Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-01
CalnnaSe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaae. d. d.

Los Angeles, Cal. Jan. 2S.In this
sermon the preacher shows the impor-
lance Of giving hosptable encourage
ment and spiritual direction to the
lives of the muttudes 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 adj
vertisements. Well, some time ago.
reading the different signboards,
came upon one the like of which | had
never seen before. 1t was 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 Help!' / 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 dsap-
pear; then | 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
oh o,to g
earth. Then as | stood there I could
see the doors Of that great character
factory swinging open and could sec
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 | said to myself as l
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 / always be
willing to help those men in every way
that ] 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 ] stood watching the
! siRnboard marked Character Factory.
Won't You Help" 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.
/ 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 it's 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. Paul's
cathedral. London, in tie 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 Countrya knight by
the favor Of his sovereign but with the
higher knghthood upon MIN which he
had won by his service to the young
men of his time, the knghthood of the
cross.
The Birth Of the !. ". &. A.
Let us go TO the cradle of this move
ment. Let us stand. in Tie first place
in the now historic room where th,
Young Mems Christian association was
born and held its first meeting. Let Us
analyze its genesis, the cardinal pur
pose, the prc-eminent reason for it
creation and it's existence today. Wher
l wander through any of the Barnard
orphan asylums l know why they CANT
into existence DIR. Bernardo many
years ago was young student. study
ing TO he n foreign medical missionary
In his wanderngs about London III
saw the waits of the street. the LITTLE
ncwsboys, the little ,rchins with NJ
homes. sleeping in cellars and eatint
out of ash barrels. lie said: "Thes'
boys, unless they are given homes ant
reared Alright, will make the future
criminals Of England. There is no neeC
Of my going abroad to work for Christ
My work is right here among the Lon
don waits" The Barnardo homes wer,
started to rescue the little children o
London and give them home and |
Christian education
We know how the Salvation Arm,
came into existence. William Boot
was an English Methodist preacher
lie felt that the church was not reach
ing the outcasts and those. like Mar.
Magdalene. rocking with sin In 1SG
We left his church and started til
"Christan mission lie aftcrward OF
ganizcd his "Christan mission" upol
military lines. Then he said TO hi
gospel soldiers: "po not wait for sin
ners to come 10 you. You go to them.
What is the result? There is not sin
full dive in London or New York whc
has not becn invaded by his gospe
soldiers. The Salvation Army was OF
ganizcd to save the drunkard the hal
lot, the thief and the libertlnc. go
bless its work." is the prayer of ever
true, loving Christian heart.
Why was the Young Mems Christia
association started? What was II
first purpose. and what is its preseu
purpose! To bring young men to Jt
sus Christ. Its object was first an
foremost religious. 1t was not starte
TO teach men and women how to Sc,
and how TO cook and how TO keep clea