The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-19
The Young Men Who are in Danger.

Rev. T. Dewitt Talmadge deliver
Ell an address at the meeting of the
New York loung Mems Christian
Association, in which he in the fol
lowing Sentence truly depicted the
class OF young men who alcin danger
in all large cities, and who most
need the care and protection of
Young Mems Christian Associations
and kindred organizations
"There is only one class of young
men who are safe without any effort
on our part. They are the sour,
salloWtaGed men. Satan would not
know what to do with them if he had
them. lie would be afraid of their
disputing his kingdom with him. 1t
is the generous young men, the
large-haarted social young men who
are i'll peril. 1t is the young men
who are starting in life with mag
niticent cargo Of hopes that we want.
The young men who are empty of
heart and life need no Christian as
sociation. They will never drink
unless somebody treats them. They
will never gamble, save with some
one clSes money. They are to mean
to 60 to pcrdition, unless somebody
pays the way for tlcm.'
While we have 10 especial fond
ness for the divine who gives this
uttelancr, and think him a good
deal inclined to the sensational, still
we are forced to say that i'll this he
has uttered II great social trnth-a
truth that President Lincoln was
wont to uncouthIy illustrate by one
of his original anecdotes: When |
was travelling in Sangamon county,'
said the President, ga man took
passage On the outside Of a stage
coach, where | was riding. First he
offered me a 'cheW of tobaccO.' | re
fused. Next he proftered a cigar.
This was also refused, and finally
offered a swig from his bottle. Then
| remarked that | had no small vices.
The rough, uncouth fellow pondercd
q while and then slowly remarked
'and my experience is that those
who have 10 vices have d-~d few
virtues," And this is the truth.
Many a man goes to his grayeiu the
Odor Of sanctity because there is too
little Of him to sin. The young man
alluded to as being safe without an
effort at salvation, are not worth
being saved. There are such men,
young and old, whose starveling
souls are not good enough for perdi-
ton, and yet the world honors and
serves them, condemning the man
Of character, integrity, intelligence
and honor, because Of an occasional
blemish, which a lesser spirit could
not exhibit. Mr. Talmadge is right,
the effort of society should be direct
to the saving Of those who are worth
salvation.- Galveston News.
There is, unfortunately, too much
truth in the above views expressed
by DR.. TalmadSe, and also in the
comments upon them by the Gal-
weston News. The tone and spirit
we must assert is undignifed, un-
clerical and very uncharitable, and
is well calculated to bring into ridi-
cule the young man of sober and
temperate habits who may be exer-
cising economy to 2id in the support
Of his family,
It is avery dangerous and demoral-
izihg doctrine to charge those who
will not squander their money, with
being influenced by no higher motive
than avarice.
A fair and impartial investigation
of the lives of the two classes. will
disclose the fact that those who are
termed large-hearted and social, are
generally the most selfish, for they
spend their means in the qualification
of their appetites, thus leaving no.
thing to bestow upon others whom
they should assist.
We love and admire the genial
and unselfish man, and detest the
narrow minded avaTicious creature
whose every thought centers on self.
While we entertain those feelings,
we are prepared to draw the line be,
4 tween the spendthrift and the liberal
man, and also between the miser
and the man who by industry and
economy is making provision for the
support of others.
The time has come when every
young man is expected to go to work
and to make a competency if he can,
but under all circumstances to make
a support, and every attempt to
throw odium on such worthy eXer-
tions brings the critics into con-
tempt, and proves their worthless
ness.-Shreyeport Gazette and Flag.
Qualifications of the Ancient Fenians
| From Scribner's Monthly
To enter the ancient Fenian Order;
"every soldier must swear that,
without regard to fortune, he would
choose a wife for her virtue, her
courtesy, and her good manners
that he would never offer violence
to woman; that, SO far as he
could, he would relieve the poor
and that he would not refuse to fight
nine men of any other nation. Every
soldier must be well acquainted with
twelve books of poetry, and be able
! to compose verses. He must run
we'll, and defend himself when in
| f1irht. To trv his activity. he was