Y.M.C.A.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2665, 22 November 1909, Page 3

Y.M.C.A.

SPECIAL SERVICES

There was a'-good attendance at the Y.M.C.A. rooms j'esterday afternoon, when the Rev. F. W. Chat barton addressed the meeting in connection with the week of prayer of the Association throughout the world. The speaker’s subject was “Brotherhood,” and in an interesting address he pointed out that there were' two forces governing the world. These were disintegrating and constructing forces. The same forces governed human nature. Modern competition was a. disintegrating forge, as its main point was selfishness. There was another force at work, however, which tended to re-unite. This was the very opposite—altruism, combining thought for others, unselfishness, and love. These served to bind together, and they 'had brotherhood, and the force which made for brotherhood was the force that made for progress. There were three things that made for brotherhood: -First, resisting of common peril; second, pursuing of common interests; and the last, but most important, the common devotion to some commanding personality; and, said Mr Chattel-ton, the strongest personality since the world began was Jesus- Christ. These three forces were tending towards brotherhood, and every one of them they had got from the teaching of Christ. In conclusion, it was pointed out that the spirit of brotherhood was promoted far more bv the fulfilment of duties than by the assertion of rights, and that the Y.M.C.A. was a strong force in the building up of character on the solid basis of true brotherhood. During the meeting special music was given, and Mr. Dalrynvnlo sang the solo “Nearer my God to Thee.’ In the evening special services for young men were conducted at various churches. At the Methodist Chuich Mr C R Webster gave an address on “Makin" a Man.” The Rev. W. Grant preached at St. Andrew’s on “A Man or a Thing,” and the Rev. W. Lamb took foi his subject at the Baptist Tabernacle “Wanted—a few Strong Men. ’