The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-24
THE REJ: DR. JOHN HiLL's ADrICE.
An Eloquent Piea for the Elevation OF the
standard OF Our Politics.

Tho Rev. DR.. John Hall delivered n lecture
last evening before the Young Mems Society Of
the Brick Church on " The Pcrils of the Time"
Dividing his treatment OF the theme. he spoke
primarily OF the evils threatening young men
especially and nfterward OF those which exist
for other persons. Young men, he said. have
four pcrils to avoid The first of these is n GER
tain shallowncss growing ont OF the constant
pressure and hurry under which we exist. Ev-
cry one Is expected to do 80 much that super
nciality can hardly help attaching to our Efforts
Every one can note the facility with which
young men pass from one thing to another in
their early years. generally without the attain
ment of success in anything. Life is so short
that man cannot in n lifetime obtain thorough
mastery of more than one department Of
thought and effort.
The second danger is from mistaken concep-
tions of what success in life really is This is a
money centre. and 1t is natural that money
should be largely in the thoughts and purposes
of the people. that their plans and schemes
should be affected and colorcd by the conccp-
ton OF the acquisition OF gain. But this ten
dency leads to tho keeping up OF appearances
OF wealth. to make n show. and deters young
men from engaging in avocations for which
they are suited. through the fear engendered
That such nvOeatiOns may not seem To the
world as lucrative and consequently respect
able ns others. To this fact is to be attributed
the present situation OF the young mon in the
New England States whore IL is difficult Ia find
among them youth who purpose being farmers.
mechanics. or artisans. since all hope e, get TO
the big cities and become rich. This Will event
ually lead To- an elasticity Of conscience in which
the end will Justify the means in the attainment
OF wealth.
-Four great perils threaten us as n people. and
in Speaking OF them DIR. Hall wished IL under
stood that Re did not mean to contrast this land
with any c. her. the American people with any
other. or our time with any other. hut simply To
contrast at which is with that which should
be. according to n Christian ideal The first OF
those perils is defective public spirit. Our
truly representative and best men in society.
morals. professional life. and literature do not
take sufficient interest in our common con-
Germs. Many OF them never cast a vote. Many
past maturity. have never seen ballot box, We
fidelity TO the principles we profess as people.
We do not feel that there is any responsibility
fH win even en- say that It does not BAY them to in.
terest themselves in politics How lew Of our
best men attend caucuses or bring their reason
to bear in the primaries. But there are men who
do go there regularly, and who settle the tickets
and control the elections aiterward. How are
they looked upOnY The very word" politician "
is unsavory in the nostrils, Whom man Is
that It is probably due To the axity OF the laws
and their imperfect admin lstraton that he is
not in the State prison. We should have the
best men in the community TO frame our laws,
and afterward to execute them. Then our laws
would not be corrupt lohs the dignity and
majesty of the law would be appreciated. and
evil NtltfS Woull lff'i tile ntttNrlN loI
| in the ways of rectitude and safety
The second peril is n weak commercial con-
science; Haye we an an adequate commercial me-, "a
have 10 suffer for II. We have exalted smart
ness into cardinal virtue, but smarinrss ia
| the Mercury OF our Olympus-the god OF thieves
The third peril of our time is from cXagger-
| ated ideas upon the subject OF personal liberty
thereof. The corruptions of the best things are
the worst. Liberty. II II Is TO be liberty. must
have its limitations. Az an illustration of our
| n IN la nh ar
conception OF the right over life, that 1t il not
| thing given to- us in trust. for which we are re-
| solute possession. 10 do with as we please. to
hold while i plcases us. 10 lay down when we
are weary Of the burden. II IL not an Anglo
Saxon idea; II Is imported from Europe. but il
is taking root among us to IN extent which Is
alarming.
Again. in the marriage there is an erroneous
| notion OF liberty. Men do not take into consid-
Grafton sufficiently the strength OF the marriage
| tie. II Il looked upon ~ convenient mutual
| arrangement, To- be maintained as long as there
| Is nothing peasnnter attalnhbl"; but when there
| is. then IL is blown aside. The denominations of
our divorce courts are such rs should startle
and humiliate us. Minister'S called upon to
marry parties should require them To- give ref
erences. and afford satisfaction. so far a. Is pos
sible. that in performing that solemn cerrmO-
nial they are not aiding and abetting u crime
We have also an illustration Of our eNHgg"r-
ated notions OF freedom in "a certain Commu-
nism with which WI we 3re threatened IN thus na; q;
II is as difficult thing to lay your hand upon il
as II Is to lay your hand upon malaria; yet we
know that malaria exists. andMe have good evil
dence that Communism also exists. We saw
the evidences OF it in the railroad riots Of last
year. We see them in the demonstrations Of
avowed Communists here. We see them in the
tone of conduct OF newspapers. the conductors
Of which-conVersant with the growing spirit.
and prompt 70 symphthlze with the coming
torre-pander To- the spirit OF Communism.
The tone Of the newspapers in speaking OF the
coupon cutters" as they term the rich, is in
itself significant All these things threaten n
terrible sarrhc Of life and property among us.
If the growing evil Is not checked.
The fourth great danger and the last-at least
OF those for present consideraton-is the fee
beness OF religious life among us.