Connecticut western news., 1906-02-01
Caln1a0e Sermon
By Rev. Frank De Witt Talmage, D. D.

ment ana Sp1rftudl ulrecIlOn 10 tue lives of the multitudes of young men and women who are strangers ill our great cities. The text is Proverbs XX, 20, 'The glory of young men is their strength"
 It is an interesting study to watch the different designs of our modern ad- vertisements. Well, some time ago, reading the different signboards, I came upon one the like of which I had never seen before. It was a square board, standing in a conspicuous place In the front yard of an old residence situated near the heart of the city in which I 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 Help?" 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 1 stood alone ill that street I could see the walls of that small residence building disap- pear; then I could see the huge walls of a great factory building rise in it's place. This huge building was ablaze with many lights. From out of almost every room I could hear the hum of the workmen at their task of building character, the noblest work on Gods earth. Then as I stood there I could see the doors of that great character factory swinging open, and could see scores and hundreds of young men passing in and out. What noble, strong looking set of fellows they were --strong In physique, strong in mental and moral worth, strong in spiritual strength! Then I said to myself as I 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 I always be willing to help those men in every way that I 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 a result of the prayer I made that night when I stood watching the signboard marked Character Factory. Won't You Helpr I 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. want to show why we should try to support the inter- national labors of this useful society. I 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 it's devoted founder, Sir George Williams, was laid to rest In St. Paurs cathedral, London, In the presence of the representatives of the throne and of the Christian 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 knishtLood upon him which he had won by his service to the young men of his time, the knighthood of the cross.
 The Birth of the Y. M. c. A.
 Let us go 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 a1alyze it's genesis, the cardinal pur- pose, the pre-eminent reason for its creation and it's existence today. When I wander through any of the Barnardo orphan asylums I know why they came into existence. Dr. Barnardo many years ago was young student, study ing to be a foreign medical missionary. In his wanderings about London he saw the waifs of the street, the little newsbeys, the little urchins with no homes, sleeping in cellars and eating out of 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 waifs." The Barnardo homes were started to rescue the little children of London and give them home and 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 outeasts and those, like Mary DIagdalene, 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 sin ners to come to you. You go to them." What Is the result? There is not a sin full 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 bless it's work" Is the prayer of every true, loving Christian heart.
 Why was the Young Mems Christian association started? What was its first purpose, and what Is its present purpose? To bring young men to Je- sus Christ. It's object was first and foremost religious It was not started to teach men and women how to sew and how to cook and how to keep clean and then indirectly shove ill little re- ligion, as a doee of medicine, disguised as candy, is administered to a sick child. It was never started with the idea that a clean shirt will necessarily make a clean heart to beat under the clean shirt. It was never started with the idea that we'll blacked shoes and well creased trousers are sure proofs that the owners of those shining shoes will walk In the path of virtue and of truth. But the Young Mems Christian association was started with the idea of leading young men to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. 1t was started with the idea that the greatest work of life for a young man to do was to bring other young men into touch with Jesus Christ. Thus the Young Mems Christian association has never from the beginning been afraid to lift high the banner of the cross. It's