The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-19
A GREAT MASS MEETING
 FOR MONTGOMERY YOUNG MEN
Messrs. Vandiver, Hausnlan, Durr and Palmer
 Make Earnest Appeals in Behalf of . Christian Association.

easiest thing man rnds to oo is to drift back into the ''oid life when cut off from Christian home ties. The Young Mems Christian Associa- ton, he said, also has tendency to de- veiep workers, realizing that 1t is not enough to be a Christian, but one must bring some one else to Christ.
 He said some mothers made the mis- take of always wanting their boys to spend their evenings at home, but the boys would not do this. and 1t should not be so and no place can there be more wholesome surroundings and corn- to be found for young men than in the Young Mems Christian As soeiation.
 <, Mr. Palmer closed his address with a plea for the support of the insttu- tion here in Montgomery. saying that it Is the duty and should be the sacred privilege of every parent to help this cause for there are thousands of young men who can be reached in this way that could not be in any other way, and the question now to the parents of Mon tgomery is which side will you support?"
 MT. Davidson introduced Mir. W. F. Fandiver as being one or the best friends of the young men in this city.
 Mr. Vandiver said that possibly in IHiS ClIy no IfidU Hdo tOihC III NiOSNt contact with the young men than him. self and that his love for young men had drawn constantly about him num- Der of such as companions. and in re- turn he had been rendered invaluable service by these same young men.
 ~The Young Mems Christian Asso- citation is, in reality" said MT. Vandi- yer ',an enormous order. or brother hood, extending into almost every city and town In the civilized world. It was first purely religious movement. but later 1t was decided to add the so" cial feature. This Association is one of the greatest instrumentaiities for good in the history of the world. It stands for the advancement of those things among us which makes higher and better civilization.
 "The Association was organized in London. England, in 1S44. by Sir George Williams. In 1895, he was knighted by the Queen of England in recognt- ton of his service 10 the world in es- tablishing this great work. He died on November 9th last, at the age of S4 years. The death of few men have called forth such tributes of love and respect as was shown him.
 In 1851. something over fifty years ago, the work of the Association
 
 Montreal The work Is now well estab- ilshed in over thirty countries of the world. with over a million active members. ae@
 The purposes of the Young Mems Christian Association are to help young men: to change young men of indifference into young men of faith in christ; to build up character. to make strong clean men. sound and ablebodied men. who are in sympathy with each other. and who willingly ea-operate to advance to the fullest de- xres the welfare of all those about them,
 rAny iustrumentality. which, within itself does or causes an influence to be felt among men, which tends to tm- prove their moral character, has Its effect upon a Country. a State or City. Just in proportion as the morality of community Is measured. tust in that proportion Is that com nlunity blessed in spiritual and material things.
 .fHThe influence of our own Associa- ton is decidedly felt here in Mont Eomery. With a population of about ls,DeO. the membership of our As soeiation in Montgomery. actively en- gagged in the work is something over l50. only one percent; distressingly small proportion, but yet, its influence 1t felt, 1t has, and will continue to do great god.
 teBecause of the direct and indirect benefit that Montgomery derives from this Association. 1t should be jealously regarded as one of her strongest as- sets, and should be kept up to the highest standard possible. The people Of Montgomery should lend their finan~ eial assistance and. moral support to this great enterprise. It Is an insti- tuition for young men, and while 1t is the duty of all men to do their part in it's mainteance. the good ladies of this community have duties toward this Association which should be discharged. The Ladies Auxiliary. is one of tho most valuable adjuncts to the work of the Association
 T. venture to say, that th@ good women of our city realize more keenly 'fhe great work of the Association than do the men. The ladies of our city who have sons and brothers that are away from home, are always think Ing and praying for their boys. and while they may not be able to watch over them and exercise their influence, they find themselves wanting to do for other men. and boys, just what they hope that some other good, woman, iu other cities are doing for their own boys.
 "The Association is undenomination- al. and this is one of the strong points, and one of the reasons that 1t has been SD successful for so many years
 Prom a broad minded view. the
 result of the work of our Association
 has its effect upon each and every cit
 izen of Montgomery. and 1t Is. or should
 be. matter of pride to lend whatever aid might he necessary to maintain
 the organization.
 Its measure of success depends largely upon the equipment of it's rooms and the conduct of the officers of the Association.
 There Is one peculiarity about young
 men.-they 70 where the greatest at
 traction is offered. Comfort appeals to
 the young fellow. after a days work. and in the fitting up of the rooms of
 the Association this should be kept In view. and the work of the Ladies Aux
 Hilary in this respect is very valuable
 and their work should be encouraged.
 We want the hand of the ladies in the work. The ladies influence in the Asso- eiation make 1t more home-like. We
 may go ahead and construct the build
 ing and eauip 1t elegantly, hut when 1t comes to adding the touch that gives
 it the home-like appearance, and the comfort, 1t takes the aid of the ladies.
 The competitors of the Young Men, 8
 Christian Association are places Of mi
 auity. The glitter and glare of the bar
 room, and the pool room is put there
 for purpose. to make 1t look attract i've; to induce men to gather and lOl- ter there. The successful way to
 compete with these places for the
 capture of the young men, IS to offer more attractive and comfortable places. If we want to have our young men take an interest Tn the
 work. and become God-fearing citizens