THE NARROW BASIS OF THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7759, 4 October 1886, Page 3

THE NARROW BASIS OF THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir, — The writer " Watobman" has written a good letter, and with his general ideas, remarks, and tone I cordially agree. So also in regard to the spiritual work done, or left undone in Mr. Tebbs' huge, "id I should fear, unworkable parish. When a proposition to overtake the moral, social, and spiritual destitution of a huge London parish was made some years ago, it was agreed to put ten Churches to cope with one hundred - thousand people, and men of thought and feeling stood aghast at a single clergyman being minister, adviser, almoner, and what not to 10,000 people, and that with an income perhaps barely enough for food, clothing, and keeping out of debt. But Mr. Tebbs has 15,000 to care for parochially, and be stands alone. Even non-Anglican Churches oan do but little comparatively, and are but few to overtake such a mass of immortal beings : poor, sick, suffering, god* less, worldly, profane, saints and sinners, clean and unclean, in that human [hive called St. Matthew's parish. Sir, Mr. Tebbs, who oan smile, joke, and laugh, aa well as pray and preach, is a young hero. Mr. Tebbs should have a curate and a city missionary and a Bible woman too. These three, possessed of a Christlike spirit, with health, zeal, spiritual vigour, earnest but not fanatical, judicious but not worldly, nor cold nor formal, would help Mr. Tebbs immensely. Why should not a fund be started to help the consummation of so desirable a work. But Sir, " Watchman" speaks of the Young Men's Christian Association as having success under Mr. Hill, even although it is on a "narrow basis." Narrow basis, surely that is a misprint. Men in that society are of all shades of opinion and ecclesiastical colour—" Brethren" and " High" Churchmen, Broad" Churchmen and Methodists, "Evangelicals" and Ritualists," are among its members. Is not that broad enough as a basis ? Who is excluded ? Who would be excluded who feared God, loved Christ, and worked righteousness ? Sir, the Young Men's Christian Association will welcome " Watchman" with delight as a member if he fulfils those three conditions, and it will not be asked whether he be high, low, broad, or anything else in the world.—l am, &c., Another Watchman,