ISS4.]
��Young J/cu's Cliristian Associatiois of Massachusetts.
��303
��was held at Springfield, October 10 and II. The Honorable Whiting Griswold, of Greenfield, was president, and among the prominent men present were Henry F. Durant and ex-Vice-President Wilson. In 1868, the convention met at Worces- ter; in 1869, at Lowell. At this time there were fifty associations reporting reading-rooms, and thirty were holding open-air meetings, which means, that, since there are many persons who never enter a building to hear the gospel, it should be taken to them. Since these services are almost peculiarly a charac- teristic of association work, let me de- scribe them. One or two men, clergy- men or laymen, are appointed to take charge of the meeting, while from six to ten men go with them to lead the singing. Having reached the common or public square where men and women are lounging about, the group start a familiar hymn and sing, perhaps, two or three, by which time many have drawn near and most are listening ; then mount- ing a bench or packing-box, the leader says he proposes to pray to the God of whom they have been singing, and asks them to join with him ; then with un- covered head he speaks to God and asks him to bless the words that shall be spoken. Another hymn, and then some Bible scene or striking incident is read and commented upon, and when interest is fairly roused the gospel \?, preached iti its simplicity and a direct appeal made to the people. There is a wonderful fascination in this service — a natural- ness in all the surroundings, so like the circumstances of our Lord's discourses, that makes God's nearness felt, and inspires great faith for results. Great have been these results — how great we shall know by-and-by. Many a soul has thus been born by the sea, in the grove, on the village green, at the place where
��streets meet in the busy city. How can we reach the masses.-* is the earnest question of the church. Go to them! To the association is due the fact that thou- sands of laymen are to-day proclaiming the gospel in all parts of the world, successful through their simple study of the Word and the encouragement and training which they have received in this school.
The fourth convention was held in Chelsea, in 1870, on which occasion the Honorable Cephas Brainard, chairman of the international executive commit- tee, said : " To promote the perma- nency of associations, our labor must be chiefly for young men ; increasing as rapidly as possible edifices of our own ; and cultivating frequent fraternal inter- course with the eight hundred associa- tions in the land." Up to 1881 no agents had been appointed by the state convention to superintend its work. Mr. Rowland was taking time, given him for rest, to visit associations and towns needing them.
At the international convention, in 1 868, at Detroit, two Massachusetts men met, who were to be largely instrumental in carrying on the work in the State so dear to them; and in 1871, in far-off lUinois, these two men — K. A. Burnell, and he who has almost without a break served on the Massachusetts committee to this day — met again, prayed for Massachusetts, consulted together, and the result was that at the convention of 1 87 1, at Northampton, a state executive committee was appointed.
At this time calls from many parts of the State were coming to the association workers from pastors of churches for lay help and they felt that these calls must be met. Mr. Burnell was engaged to conduct the work, and with the help of the committee individually, meetings
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