Y.M.C.A. CONVENTION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 938, 4 October 1910, Page 6

Y.M.C.A. CONVENTION.

: • '.. - "THE SPIRIT OF FRATERNITY." The morning session of the convention yesterday was presided over by Mr. C. E. Salter, vice-president. '.. .... ■•. '." ,;. Efficiency in the social work of the association was the subject chosen for discussion. Mr. A. Jameson,- of Perth, who opened the. debate, .remarked .that a strong social .work must mako for the. spirit, of genuine fraternity, but greatly, as it. was prized this, fraternity was a tiling, difficult to secure. Many, organisations, possessed in'a high degree the true fraternal , spirit and small honour to. them; for they were-able to pick and. choose, men known to be "clubbable," the kind of- men that coalesced easily, with .. their fellows and had already learned that theliberty ot' A's fist ended where the liberty of B's nose, began.. Association men had not this great advantage. They dare not narrow the "whosoever will" of their Master,,; but must admit the frivolous, the half-baked,: the slacker, , ' the' ancient bore, .the. chronic invalid, - the croaker; the'kicker, the ungodly,: the human'and the inhuman godly folk. These they had' to bind with their betters in bonds.of brotherhood,. kindle them , with. zeal and inspire them with high ideals. "How was this to be .done?" 'Well, much could be accomplished by care in grouping men with-men. In'their membership campaigns lists of men. to be ' approached were .carefully classified ';'according to their predilections in sports, studies and occupations generally:. When men were brought .to. the .building care was. taken that they mot'men of similar tastes. The. Y.M.C'A. certainly'should be' a place, where congenial men, nien ; congenial along any right and: proper lines might get/together.. These; groupings, naturally led- to. a desire' for clnbs within the larger, club. This recognition of ; the "gang"..or group instinct;.was';not in itself :.enough, if; their social work was ,, to be 'Men who iyero social "de--I'pendables";must/not-be"allowed to get , away from , the shadow, of the Cross. The speaker quite recognised: that so'cial service, be -removed''.from-''any suggestion of compulsion.. In their'.,work man must be .led, to : fraternise,voluntarily and. gladly,' .otherwise the .social graces, begrudgings. It:was only heart work that "counted—"glad,to see' you .to. have'■ you ; with : us" ■which' ibpuri.d" their, , men/'.together in- every wajvtho wide, world; dver. ; ■'." .:?,:.■.',,/; ■' -: ..'■■■';'

In! the .course'. of , a 'lengthy, discussion which'/.followed, ,it • was, stated /by 1 , .the honorary":national• secretary,: that - in• the gymnastic; classes of 'the association' every week there were'bver.3oo men and youths, 25O'"ih the education classes, and 275. in : the -religious department;'.' All of : these were: specifically interested ■■ fir'the work of'the association, but the question .was, 'how/.to hold the balance of the membership? "Provision must; bp iiade'.for U\■lows\who would- r'espond : :only>:.to some ; specific 'attraction,;but fellowship, in- it-self,.."was-a-great ■.agont.'ilnfluences were , at' work outside the association: which mus't'-be resisted. '-'Men- must".be- got , 'out. of ■'.; their wrong ' setting .and' placed in a congenial-.atmosphere,'devoid of'evil.assp-': ciations,; The young man'.wanted the;best 'thing'to 'attract'him.-Vand if 'he ..could not' get cit from: the Young 'Men's Christian: -Association: he would, go. elsewhere. Resident members-''could''- , help- materially in; forming a'reception .committee to.re-, ceive. strangers and extend.them a' .hearty welcome. '.':■.■■. :;■; •'.'": -':;■■■ '../.'':..'.>■■:.} .■,•.'■.■■;;•

