The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-28
OUR YoUTA.

ESPECIAL REPORT FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.l
The announcement that Bishop Clark, of
Rhode Island, would preach at the abovenamed
church, corner of Fifteenth and Chestnut streets
(Rev. DR.. Newton, RectoT), drew out a very
large concourse of people, filing the galleries
and the body of the church completely. The
Rev. Dr. Tiffany, of Germantown, conduoted the
Introductory church worship, after which
Bishop Clerk delivered the following sermon,
which commanded profound attention on the
part of the congregation. The text vast
"Be hoa strong, therefore, and Sho'0 hyseb
livery age OF the world demands It's own peculiar
style Of men. Children and youth pass through
very different kinds OF training IN different oOnd
tions of society, Sometimes It IS indispensable that
the discipline Of the young should be almost excu-
slvey physica hey must be able to endure great
bodily nardships brave the winds, the snow, the
heat Of the sum must walk beneath the frosty star
! ght, ana endure the rain which dTeDches them
They must have keen, eve and sinewy arm TO
send the swift arrow to its marx, and strength to
hurl the jsveliD into the leopards SKULL They must
be able to live long without rood, to quickly to
leap fearlessly, to stand without quiveTing the
tOpmOst craR of the hPhest mount.
In another stage of society must be trained TO
systematic seli-denlal and Scriptural sacrifices
holding all WORLDLY positions so loosely that they
may be reinquIshed at moments warning. Every
fibre of the soul must be made so strong that the
laceIaton OF the body shall be unheeded, and the
individual Keep himself in constant maItyrdom.
This may be demanded by the political or religious
necessities of the time Then, again, in other
/
the footsteps OF his ather. The processes of
e and thought are repeaoed for successive genera.
| tlOns No specal emergencies arse; no new expe-
rences The clock strikes the hour the earth
rolls around, man goes forth to labor until the
ing, and every day Is only transcript OF yesterday.
ITurpOse this evening to consider what is tue
| pecunar style of training now demanded for our
| young men and what KIND OF character specially
needs TO be cultivated
/ Society has entered upon another of its transit
| tional stages. Ihe generauon which cOmirg on
/ TO the field of action will live IN stirring times
During their time probably, there will be wrought
out a more general and vital change IN the coud-
ton of society than has been accomplished in any
one epoch since the night when the bright star
flashed over JeTusa EN-. A work of preparation
has been going on for the last fifty years in Iheo-
Tetical science, practical arts, in commerce, in
travel In the circulation OF Intelligence in political
principles, in criticism, ana in philosophy, the
rays may possibly converge to q focus during the
hetime OF those whom address tonight.
II is q great thing to live in such a period as
| this; ID some respects IT is a great privilege; in
other respects it involves great peril For las might
be expected at sucn crisis there is strange
junction OF the minds elements, both clam good and
evil. 1t needs wise Judgment to discriminate be-
sHy er, and stamped like the genuine would seem
to be more valuable than the genuine, when is
abused and bent IN ITS passage from hand TO hand
receiving an appearance hardly indicating its val
The glltterlnR 10 school and the hOmely truth lie
together on every side We see singular ming ing of
inhuences-MuddY rlvUlets empty themselves into
the clear rlver of truth ana OF affinity with its
waters; phosphorescent meleors gli,ten among the
eternal stars mock suns CLEAN fuy out lighting
all the horizon with wild fictitious glaling light
spurious revelations throw dscredit upon the real
doctrine OF inspiration; men cal them e yes after
the name of Christ, falsfying His spirit and doc
tIino while Others processing to be toe real Christ,
deny His name.
these are strange times full of peril full of hope
In one quarter there is blue sky and glorious
light, in another quarter there IS black-draped
cloud cross6 and cut with red and jagged fires,
and hoaIse with thund rs 1t is such time this In
which you should be able to comb ne strong
dsceInmept You should never rush LeedIess-
lY into the strife, neither should you turn aside
from the contest of the cause. You should learn to
judge between good and evil, ana tnen be ready to
strike m aniu ly for the right. 1t s indispensable
that you should put yourself into wholesome and
thorough discipline IN youth. You need. in the
first ace, to cultivate youC intellt ctua faculties
with the greatest II is getting be of com.
paIatlvely little Importance, in all our departments
OF business how young man commences lie, If he
will only cultivate his iacu ties,
The secret Of success lies improving to tne best
advantage such opportunities as lie around us. II
is not by changing their positions that en- acquire
influence TIE good orkman on the bench who de
termines first that the article which he manufactures
shall be perfect as he can make It, and then aitel
the toll Of the day Is over, goes toWOrk with
tiyating his MIND his moral faculties, in theend will
become more influential than the sepOrltc person il
the pulpit, or the Haunting advocate at the bar.
The time has been when this general mental cul
ture won have been impossible and useless, but BY
the grace of God it is so no longer. 10 INTO the
City Councils, the legislatures the scientific cOnven
tioDs lead over the laws, the sayings OF popular
poets and Journalists, all who give tone to popular
D opinion and control society. Are they generally
such were born IN wealth, born in institutions
A honor and bred IN univeTstlesg Some inherit dis
tinction, but the great majority OF society Is com
{ posed Of men who have struggled against obstTuc
. lions, and forced their way upward by their Owl
e strength. But il Is not merely the cultivation o
2 mental powers with view to high position whlct
!. Is necessary. The young man who cuivates hi
, mental and moral powers thereby eleVates himsel
4 | TO a higher circi 70 sOOlety.
|. The world is bound to find out what there is il
s such man what he is capable OF doing Conse
quentlY, the young man she ud develep himself no
for the sake of securing honor or titles, beng elect
/ TO office, or filling high positions but from simpl
& regard TO what is due TO his own nature
He who utters his own thoughts is tne one who nov
4 awake MS the echo. The opinions of most men ar
. at the best only echoes. What we need in this gene
IatlOn is that each voice should have its own sign
cation. One OF the great evils OF American soelet
2 is popular opinion, msnuiactUred out of the yer,
strange materials, which cannot be resisted without
r the risk of O social maTtyrdom.
n We want who feel that they are stTon
a enough and mtellIRent enough to sit in judgmen
v upon popular opinion, and If an idol be erected u
Y the land, though IL should be seventy cuDts
height and gilded from tip to toe and labelled WIZ
the ost sacred name they should have the cOurag
to declare 1t an idol, and have the mantulness
t, stand by the declaration midst the SOUND OF IN
h dulcmeT and many-tOned instruments calling upo
n the people to bow down and worship It. we wan
g men Who will tell the proud NeDuchadnezzar tina
e he is only fit TO eat grass with the oxen we wan
Is men who can dare to walk quietly into the lion
It den OF popular wrath, rather than DO uisloya' I
[ God and the truth. ~, ,
seven tunes heated, confident that the Son Oh Go
n walks with them also in the flames TO shield then
8 lom harm. Young men are wan wanteG tb WIZ onSj S4u
n toUs convictions, who would rather De caueu mar
e than ENQUIRE the defamation OF their confessions
It truth; who would be detained for time rather ina
lose their hold upon the generations that are com
q ing And sUch men must commence thelr training
Is early; bear the yoke through their enue yout kep
under any earnes and truthful discpnLe anu learI
n TO say with the divine Galilean TO the wondering
q spectators; "Wist We not that must pe ABOUT hl
Fathers busness And ior an aU 70 cnSa
8! Is incumbent upon you, young men, 10 cu''NaU
% your intellectual powers most sedulOusy,