New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-24
ALL PRAISE Y. ". c. II.
DR.. Lyman Abbott Says 1t Is Doing
More than the Churches.

As the end OF the celebration Of the hftieth an
niversary Of the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton OF Brooklyn. a dinner WAS given last nisht
in the Union League Club. Brooklyn. for the boards
Of trustees and directors and committees OF man
aeenent More than tive hundred were present
The work OF the association from It's noepuon 10
the present tine reviewed ano the Work Ihat
Il is houed TO do in the future was discussed. IL
was stated that $4,000 Of the $4,000 jubilee tuna
had been raised The latter was actually
needed but sS0o0O0 was about the sum the assocla-
lion ought to have The Rev DR.. Lyman Abbott
said that the Young Mems Christian Association
was more successful than the churches because ~
sought TO bring Christ to msn, rather than Drlhs
men into the church
Frederic 3. Pratt presided. O. vincent Coll4n'
former Governor Of Connecticut and one-ure
rresdent OF the Brooklyn association. was to speak
on HE "RecolIections Of a Former President, but
VS. detained by illness. Henry B. F. Mcfarland,
president Of the Board OF Commissioners OF the
district Of Columbia, spoke on The Association
Movement"
n willis James. who was one Of the six young
men TO sign the call for the first meeting for the
organ izat ton on June g. 1853 spoke on The Eary
DAYS OF tie Brooklyn Association. he referred 10
fhe fact th't then Brooklyn's first interests were
its homes churches and schools. he spoke OF the
en- .nenr preachers in Brooklyn. among them
Henry Ward Beecher and the Rev. Dr. Richard
salter Storrs To the Inspiration of the latter ne
attributed the success Of the project Inc MY
wears since then he said. had been years OF doubt
atty wears in history had more men had their
aims centred on Christ That largely explained
tie success Of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
caton-that it was in keeping with the progress OF
the age.
Edward p LYON. the present president. spoke
on our Present status" The best part OF tie
work that had been done in the past was not VS.
he, he said. It was the work for the young men
who had grown up into broad oitizenship'
All that past was fundamental out the
work Of the association was just beginning, for
In Brooklyn there were $4,000 unsolved problems
in The shape Of young mer. not more thah one
third Of when were touched by church influences.
The part Of the public press that is reliable
he sa.d tells Us that almost within the sound
Of nv voice there has been set VI the parapher-
nalis OF a gilded he'll. Shall the neighborhood IN
which this ereat clubhouse stands be made by
word by such forces? Shall we not guard our
young men from such influences"
Mr.. Lyon spoke Of the army reservations, within
the limits Of which, he said. there absolutely
ne provisions fer the spiritual and moral welfare
Of the soldiers In none Of the twelve points where
the association is doing work. he said. was there
anything like adequate equipment The asso-
citation had. he said. obtained about 100000, and
actually nseded $4,000 and should have 100000
70 extend the work properly.
Speaking on our Opportunity Directors and
Committeeman" the Rev. DR.. Lyman Abbott said
Inc Church labors under the difficulty of being
divided into sects and divisions. We fnd our COM
bina on IN thir king not what creed best SUITS US
but how can best Relp others. The founders
the Young Mems Christian Association got to-
gether and asked, How young
men,? I believe that this organization has done
more for unity Of the Church than all other asSO-
cis lions in the WORD together.
There is another difficulty. II is said that
churches are getting hold Of men, particularly
the al San elias es. What is the trouble? Perhaps
We have been making q mistake. Perhaps we have
been thinking our work was 70 get men to church,
and not to get Christ to men. The work of the
min sterS is 10 keep 2faIne the fires of Christian
conservation in the men. who must then out
and seek not much TO bring TO church as
to bring Christ TO mca.
Among railroad the Young Mems Christian
Association has done what the church cannot do
You ought 10 organize associations among the
artisan class 10 bring them TO Christ Then they
organize churches TO bring other to
Christ"
St Clair AcKelway. Editor of, The Brooklyn
Eagle. spoke Of the privilege and duty of respond
ing generously 10 the appeals of the association
its jubilee fund. His subject was The Business
Men Opportunity and he finished follows:
Those who sigCaliZe this seui-centennsl of the
Young Mems Christian Association of Brooklyn by
liberal aid and large example will be rememb erc6
with honor the centennial of this aSsoca ton
itself None Of US wiz probably then be here TO
hear our praises but those on whom we bequea the
our honor and our name will hear those praises
and from them they should be able to take inspra-
ton for their longer future. In truth those who
would inspire their pOSterlty with Gberality for
Righteousness hereafter should I'll themselves up
with that spirit OF fherality IN the time viii h
is q legacy TO the times which are 70 come