Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-10
"I WRITE UNTO YOU, YOUNG MEN.

"A few Sundays ago we listened 10 An exeeI
lent discourse to young men, in one Of the
churches in this city. The lsmentabIs .b.
sence OF that class of persons from all reli-
gious SER ices on the Sabbath, has been a sub
ject to which we have given some attention
Tor years past, and We had the curiosity-if it
deserves no better name-tO look about and
see how large an audience the preacher had of
those TO whom the discourse was addressed
The number was exceedingly small, though
probably as large as will average in the other
ehuIehes. And as we sat there, rejecting mp
on the dangers which threaten our country
from this rapidly increasing neglect and abuse
d the Sabbath, we thought some day wo
would preach one ofour 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
Aud now young men-you who never dark
en- the doors OF church on SUNDAY. who
swagger through the streets with a cigar in
your mouth, who swear a little, perbaps a
good deal, who drink some rum, and pride
youlselt on being lone 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 very powerful, and il may
be, controlling influence in the management
Of public affairs. Did you ever think Of that1
and if you did, did you resli1e responsibili-
ty in the matter! Judging from the presen.
appearance Of our churches, when the present
generation Of men has passed away the peys
VIII 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 be-
come houses Of merchandise, if not dens of
thieves.
The infdelity so rife here, is not the insd,I
ity OF the intellect, which is becoming too
popular among scholars of a certain school.
but 1t Is not less dangerous. They who ne.
giect the Sabbath and its institutions here.
are not those who have thought much Theirs
Is the infdelty of Indifference and the want
of thOught-the infdelity that keeps ayay
from all chance of correction, which is not,
and cannot be reached, either by the argume nj
or the warning Of the pulpit; and its victims
VAL live their allotted time, then drop into
dark, hopeless graves and be forgotten, while
their spiritual eyes will open upon a world of
which they have never thought, and the Joys
OF which they are all untitled to share
But there is cause for alarm lying outside
OF consequences to individuals. In nations
where lnfdelity, whether il be Of the intellect
| or passions, has gained the ascendancy, aud
the Sabbath and the institutions of religion
have fallen into neglect, national ruin has fol-
lowed Our Institutions are based upon the
principles Of Christianity, and when they have
no place in the hearts of the people, the glo-
rious superstructure will crumble to dust
1t therefore becomes a matter of vital i'm
portance, In national as well as a personal
point Of view, that all, the old and the young
alike, stand by the institutions Of Christianity,
attend on its ministratioDs, contribute to. is
| support, and open their minds TO the reception
of It's truths We beg Of young men who ever
think of anything, to think Of this, and put
themselyesi in 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 institu-
tions shall fall upon their shoulders they shall
be bravely and wOrthily borne.-NashHa
T.isgyaph.