men
of history have been young men. The
judge declared that the field of the Y.
M. c. A. is as broad as the manhood of
the world and introduced some figures
to prove its magnitude. There are $4,000
students in the Y. NJ. c. A. of this coun-
Christ in the past year, So, 900 students
have made personal acceetance of
Christianity in the history Of ana
through the work of the association
There are $4,000 railroad association
men, having millions of dollars invested
in buildings and equipment. At 500
points where army posts are stationed.
there are associations, or association
headquarters established, and 2 100 col
ored men receive the advantages of this
great association.
Reformation is the wall of the past
he said, prevention the cry of the fu-
turo."
Judge Spencer emphasized the fact
L ~ "A.
business principles. that it is not loose
organization>s, There are, s20.00O.000 IN
vested in association property, and So,
900 expended yearly ia the work =
He spoke at length on the homeless
condition of young men in the cities.
that SO per cent are away from home,
and that the associations are, to them,
the only substitutes for homes. He cali
ed attention to the fact that SO per cent
of TIE men of the nation are in the
iii "a nir hoY &c on, I,o
increase at a ratio which in 80 years
viii raise it to e5 per, cent and aictuted
pathetically, the condition of those lone
ly men in the cities. who have not the
advantages which the Y NJ. c. A af-
fords. ~ .-
Men who have home recollections are
stayed from evil, but we cannot do too
much for those who have them sot .,
The Judge spoke of the. good atha Y.
NJ. c. A. is doing in physically and, e1u-
cationally uplifting men and. gave IN
stance of the changes wrought In men
by the educational work of the city as
sociations.
Finally he treated the spiritual side
of the work. and showed some of its
work Seventy-five per cent. of the men
never enter churches, yet there are 49,
900 enrolled in Bible study classes. and
over 500 900 enrolled in other classes
Judge Spencer himself appeared to be
an example of the possibilities of 4,
young man, for that is what he seems to
be, even though he is a circuit cour,
judge. He is a strong and magnetic
speaker. and carried conviction with
him.
Prof Towner's large chorus of young
men rendered several pieces during the
evening, and already reveal by their
singing his ability as leader. The
Bluemont cuartette of Is. S. A C., Man.
haitian, gave two excellent selections. 3
A state executive committee of seven
teen members was elected for the en-
suing year.