American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-06-05
Reported for the American Apnbliean.

Agreeable to announcement, the Rev. ). II.
Merrill delivered a lecture, on the "causcs OF
danger to young men" in the Hanover street
Presbyterian Church. on Tuesday evening. II
was listened to with the most profound atten-
ton, and we can only regret that there were not
more of that Interesting class of the community
to whom it was addressed, present, to have
heard the lessons Of wisdom uttered by the elo-
quent divine. The peroration of the lecturer,
in referring to the custom of the Ancients, who,
when worn down from age, devoted their time
i'll counsellng the young, was chaste and beau
tiful This spirit, though practiced by Some
strong and philanthropic hearts, at the present
day, is greatly neglected Too little attcntion
is paid to the proper training Of youth--~hose
dcstines for time and eternity greatly depend
upon it. The Omnipotent arm that hung out
the sun, upon the removal of which, in the
words Of Byron,
"The earth would float in icy air,''
in the structure Of man, implanted in him Il
spirit, that must, when stars have faded and
planets fled, have just begun its career-in
bliss or woe--to live forever.
Youth, with the sea Of life full before him,
when he shall have launched out upon it, will
fine. it difficult to change, in after life, the
course which early education and habits may
have bent his incIinations The ground work
of Washngton's greatness was laid in youth.
1t is not enough that young men be told of the
dangers that beset the path Of life; they must
be taught to shun them The Philistines knew
Sampson was strong man, bat they suffered
from his might. To avoid error it must be
known; resistance begets courage, and practice
fortifies human nature i'll resisting it.
There are many causes of danger to young
men: among which the lecturer deslgnlted--
First: They are conhding. Youth is pecu-
llarly susceptible Of receiving Impressions
whether good or evil in their tendency; and
they are as liable to accept the one as the 9TH
err. The sken cords of moral precept may d.
rect them to virtue, and deceptive art may as
easily lead them to vice Conhdng, not be-
cause Of any disposition to be thrown upon the
waves of vice, bat from Il want of knowledge
of its consequences. And hence, thousands
have been betrayed to ruin.
Secondly: lnexperience. The mere fact that
young men are more liable to the seductive dog
vices OF evll-disposed persons-o are most like
ly to blunder in Their course, from want of eX-
perence-should make them more cautious
how they act. Not more dangerous were the
pitfalls that were set for the destruction of the
army of the despotic Edward, than those that
dot the path of youth, The utmost prudent
caution alone can avoid them.
| Thirdly: A fearless energy of character. The
merchant who neglects to improve his business:
when starting into it, is not more sure to fail
than the man who passes his younger day:
I without proper culture, to feel the bitter pang:
! of so gross neglect. The first achievements
of youth give impulse and energy to after-life
Alexander, Hannibal, Washington, when but
twenty-six years of age, and Lafayette, when
twenty-five years Of age, exhibited those pa
triotic principles which they had imbibed in
early youth, and which led them to acts of no.
BILE daring in behalf of human rights. Such
periods as marked their history, may never
again occur, but should crisis arrive when
the battle-cry shall arouse this country, it must
look for its defence from the young men Of the
nation. Hence the necessity for proper train
/ ing Of youth. Give but a correct inclination
to their character-a most powerful enginc-
and it may prove productive Of wealth and
grandeur; yet, perveft it, and it may desoate
the earth. But, aside from these great nation.
al considerations, there is an individual respon-
sibility which should induce every young man
seriously 10 reflect, weigh, and act for himself,
so to enable him to live as to fulfil the impor.
tant obligations devolving upon HIM in time
and to qualify him for eternity.
Men have fallen, and others have wondered
how they fell. The great secret lays in the
fact of want of proper early training. There
may be exceptions to the Divine lesson, "Tran
youth in the way he should go, and he will
never depart from it" but if this be neglected
ruin is more likely to be the consequence
Man was created to occupy high position; the
descent from high birth and moral grandeur tc
degradation, from virtue to vice, is SO graded
as to evade the perception Of the thoughtless
and they pass from one extreme to the other
led on by insidious temptation. Falling to
perceive at once the proud elevation of virtue
and the pit of vice, he INDUCES his sensua
propensities, till what at first seemed wrong
becomes mere innocent pastme, and ther
the iron chain Of custom leads him into excess
of vice. game at cards in itself may no
be fatal, but the fear is in what it may lead to
Woe is he who Hampers with evil
The lecturer, from indsposition, was brief
and we have merely attempted in this sketch
to give an idea of the course of his remarks
He needs have been heard to be appreciated.
/ Aun Srr