Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-06-13
EXCELLENT ADDRESS
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Associations Of North America
amounts to over s2S.0oo.0oo. IN 1854
the first convention was held at Buff
fal0 with IS Associations represented
by 81 delegates. AT the recent 50th
anniversary in the same city e
400 delegates represented the 1900
J Associations.
In 1867 the International Committee
was organized. II spent s27s the first
year and had one Secretary. This
ge0r the committee spent s241. 900
and had employed 10 travelling Sec
retaries.
In England the associations have
held tenaciousIy to the distinctively
religious idea. whereas III America
they have regarded the religious idea
as primary, but have appealed also
70 the mental and physical develop
ment OF the man. Many men are
morally weak, because they are physi-
cally weak.
Unless one has had occasion to
study the rise and development Of the
association, the extent Of the move
ment and It's wide influence Is little
known. Among railroad men there
are over $1,000 members, and the
branch or the work has shown the
greatest advancepent Of any in the
last five years. Over eighty railroad
associations own and occupy build.
ings devoted exclusively to a~ssocia-,
tion purposes. The Denver q Rio
Grande has appropriated for years q
sufficient amount TO guarantee the
permanency Of the work In Denver.
The Colorado and Southern has just
completed d $4,000 building at a
division point in Texas. There were
10000 men In attendance at the Bible
classes OF the railroad association
last year, and over 100000 attended
the religious meetings.
The problem of reaching the un-
chnrched masses Is a difficult one.
especially among q class Of men
whose time Is fully occupied during
the eve days Of the week, but the
railroad Young Mems Christian asso-
citation Is doing more than any other
agency today to reach a great indus.
trial class who need and are almost
wholly without the influence Of the
church. And what Is being done for
the railroad men OF the country is
gradually taking place among street
car employers In our great cities. The
fact -, the managers Of great cor
porations are coming to see that work
Of this kind can be more thoroughly
and better done through an agency
such as the Christian association af
fords. Hence. everywhere those EN-.
ploying a large number of men well
come and help the association on
GERS, knowing that the work Is carried
on by practical. experienced, trained
men, whose entire time Is given To III
The work for students under the
auspices Of the Young Mems Christ
Ian association Is having a wonder
full growth, In 1877 there were
thirty organizations among institu
tons Of learning In America. Now
there are over 600 IN as many col. I
leges and universities, with a mem
bcrship Of over $4,000. AS one who
has seer young men In college blast
the fondest hopes Of their parents
because of evil habits. | say to you
that The strongest, most potent in
fluence Is the Young Mems Christian
association The contribution OF
these college associations ID the cause
missions can scarcely be o~yeresti
Starts Volunteer Movement. |,
II IL the organization through
which The great student volunteer ,
movement has carried On its work, |
success is one OF the great .
achievements Of the church in the ,
twentieth century. /.
One Of the greatest paintings al the !,
Worlds Fair was Hovenden's Break !,
Ing Home Ties" Those who were
fortunate enough to see the original
a never forget It. and the ,
reproductions are familiar 70 all. II ]
IS hard 70 say which Of the two !
the mother or the son. holds :