Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-12-16
FOUR TRAPS FOR YOUNG MEN
THE BALLROOM, CARD TABLE,
CIRCUS AND FTlSG TRACK.
4 Sermon Preached in The H. Z. Church
on Smday EUsning, Norember 26'h,
by Rev. S. 7. Lesch, Pastor.


by Rev. S. J. Lesch, Pastor.
TE1r.-Ecclesias,es ltn chap'er,9ih verse,
"Rejoce o Young Man in thy youth" &c.
The Book of Ecclesiastes was written
by Solomon in his old age. Entangled
long in the meshes Of luxury, idolatry
and lust he had struggled into virtuou5
! freedom. Reclaimed by divine power
and inspired by the divine spirit, he IL
Illustrates in series of isolated passages,
on the basis of his own unexampled ex-
perience and sagacious observation, both
( the unsatisfying character Of carnal en-
iovment and the worth Of solid piety.
A king when but eighteen years OF
| ace, his regal dominions extending from
the Euphrates to the Nile,-his renown
for learning being co extensive with the
civilization OF hisage,-the wise t1nnder
Of a vast commerce with Tyre, Egypt,
Arabia. India, and Babylon-the builder
/ Of the most magnificent temple that
ever lowered in honor Of jehovah, Solo
! mon IS one of the most interesting char
actars of the Old Testament. Amid his
Overwhelming prosperity he fell in his
early manhood, and plunged into every
depth of sensual indulgence. Raising at
last by divine aid his bleeding forehead
from the dust. he deliniates for the spe-
cial benefit of Young men the perIls OF
fortune and the insutiiciency OF sinful
nleasure TO satisfy the intense cravings
! of the human soul.
In the text he uses the form of address
Rhetoricians call irony. He employs
words to be understood precisely IN op-
position to their apparent signihcauon
| 1t was in irony that Elijah cried to the
lacerated priests Of Baal, "Cry aloud tor
Baal is God" Here Solomon speaks III
IRONY, and then places in antithes!s Il
powerful antidote. Here he seems to
say-"Youug men! Lead merry lives II
vou dare.-cheer Jour hearts with fool
ish hopes if YOU will,-run the gauntlet
Of ruinouscsflf indulEepce if you 50
choose.--hold Oh to the poisoned relns
Of unbrialed passions loosely If YOU so
dcsire,-but as God mouthplece warn
You of day Of stern retflhuuon,-an
eternity of punishment for a life OF muir
dcred time,-a harvest OF damnation for
asowing season of excessive indulgence.
A young man for numerous and po-
tent reasons is the noblest object under
the broad heavens. Removed equally
from the weakness Of boyhood and the
feebeness of age,-vith unwrlnkled
brow and undimmed eye-wlth q mind
ouick to ceive and a will strong to exc
cute, he has grand possibilities EMBODIED
in his nature. Before he was p, Napo-
leon had execute his great Italian cam
naicn and dictated terms Of peace tothe
hanphtv monarch Of the house OF llaps-
burg Before he was y, Calvin had
published those great theological works
which have for centuries profoundly at-
fected the religious opinions ofmanklnd:
Before he was 27, John Summertieid
had entered the heavenly chariot and
left to the church of Christ an imperish
able memorial and deathless name.
look on the rising generation OF
Young men with thrill of interest.
Among YOU they are the hope OF the
city and expectation OF the church l
see them moving on along an avenue
formed by long ranks of temPters; sew
entv whiskey shops but not one reading
room,-innumerable travelling clrcnS
tents but not one night school an
abundance of social dancing but no pub
lie librarv,-many card tables but no
normanent moral attraction for nightly
social intercourse As they are entering
this dangerous avenue, ending at Chrlst 5
Indictment seat, WISDOM and FOLLY of
fer them guidance. WISDOM pointing
to the dangerous traps for the soulseemS
to invite our young men heaTenWard-
in the sweet verses Of Clark
uCome while the morning Of Thy life is glow
Ere the dim phantom thou art chasing die;
Come ere the spell which sn is round The
throwing
Fades ike the crimson from a sunset SKY
Life hath but shadows save Gods promise
given,
Which lights the future with fade!e's T"y
ON touch Cod. sceptre seek thy home in
heaven,
Come turn thy spirit from ear'h' wrongs
away"
Reserving the subject of the Social
Glass for next Sabbath evening l shall
L
tonight point You in their alphabetical
order 10
rot-E TRAPS FOR YOUNG MEN: THE BALL
ROOM. CARD TABLE, CIRCUS AND TRoTTiNG
TRACK.
/ The Ball Room.-Dancing for
amusement receives no sanction from
the Holy Scriptures, but is imPhedly
condemned as inconsistent with the ge-
MUS of true piety Every passage bear,
ino on this subject in the Bible has been
critically examined by biblical scholars
whose verdict is that social dancing Sc
cures no countenauce from the word OF
God With the Hebrews 1t was JOY
full occasion, usually succeeding some
special display OF divine goodness 1t
was generally religious in its character,
usually practiced as thanksgiving
act-never INDUCED in by both sexes at
the same time and place,-and nearly
always occurred in the open air, IN the
dav time and in simple garb- 1t was as
different in character and moral results
l.