The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-06-28
For the Central Presbyterian.
Lectures to the Young.

CHARACTER BUILDING; Or TALKS TO You've
MEN, is the title of small book consisting of
seven short lectures addressed to the Young
men OF his charge, by the Rev. R. S. Barrett
of the Episcopal church in Henderson, XIV.
These talks are short and sketchlng, rather
hints and suggestions, than fully developed ad-
dresses. They are exceedingly we'll done.
Avoiding all the technicalities of theology, and
the conventional phraseology of religious books.
They are earnest and direct, and manly and ele
waited in tone, the earnest talk of an earnest
man who feels the value of profound religious
character, and who seeks with all his force to
impress that character upon his young hearers.
The book avoids that which is fatal to any
book, whatever else it may have viz, dullness.
1t is fresh and vigorous and pointed and crisp.
MIR. B. seems to have the faculty of saying sharp
things In a sharp way-of coming telling
phrases, and bright and sparkling epigramatic
expressions which stick and tingle
If the manner of the preacher corresponds TO
the matter he must be an attractive and in
structive and inspiriting speaker.
In the first lecture on Destiny" he saws
/ want you all to believe in your own des
tiny. l mean that you ought to realize that
God has made you, and kept you for pur
pose. Never think that blind fate is your
mother and that she has left you helpless at
the door of creation like a founding child but
believe that God is your father and that he has
led you free born son into this school of life
to learn and to labor. Take hold of the near
est honest work. Wait for nothing. Do not
wait for somebody to die and leave you des
tiny. Do not hang around and try to marry a
destiny Make one for yourself"
In the lecture on Time" he says "Other
things being equal men are successful as they
value time. Old men are seldom spend thrifts
in money or time. Old men remember their
days. The two ends of life are like the two
ends of an opera glass: from one end it looks
very long, from the other very short"
oh what spectacle that will be when our
generation IS called to judgment and the physi-
clan will say Lord, 1 spent my days in reliev-
ing pain the lawyer, I dispensed Justice ); the
merchant. promoted commerce. the mechan-
ic, With these hands I labored for my chill
dren;' the minister, l preached the gospel
angels will say, We were ministering spirits
Jesus will show his hands SCARED with the la
bors of worlds redemption, and then fine
young gentleman will stroll up with hands in
pockets and say, Lord, I was loafer, 1 had
nothing to do ,"
In the lecture on Reading" he says "If
you knew of clear stream full of bass and sal
mon and trout you would not go to mud
puddle and fish for minnows and cells. So give
your reading time to the great books"
"YOu say you read questionable books as you
go into questionable places to learn life You
had just as well go into tigers cage to learn
zoology"
ITO love bad book because of its beauty is
like fondlng the coils of a serpent, because they
are bright, or caressing the hand of an assassin
because it is jeweled"
above all, read the Bible there is nothing
that will help you so much. 1t will make you
better, happier, stronger, and drawer. 1t will
become your dearest and most intimate friend,
and when at last the bair is white, and the eyes
dim, and hands, heart and brain are weary with
LIES journey, the Bible will be as tender and
sympathetic as a mother And when later still
you lie down to die, the Bible will be your min
istering angel. 1t will draw very near your
bed and take you by the hand and speak words
of encouragement and consolation, and prepare
you for that world where we shall have TO study
no more and know even as we are known"
Milton, ". @. E. H H.