IMMIGRATION.,

- .A.long discussion-tpok place.on the subject;, of immigration,.ani; the'-.manner'- in which/ assistance coiild; best. be bxtended: to 1 immigrants.'.; It-was, suggested .that,, as far as practicable, ..boats should bemet,. on arrival, and, cards .of invitation handed: around , jto the-; men-on; board.:. Another 'suggestion, wasithat neat;cards should be' hung'.in tho. dining halls of steamers,'subject' :to - ;tho '■ approval v of ■'■ the respective companies; , -:■'>,■■ ■'■■ ;'-'-VV -;;O. ,■;;':..■;■' ■~. ■: : \' -)]i ;'•>■;'-, ; ;,The'.EevL J. ; J.' North .contributed-.au' ,interesting.'address,;on.,"The. Call. of:.the'Modern City," : for which he was awarded a hParty/ votev . : ' . ;:i ;-: ; :^ : '-:-;an:,eastebn;;CAll/;. ;-;';;' ;,' At t'the'i'a'f terriooii' "session, : af ter. a 'Bible' ; hour, tondncted by Mr. J. B. M'Kiimey, of Inyerca.rgill.theEey.a.H.Lang.addressed: the pn-'jThe '.Challenga'.'o'f the Heatheii ''-World."-"' At '.the' begianin'g'.of last ; century, .'-he-said,: the wholb. of! the. heathen ;.wbrld ] -was"', .closed'. against.. Christianity.,'- To-day,, every'. door ' was open to_ 'J .•■Christian: .activityi;;-' ..Added .'to: this" was- the'■'■" great'--'-;orisis ■ in: the East.;..; This constituted; a- great • -call: for"'service; both to , ; the: Christian .Church and;.; to. .the; ChrisHau' organisation" pi .the ■; T.M.C. A. "Unprecedented'; voppor-!, 'tunities :'■ meant '^.unprecedented:-'resporf-' eibilities.'/The "East;'was "calling :to the Wes't-for, education,-'-.science, 1 ' and . en■lighfenmenti ;-Members' ; of ! -the■~ were offered magnificent. opportunities, of engaging- in , .the/work:' of 'world evangelisation., A conservative' estimate . ! 6f the need: of, India* from ' the -association's}- standr.: point suggested , ! I -of ,io secretaries.:to: reach' cities: with, a . lation''of'loo,6oo.or.more'. "}. lt was a challenge of? n^ed• and opportunity,', and- "a call; for- consecration; and strenuous service. ',\ ■; I'.. INTERNATIONAL '^COMMITTEES;'.-..; ;. Mr. G., Stening. r epoke.on "The, foreign work of- , , the' International; Committees." He.stated thai the,'{fields?;which hai&: been entered_,. had [ in' ;.'eVery case"/been at the invitation ;■ of ■; ; the ■■' missionaries. s The American'. International, Cominittee -had. : m^e;'great. : -last.ten yeais.';}'At the 'presenti.time there ; aie. .between , 2s, and 3u:,secretaries India; from the Committee,, in addition to seven' from-the' English Natipnal- Council; : . /.■:'..:.-.' ;yi ;'"/ ■', -FOREIGN WORK CLUB". ':' ■•' : '.' l .-Mr.' J. -'J.-y Virgo ' gave . an, 'address on the Work, Cliib; Taking, -for■■Wβ chief. , points:, ''Membership;'',-, "a 'Tn'em'bership.'that ■■ is' missionary," "ppporituhity • for, ,miesionary .classes," :. and; ;.."a special ; rbom, .library, and opportunity to, study'.'maps' and • cominunioations :from .the: ; ; field, also: for ,the -purpose of raising funds'."'. A very', prontable, discussioa ensued,'.folloiving-' upon.: the'-. ad-, -dress.-- ■;- -!-v : ,-- : ,;..,-•.':: : ;.;:;.;: :'''r : -. : >- ■;.'■' ~ should ■we ■;;have 1 '; a- foreign "policy ?" was' the. next ..question i discussed by .Mr.-Virgo, he giving', for .ih'ie'i/. reasons ;that:. ;it, ; should: be. eo, ..because!: the Y.M.C.A;: stood for-'young-'men,' cause ±he non-Christian .religions of ,\the ;world.,are..inad«quate to.; meet; the -need of'-young:', men in; Christian lauds; :. "We owe ; it\to. -Christ;"., he. went -on' to: say, "who- has 'bidden ■us tb : preach '/His. Gospel. .-'".lf: Christians,:wilf. not; preach it —who' will ?.", - The policy of ■ the National .Committee at thejresent : time is to have one secretary, at: Hyderabad, 'and-as soon as : possible,. a native helper. : ' It is in.tended. to secure others 'for different fields at-ah early,date,, and', to keep: home associations fully. informed concerning the work of their, representatives. ... .- 1 ..'- , . NEW ZEALAND SECTIONAL. COM- ■■•"■. .:'"■, - , - .-. •.' MITTEE;: ... -.'..:■■ •• '.. The enb-committee' appointed ..to'-nomi-nate six members "to form, "with the six New .Zealand representatives on'the' National Committee, the New Zealand Sectional Committee. report as follows—That Messrs. J. M'Farlane, G. W. W. B. Hug-hes, G. Stening, 'B.'-.'Salter.'.-H. S. Hart,.' and H.. N.. Holmes .be added to form the committee. Any. vacancy to be filled T>y..the remaining members- of the -.committee. :. ■ :: . ; "'.:' '■ ~\[./\ /NOTEa ; '■' ' : ."■ , : ; ■ The Rev., 1. J.' Williams, of the London •' Missionary -. Society, gave an address on the; present world- movements and their relations.io Christianity. ' •■■ : '■;' At tho foreign work, tea Mr. J. lane'gave a short account of,what Brooklyn .(New York).were doing to support a foreign. representative. ■ ■ Mr.-J. J. Virgo presided at'a meeting at which Mr. G. W.,W. B. Hughes gave an address on'"The'Claims' of Jesus Christ on the Membership." ~,- The, Rev. J. ,H.. ; Lang, in a powerful address, called the,young nien of Austra-' lasia.to the young men of foreign lands, making special' reference, to .Hyderabad, : where Mr. Lang is to "Be stationed.