The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-02-18
AN INTERESTING HOUR

Secretary Parsons and DIR. Kerfoot
Spoke to the Men OF the Associa.
tion Convention.
The topics taken up at the Y. NJ.
e. A. convention Friday afternoon,
following the paper by Secretary
Whitaker, were much along the
line of those discussed in the ad-
dress. Mr.. Whitaker developed
along the idea of the mission that
the college man mas, who had been
IN contact with Association work,
in teaching and setting an example
for the younger class of boys in their
home towns. AS opportunities for
TINS sort of work he gave outing trips,
Sunday school classes, and athletic
clubs. At the conclusion of his re-
marks and answers to the question
box, Secretary Whitaker was given
a vote of thanks for his valuable pa
per. Mr.. Whittaker's paper will be
found on another page of The Repub-
lican.
w. M. Parsons, Y. M. C. A. secre-
tary for the northwest, took up the
discussion of the work of the state
association in South Dakota, espec-
tally along the line of starting asso-
Citations in the towns and cities. He
stated that it was not always diff
cult 10 get a large membership, but
that it was uphill work to get the
essential factor to success, a build
ing devoted entirely to the work.
South Dakota SO far has been in the
Nevada and Montana class as regards
the progress OF the Y. M. G. A. but
the time is ripe for her to get in line
with the progressive states in this
work. Mr.. Parsons said that if Prof.
van Benthuysen were present to give
the executive report it would show
that the work is progressing slowly
but sure. Lauritz Miller then gave
the financial report as it had been
turned owe to him by G.. q. Evans,
which showed the state organization
to be in sound financial condition
with a good sum in the treasury. In
connection with the giving of this
report Mr.. Wood, of Huron, and
Ortmeyer, of Vermillion, were APP
pointing an auditing committee to
look it over and see as to it's cor
rectness.
Each of the college delegations
present were called upon to give a
report of their work during the past
year. These reports showed the COL
lege associations 20 be doing good
and are in a vigorous condition. The
Huron college report was especially
interesting by reason of an exhibit
supplementing it which was shown
on the south side of the auditorium.
This exhibit displayed handbooks and
literature issued by the association,
photographs, and art posters per-
tanning to the work which are a
credit to the institution sending
them out.
At 4 o'clock President Kerfoot, of
Dakota Wesleyan, took charge of the
meeting and conducted the Quiet
Hour service. He took his theme
from the eloquent Epistle of Paul
to the Ephesians. He first describ-
ed the natural beauty of the region
around ancient Ephesus in which
Paul n the other great men of the
New Testament lived and wrote. He
described briefly from personal OBJ
servation the ruins of a great tenn
pie now in ruins near Ephesus in
which the people used to gather and
were exhorted by their religious and
political leaders. Going into the text
of Paul's letter he depicted the power
and magnetism of the soul to be re-
ceived through prayer. Prayer is a
necessity for every we'll regulated
heart. 1t is the medium or avenue
through which God can reach the
heatr of man. Power can only be
reached through righteousness, and
righteousness through direct COM
munication with God by prayer. Pow
er, like electricity can be drawn
from all about us, we only need to
make the connections. The presi-
dent emphasized the thought that
in as much as we come in commune
cation with Jesus Christ can we OBJ
tain the power and by our appear
ance before the world can it be told
whether WI have had the touch of
grace. The talk was closed with an
especial appeal for the men Of the
association to come near to Him and
absorb the Shirt.