Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-02-02
Calf1ase
sermon
By Rev.
Frank De WIT Talmase, d. ID.

i<OS AHStlcS, 00i., Jan. ZS.-ln this
sermon the preacher shows the impor-
lance of giving hospitable encourage
ment and spiritual direction to the
lives of the multitudes of young men
and women who are strangers in our
great cities. The text is Proverbs Xxx.
20. "The glory of young men is their
strength"
1t is an interesting study to watch
the different designs of our modern ad-
vertisements. Well, some time ago,
reading the different signboards, L
came upon one the like OF which had
never seen before. 1t was a square
board. standing in conspicuous place
in the front yard of an old residence
situated near the heart Of the city in
which live. This was the way the
signboard read: Property OF the Young
Mems Christian Association. They Want
to Erect Upon This Site a Character
Factory. Won't You HeipT' i stood for
at least five minutes watching that plain
sign. Then the full purpose of the man
who made that advertisement began to
dawn upon me. AS / stood alone In
that street / could see the walls Of
that small residence building disap-
pear; then I could see the huge walls OF
great factory building rise in its
place. This huge building was ablaze
with many lights. From out Of almost
every room could hear the hum of
the workmen at their task of building
character. the noblest work on Gods
earth. Then as 1 stood there L could
see the doors of that great character
factory swinging open, and 1 could see
scores and hundreds OF young men
passing in and out. What n noble.
strong looking set of fellows they were
strong In physique, strong in mental
and moral worth, strong in spiritual
strength Then l said to myself as 1
walked home in the darkness: MAY
God help the noble men who are at the
head OF this movement to build that
character factory. May 1 always be
willing to help those men in every way
that l possibly can-with pen, with
voice and with money"
The preaching of this sermon on the
mighty mission of the Young Mems
Christian associations throughout the
world is result of the prayer 1 made
that night when l stood watching the
signboard marked Character Factory.
Won't You HelpT' 1 want to help the
great young mems association move
ment of San Francisco and New York
and London and Melbourne, as well as
that of Los Angeles. l want to show
why we should try TO support the inter-
national labors of this useful society.
1 know of no better time In which to
speak this word of help than at this
period, when this world wide associa-
ton is entering on the second period
OF Its development. The first period
closed when, three months ago, the
body of its devoted founder, Sir George
Williams, was laid TO rest in st. Pauls
cathedral. London, in the presence of
the representatives OF the throne and
OF the Christion people of the city.
There they buried him among the sol
diers and sailors and statesmen who
had served their country-a knight by
the favor OF his sovereign, but with the
higher knighthood upon him which he
had won by his service to the young
men Of his time, the knighthood OF the
cross.
The Birth or the ". NJ. C. A.
Let us so to the cradle of this move
ment. Let us stand, in the first place.
In the now historic room where the
Young Mems Christian association was
born and held its first meeting. Let us
analyze its genesis, the cardinal pur-
pose, the pre-eminent reason for its
creation and It's existence today. When
/ wander through any OF the Bernardo
orphan asylums / know why they came
into existence. DIR. Bernardo many
years ago was young student, study
Ing to be foreign medical missionary.
In his wanderings about London he
saw the waits OF the street, the little
newsboys. the little urchins with no
homes. sleeping IN cellars and eating
out or ash barrels. He said: these
boys, unless they are given homes and
reared Alright. will make the future
criminals OF England. There is no need
OF my going abroad to work for Christ.
My work is right here among the Lon
don WAITS" The Bernardo homes were
started to rescue the little children of
London and give them q home and a
Christian education.
We know how the Salvation Army
came into existence. William Booth
was an English Methodist preacher.
He felt that the church was not reach
ing the outcasts and those. like Mary
Magdalene. reeking with sin. In 1865
he left his church and started the
Christian mission" He afterward or
ganized his Christian mission" upon
military lines. Then he said to his
gospel soldiers: do not wait for sim
ners to come TO you. You go to them"
What is the result? There is not n sim
fui dive in London or New York which
has not been invaded by his gospel
soldiers. The Salvation Army was or
ganized to save the drunkard, the har
lot, the thief and the libertine. God
oiess It's work" is the prayer of every
true, loving Christian heart.
Why was the Young Mems Christian
association started? What was its
hrst purpose. and what is its present
purpose? To bring young men to Je-
sus Christ. Its object was first and
foremost religious. IT was not started
TO teach men and women how TO sew
ana how to cook and how to keep clean
ana then indirectly shove In q little re-
hgion. as dose of medicine. disguised
as candy, is administered to a sick
child. 1t was never started with the
idea that clean shirt will necessarily
make a clean heart to beat under the
clean shirt. 1t was never started with
the idea that well BACKED shoes and
well creased trousers are sure proofs
that the owners of those shining shoes
VIII walk in the path of virtue and of
truth But the Young Mems Christian
association was started with the idea