The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-10-19

NASA OAl AoIAdu AoSOCldtIOu opened II
Columbia Friday evening with the
Associations at Nashville, GAINESVILLE
Mt. Pleasant, Bell Buckle, Spring Hill
Fayetteville, Tullahnma, Lebanon anC
Columbia represented. 1t had beer
arranged to open the Convention Fri
day afternoon, but Hon. Michael Saw
age, who was to deliver the opening
address, was detained at Clarksville
by legal business, DR.. Ira Landrith
one of the other speakers, was detain
ed in Nashville by the illness OF his
wife, and Prof. Webb did not reach
here until the evening train.
The Convention was opened in the
Sunday school room of the First Meth
odist Church, which was well filled
with delegates and with citizens of
Columbia, many ladies being in the
audience. State Secretary McGill, of
Nashville called the Convention to
order, and first asked all the gentle
men in the audience to stand one by
one and announce their names, their
homes and the association Of which
they were members, so that all could
be acquainted. Rev. w. A. Provine
read the scripture lesson and led in
prayer. Mr.. McGill then introduced
the speaker of the evening, Prof. w.
r. Webb, of Bell Buckle, a man who
has taken more interest and done more
work for the Young Mems Christian
Association than probably any other
man in Tennessee, and one who has
done more for the intellectual and NOR
al welfare of the young man than any
other man in the south.
Mr. Webb opened his talk by saying
the greatest problem in the world to-
day is the boy problem, and when he
made this statement he did not quail
ify it by taking the question of hered-
ity or environment into consideration,
although he showed later in his talk
the effect of environment. The boy,
Mr.. Webb said, received worse treat
ment than any human being or any
animal on earth Business men never
think of inviting a boy into their Of
fees or places of business and talk
ing to his in friendly, confidential
or make any efforts to arouse
a boys friendship, inspire his ambition
or help him in any way to see the big
things of life and make man of him
self. On the other hand every loafer
in town or country, every ne'er do well
knows every boy by name. seeks his
and friendship and has
access and association with
him during the formative period of
mis- life. That any boy should go
through this, course of treatment and
finally make a man of character is
source of constant wonder. Environ
ment does determine to large ex-
.ent boys future and if boys af-
'ections and ambition are cultivated
md guarded from deterrent influences
le can't but grow in character.
Then comes the T. NJ. c. A. which
says we want to cultivate these quail
ties, and it is a wonder that fathers,
Who has reached the point where
heir love and ambition and lives are
,entered in their sons, do not respond
more readily and more literally
o the appeals of the Y NJ. c. A, than
% any other cause. The Y. M. G. A.
ENVELOPES the physical, the intellect
lal, the spiritual boy, and makes him
IN evenly developed man. Any man
would consider it a calamity to have |
/ lopsided boy, hoy with one side |
,r one part of his body more greatly |
developed and entirely out of proper
ion to the rest of his body, yet boy |
s just as much lopsided and just as
much out of proportion when his body |
s developed and his mind and char
lcter are allowed to dwarf, or when |
lis mind is robbed of his birthright |
Who is deprived of the opportunity of |
wen development such as the Y. NJ. |
J. A. affords.
Equipment equal to that possessed |
" other men is necessary, Mr.. Webb |
aid, for a mans success. When the
all for volunteers was made by the
he said. ne was an los