The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1903-01-20
Advertiser Bureau.

Selma. Jan. 10.
The Young Mems Christian Association
of Selma held its anniversary exercises
last night in the First Methodist Church.
DR.. w. w. Harper, President of the AS
ISOLATION. presided.
d. e. Luther General Secretary Of the
Y M. c. A., with headquarters in At
lanta, was the principal speaker of the
evening and delivered an interesting adj
dress. A choir OF excellent voices render
ed pleasing musical program.
The services began at o'clock, the
First Methodist Church being crowded.
The exercises were opened with King
An Glorious sung by the choir compos-
ed of Miss Maude Hooper, Mrs. c. C.
Ritter, Miss Gonzella Byrne, Miss Es-
telle Marshall Mrs W. w. Harper, Miss
Annie Creagh. Miss Annie w'hftby, H. Ii.
Hudson, A. P. Wade, T. p. Creagh, Dan
Brishn. W. W. Lapsley. e. H. Hobbs,
Ed Graham and Otto Erhardt, Miss Bes-
sic Groves being the organist.
After prayers by Rev. A. A. Little and
Secretary T. L. McGill and reading Of
Scripture by Rev. ]. l.. Gross. D E Luz
ther was introduced by Rev w. P. Hurt.
pastor of the First Methodist Church. In
introducing Mr.. Luther Mr.. Hurt on be-
half of the congregation welcomed the
members and friends of the Young Men
Christian Association to the church, which
has been only recently completed.
Secretary Luther has been in the serv-
ice of the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton for many years and his address was
Of unusual interest and was heard with
strict attention by ALI present. He spoke
of the qualification he felt at seeing how
much had been done by the Association
- CT - 49,
Secretary T. L. McGill and the directors
of the Selma Association on their accom-
plishments.
Secretary Luther first dwelt upon what
the Young Mems Christian Association
stood for. what It tried to dc, showing
that It existed for the purpose OF leading
young men to Christ The Association
does a work. declared Mr.. Luther, which
the church cannot do. Young men are
best reached by work done for and by
themselves
The need Of the work cannot be disput-
ed nor can Its vast importance be over
rated, he said. The young men of a COM
munity are a large part of a community
and possibly its most useful part With
out them city or a country must stand
still. And II young men are of such i'm
portance is 1t not useless to argue against
the necessitw of throwing about them ev-
cry possible safeguard. to provide. so far
as Is possible, that they may grow strong
in body and mind and soul?
Mr.. Luther stressed the religious work
which he said was the capstone Of the
whole structure. 1t Is the browning fea-
ture of the whole Association. The win
ming of young men for the Savior was
the most important as well as the most
interesting task to which the Young
Mems Christian Association set itself.
1T was intended said Secretary Lu-
Their, that 1 should discuss the Young
Mems Christian Association as a life
saving station; shall not change but add
to this topic by also speaking of the
Young Mems Christian Association as
lighthouse. l mean that prevention is bet
ter than cure; that It is better to keep
young men from falling than to raise
them after they are fallen
He then reviewed the work of each Of
the departments of the Association. the
city work, the railroad work and the col
lege work, and showed how each played
its part Yet one could never study the
lives Of young men without feeling how
little was being done. To accomplish the
work, especially in the city departments
the buildings must stand open every day
and afford such social. physical and in
tellectual pleasures as would draw young
men from sin and vice.
1t is In the railroad departments that
the religious side of the work is espe-
cially cared for and from a material
viewpoint alone the railroad departments
had proven their rea son of existence, To
demonstrate. Mr.. Luther read statistics
showing that loss by wrecks had been
greatly lessened by the organization Of
the Young Mems Christian Association
among railroad men.
The work of the Association had been
strongly felt at the colleges and in many
instances vicious conditions prevailing in
educational institutions have given way
before the benefcent influences Of the
Association.
Mr., Luther touched upon the work be-
ing done among sailors and soldiers and
advocated the institution of Associations
among the operatives in the factories and
mills.
Mr.. Luther concluded with a discus
sion of the. achievements of the Young
Mems Christian Association in this city
and made an earnest plea that the c.ti-
zens of Selma better the present condi-
tons.
The directors of the Association then
took up a collection. The amount given
was not sufficient and the directors are
making a personal canvass today.
Misses Maude Hooper and GonzeIla
Byrne and Mrs. w. W. Harper sang
MY Hearts Desire beautifully.
The services were closed with prayer
by Rev. Ira NJ. Boswell, pastor OF the
Christian Church, and the Doxology
sung by the choir.
Court Sounds Criminal Docket.
The City Court of Selma this mo, ming
took up the criminal docket and empan-
eled grand and petit juries. Hon. ]. w