The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-06-09
DOES COLUMBIA NEED A YOUNG
MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION?

stranger 10 tue place 60OuIu not Att0mD
to answer the question:; but Columbis
is made up of folks, and folks are JUS
folks no matter where they live Tn,
greatest need of the Columbia younf
man does not differ from the Creates
need of the young man anywhere else
In the world. There may be diner
ence in the provision fol- supplying the
need. but the need is just the same.
Let as suppose that an Association
/ mas been ORGANIZED in Columbia. II
is not simply reading loom or little
more than that and named the Y. M.
Z. A. 1t IS well organized and a prop
erly equipped Association. Provision
is made for the young man socially,
| physically and spiritually. The woIk
| is in charge of competent man; one
who has thoroughly prepared himself
for the work by course in SecretariaI
Training School, an institution main
| tanned for the express purpose to pre-
pare men for Association work.
There Is young fellow In Columbia,
we will imagine, sixteen or seventeen
years of age, VINO has graduated from
tue SHnday.school; who very seldom,
ii ever, attends church, and, in short,
has formed such an idea of lite that
he has little use for the church or any,
thing connected with it, His home
training is not to blame. but when the
boy reached the age that made it pos
slble for him to cut loose from the
home influence he started on the
wrong track. This same young fellow,
for whom the church and the Sunday
school and a clean. christian home
hox kA~o nks
to the Association by the talk of the
bowling alley, the bath rooms, the
gymnasium. and because many of his
fellows frequent the place. That he
may participate in these things. he
becomes member. Every day finds
him at these rooms, attracted there by
some of these privileges. AT first he is
inclined to want to develop as an aero
bat and his delight is to attempt some
gymnastic stunt. But under the guld-
ance of physical director he is soon
made to realize that gymnasium work
is not for that purpose. but is a body
builder.
A number of young men who have
had no chance. as boys and Others who
have had the chance, but neglected 1t,
are attending night classes, studying
some of the elementary branches, and
one OF two technical subjects. Our
young man, for no particular reason,
remains to one of these classes after
the gymnasium one evening. He. does
not know why. but he is selzed with
desire for little better equipment
for himself; and the result is he Joins
the class. Naturally, then he becomes
interested in the practical talks, which,
through the winter seasons are regular
features. and he aso attends the lec-
ture course. The Association has now
become great factor in his life.
Being about the rooms so much, his
general behavior has greatly improved.
He thinks about different things and
talks about different things. His life
is different. He does not know why,
but he finds himself attending church
again, and occasionally drops into
Sunday school. Up to this time he
has taken no interest at all In the class
for Bible Study, nor In the Sunday
afternoon Gospel Meeting Forty or
fifty boys are members of the Bible
class. One OF these classes, to suit the
convenience of its members, meets at
six O'Clock an has lunch served on
the study table by their own hands,
and afterwards engage In systematic
study of the Bible. 1t is not suIpris-
ing that this young man by invitation
of one of his friends and fellow mem
bers of the gymnasium class is at
one of these meetings. Another mex
plainable thing occurs. He joins the
class, and for the first time IN his life
he really studies the BOOK OF BOOKS.
He has entered enthusiastically into |
the gymnasium work and has thor |
oughly enjoyed all the privileges uf the |
He understands that |
the institution is Christian in its char
acter, and In the beginning was little
surprised that the Secretary or some
one else did not attempt to talk
religion" to him, as he would express
IT. No one has asked him, "What
think you of Christi" But he uncon-
himself debating the
question In his own mimi. The atmos-
Dhere about the whole building, which
ne can not analyZe. the effect of the
Bible Glass and the good fellowship
which be enjoys all III connection
with the influence of the Sunday after
noon Gospel Meeting resulted in the
dedication OF a life to God which, only
/ short time before knew nothing of
loble aspirations and had no thought,
whatever, OF life OF usefulness.
The young man becomes member
II the church. He enters it with the
anne enthuiasm of heart just given to
he cause and becomes a factor in the
;hurch life. He is true TO the Assoc1a-
ion teaching, and in being loyal to
us church must to some extent neglect
he Association. He does it cheeIfully
nd glaGly because he knows that his
iIst duty is to the church. Circum
tances caxse the young man to leave
He goes to one Of our large
titles. 1t is his first experience of the
lind. He tinos many things new to
iim. Unfortunately the young men at
ris boarding house, the majority of
hem at least, have no higher concep-
ION of life than to get out of 1t all the
'leasure they can. Sunday is the
Law for amusement, and no matter
What if is that may attract them they
10 not hesitate to participate in it
egardless of the day If it affords them
pleasure. Our young fellow is easily
influenced He has failed TO locate the
young Men IS Christian Association,
Though every day be has determined
= Il u no avnoOtad ~ ,,n;&a Nth