YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5455, 20 September 1878, Page 3

YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

I.KGTUHE BY THE HON. JUt. FOX. Last evening the Hon. W. Fpx, M.H.K., delivered tho first of a series of lectures in connection, with the Young Men's Christian Association, at the Athenioum, on "Personal Experience of Travels in Palestine." The chair was taken by the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, M.L.O. After prayer by the Kev. Mr. Pateiison, The Chairman referred to the success which had hitherto attended Christian associations of this character, which he thought were especially suitable to a democratic couutry like this, where the young people of the country were those in whose hands the government of the colony would be placed, for here they had no hereditary legislators nor privileged classes. He introduced the lecturer, who was received with cheers. Mr. Fox tbtn proceeded to deliver a most eloquent and interesting lecture. He related his personal experience of the Holy Land during a tonr of several months. He graphically described the pleasing contrast felt by him, after travelling for five weeks on camels across the " dreary desert of the wanderings," in viewing for the Erst time the fertile land of Canaan. Ho said the, towns of Syria were generally picturesque when viewed from a distance, but exceedingly dirty on a nearer approach, and per- . vaded with worse perfumes than there would be .here in Wellington when Mr. Clark's or MrJ ClimieVdrainage scheme was carried out. (Laughter.) It was therefore the general practice of the lecturer and his party to pitch their tents on the outside of the cities. He described tho size and contour.of the country, which consisted chiefly of a Ions; backbone of mountain, with a fertile plain on either -aide of it, and remarked that the appearance and the 'customs of the people tended to confirm tho incidental history of Scripture. The flourishing city of Gaza, the ruins of Ascalon, the port of Joppa—with a sketch of many of the events related in the Bible as occurring there, —and other towns, were referred to, and the lecturer alsoalluded to Napoleon the Great's cruelties in more, recent days in this locality. Syria was a land without raids, excepting two made by foreigners—one from Beyroot to Damascus, and the other from Joppa to Jerusalem, —and he considered that as long as the country was under the rule of the Turks it vjas inevitable that it would be behind hand in civilisation. In his opinion the appearance of Jerusalem wa3 disappointing, bnt the great events of Christian history which centred around the spot rendered it deeply interesting It possessed little of its ancient Bplendor, but sufficient was left to show that the descriptions of it as related by Josephns and other historians were no doubt substantially correct. It must have been once a far more majestic city than Athens, Rome, or Ninevah. The lecturer described his tour to Bethany, the Valley of the Jordan, Arena (where the Arabs danced u Haka for the party, who regarded it as a degrading exhibition), the Bead Sea—a beautiful transparent piece of water—the Monastery of Saba, the cave of Adullam, the Pools of Solomon, Bethlehem, the City of David an 1 birthplace of Christ, the " Well by the Gate," and other interesting features in the locality. This well, he said, would always be regarded by him with peculiar interest. It was here that King David 1 performed a noble deed. Although burning with thirst, when in the wars with the Philistines a cup of water was brought to him by three of his captains, who risked their lives to get it, he refused to drink, but poured it out on the ground, as it had been obtained* at the risk of life. What a contrast this presented to U 3 who were instrumental not in pouring out on . the ground drink which had been purchased at such a risk, but in supplying strong drink, by which hundreds and oven thousands wei ; e daily perishing. The lecturer then related further details of his tour, speaking of Jacob's Well, Nazareth, the Sea of Tiberias,—the scene'of the greater part of the Saviour's ministrations, — and other places, which in their natural features bore testimony to the tru'.h. of Scriptural history and prophecy. At the conclusion o£ the lecture Mr. I'ox was warmly cheered. . Mr, Kirk moved a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was seconded by the Eev. Mr, Patebsojt, and carried unanimously. - Mr. Fox replied, thanking the audience for the attention with which they had listened to him, and said on a future occasion he. should be glad to give another lecture—(cheers) —and to promote the interests of the Young Men's Christian Association,' for, as the chairman bad told them, the young men of the country were those who would govern the country ; and if New Zealand was to be a great and prosperous people, and not sink into the condition of the country he had been speaking of, Christianity must be the basis upon which its. progress and prosperity must be baaed. A vote of thanks to the chairman was put and carried unanimously. The CiIAUuiAK returned thanks, and announced that the next lecture would be given by Mr. Itees, M.H.E., on the subject of " Tho identity of the British people with the lost tribes of Israel." There was a very good attendance in the front seats, but'the other part of the hall was but sparsely attended. . All present appeared much pleased both at the matter of trfe lecture and the able manner in which it was handled by Mr. Fox.