Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-11-30
~ Wrlte unto ron. Yonng MONS,

q A few Sundays ago we listened TO an ex-
cellent discourse to young men, in one Of
the churches in this city. The lamentable
absence of that class of persons form all re-
Ggous service on the Sabbath, has been a
subject to which we have given some atten-
ton for years past, and we had the elIriosi-
ty-if it deserves no better name-to look
about and see how large an audience the
preacher had Of those whom the discourse
was addressed. The number was. exceed
iugly small, though probably as largo as
will average in the other churches. And as
we sat there, rejecting upon the dangers
which threatened our country from this rap
idly increasing neglect and abuse of the
Sabbath, we thought some day we would
preach one of our sermons upon the same
subject, believing that after all we have the
ear of more of that class, perhaps, than all
the ministers in the city put together.
And now young men-you who never
darken the doors of church on Sunday,
who swagger through the streets with a ci-
gar in your mouth, who swear little, per
haps a good deal. who drink some rum,
and pride yourself on being tone of the
b'hoys," will you indulge us with word in
your ear! In period of years which will
seem incredibly short, when you arrive at
your majority, your class will compose a
very powerful, and it may be, a controlling
influence in the management of public af-
fairs. Did you ever think of that ?-and
if YOU did, did your realize responsibility
in the matter? Judging from the present
appearance of orr churches, when the present
generation of men has passed away, the
pews will be left pretty much to the female
portion of the race, if, indeed, they do not
imbibe the infdel spirit of the age, and
leave them to become houses of merchan-
disc, if not dens of thieves.
The infdelity so rife, here, is not the in
fidelity of the intellect, which is becoming
too popular among scholars of certain
school, but it is not less dangerous. They
who neglect the Sabbath and its institu-
tions here, are not those who have thought
much. Theirs is the infdelity of indiffer-
ence and the want of thought-the infdel-
ity that keeps away from all chance of cor
rectiOn, which is not, and cannot be reached,
either by the argument or the warning of
the pulpit; and its victims still live their al
lotted time, then drop into dark, hopeless
graves and be forgotten, while their spirit
ual eyes will open upon world of which
they have never thought, and the joys Of
which they arc all untitled to share.
But there Is cause for alarm living outside
of consequences to individuals In nations
where infdelity, whether it be of the intel
lect or passion, has gained the ascendancy,
and the Sabbath and the institutions of re-
ligiOn have fallen into neglect, national ru-
in has followed. Our institutions are based
upon the principles of Christianity, and
when they have no place in the heart of tho
people, the glorious superstructurc will
crumble to dust.
1t therefore becomes matter of vital
Importance, in national as well as a per-
sonal point of view, that all, the old and
the young alike, stand by the institutions of
Christianity, attend on its ministrations, con-
tribute to its support, and open their minds
to the reception of its truths. We beg
of young men who ever think of anything,
to think of this, and put themselves in a way
of attaining a character which shall give to
those who are passing away, an assurance
that when the burdens and responsibilities
of sustaining our Institutions shall fall upon
their shoulders they shall be bravely and
worthily borne-Nashua Telegraph.