Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-01
ing his mental and physical capabilities
in order that he may increase his spirit
ual opportunities for doing good.

ing Iib ineDtdl una pnySlCai CdphDllltIeS
in order that he may increase his spirit
ual opportunities for doing good.
Developing strength.
Now, the old idea OF the literal inter |
probation Of the text, "Open thy mouth |
wide and ! will fill it," has long ceased |
10 be quoted. AS n quaint Bible com
mentator once said. "If man does
nothing but open wide his mouth God |
will Ali 1t, but he will fill It simply with
wind" We know today. as common
sense men and women. that II we are
to develop our spiritual powers we
must also develop our mental and
physical strength. Though Paul sat at
the feet Of Gamaliel as soon as he was
converted he went off to prepare him
self for his future Christian ministry.
I'm the first chapter Of Galatians we
read, Neither went 7 up to jerusalem
to them which were apostles before me-
but | went into Arabia There in the
desert Paul stayed three long years
He was there studying and commun-
ing with God before he came forth to
begin his mighty labors. Thus no
sooner does a young man enter the
Young Mems Christian association
walls than be breathes the atmosphere
Of mental and physical as well as spir
itual development. If he is anything
of man at all he says to himself, II
want to make the most out of my body
and brain that I may he able TO serve
my God better Then the idea of en-.
tcring the association merely for play
ceases. The young man In the asso-
citation works to develop his brain, his
body and his spirit. as Paul went down
into Arabia and as Moses went forth to
tend the sheep and Elijah went into re-
tirement--to make themselves mighter
agents for the Divine Master to use.
Thus hail the modern Young Mems
Christian association az a great Chris
tan university. A young man today
who wishes an education does not have
to go to college to get it. If he is com
PEELED to enter business to earn his
daily bread when he is young. during
his evening hours he can enroll him
SELF in this Christian university's
classes. There between the hours Of
and 10 p. m. he can study all the com
mon school branches. lie can study
there the commercial branches. In ev-
cry well equipped association there are
night classes in typewriting, shorthand.
bookkeeping and business law. He can
master there all the higher English
studies, like rhetoric, English compo-
sition and English literature. He can
learn there the industrial sciences.
like electrical engineering or applied
electricity. mechanical and architecture
al and freehand drawing. And he can
sit there at the feet of French and
German and Spanish teachers and
learn to speak foreign tongues. A dear
friend of mine. who was n member OF
the Chicago Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION, said that when he was stu
dent there a few years ago every night
there were assembled in classes within
the walls of that association 800 STU
dents. Now. any movement which will
make it possible for the young man
who has not been able to go to college
to get that education after his work at
the store is finished is movement
which ought to have your Endorsement
and mine. thank God that thou
sands of young men are being better
fitted for the struggles of life through
the influence Of the light schools OF the
. Young Mems Christian association,
. scattered ell around the world.
Lie Work.
Bat with the theoretical training for
} life's work found in IKE Young Mems
! Christian association work there goes
on side by side the practical. spiritual
training. OF course within the Young
Mems Christian association walls there
are spiritual drones. jug, as there are
, ioafers and deadbeats in every human
beehive, but if a young man is ready
, 70 do his share of spiritual duty almost
J as soon as he enters the association
: walls he is set to work, and that Is
: what many Of our churches do not do
, with all their members who are willing
to work. If you enter Young Men $
! Christian association like that in New
! York you are acccsted by the msn with
| these words What are you ready 10
do for Christi viii you distribute
1 cards? Will you join the young men
I who every Sunday go and hold scrv-
r ices in the city prisons? Will you visit
? in Christ's name our city hospitals?'
. And everywhere Il young man turns he
has the opportunity for Christian work
! in this society if lie is ready 10 harness
himself up 70 Gods service. can YOU
not, q man. appreciate the good this
: Young Mems Christian association is
g able to do when it can take Young
g man Mt the most critical time Of ais
T life when he is perhaps away from all
4 home influences, and start him forth to
: labor in the Masters vineyard?
Do you not realize that scores and
{ hundreds and thousands of our church
: members who are now working in our
. large churches would never have been
. the valiant iaborers they are FOR the
. church unless hey first had been de
= veloped in one of these institutions,
- The strongest Christian worker in some
4, respects that l ever knew was saved
!, for Christ's kingdom through one OF
- these societies, and saved through thai
. alone. When he left the little town il
), which he was born to enroll himself rs
student In Cooper institute of New
;. York, he took along his church letter
:. with him. He went to a prominent
y. New York church whose pastor has &
LII.