The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-30

Dio Lewis Monthly.
am in the midst Of from zour hundred
70 five hundred young men, representing
nearly every stale Ii The Union. and many
foreign countries. ! see the evil and the
| good; the bad habit, the good action; the
active doing and the purposeless non-doing;
and / am impressed more and more with
the depressing, stultifying, and vitiating
influence OF = certain kind Of teaching.
From the home We hear that children
should be seen, not heard. Keep back
abe still, ? "can't you keep quiet, don't,
don't and more OF this SORTS thrown at
healthy, growing boys and girls. From
| the church and Sunday-school we hear,
eve are good for nothing, There is nogood
| in us,' filthy rags. AyiIe worms, do
ing Is dangerous thing, Jesus died and
paid il al, and more IN kind. What re-
sulf2 The hope, confidence, and ambition
of thechild is practically killed-kiIled by
those who think or believe they lead the
way to highest, noblest life. Helpless, de-
pendent, they look to others To do their
thinking, solve their problems, do their
work. They have been passive, submits
siye, and as clay in the pofterss hands, sub
feet to any influence, easily led or per
suaded, having no mind no will known or
recognized as their own.
A boy who has always been petted and
carressed by indulgent parents, goes out
into the world He stands alone in the
rapids-the seething whirlpool OF business
life. He stands on his merits, but he has
no merits-so he feels and so acts. Some
parent said, 81 intend 10 indulge my chill
dren as much as possible now, for they will
have a hard enough time in future life"
They do not see how the indulgence now
is the prime cause of their great disap-
pointment and sorrow in that future OF
their children.
Ii you wish TO have your children be-
come headstrong, unobliging, utterly sell
fish men and women, indulge them to the
uttermost now. Make them think every
thing was created for their use. III you
wish to have your children grow in the
image Of the Divine in manhood and
womanhood, assure them early in life that
they arr rich in possibilities; and teach
them TO think, feel, act, for Themselves,
temp ering all with a growing conscious
ness of equal right and responsibility in
others.
Take the world over, and the noblest
men and women are those who were taught
seIf-deniaI, self-reliance and unselhshness
in early childhood. The necessity of active
doing was laid on most Of the worlds great
benefactors. The enthusiasm and wild,
strong life of youth has not been checked,
but wisely led, directed, trained, and ever
encouraged-never discouraged. Health,
energy, ambition, was expected, desired,
vet ever watched, disciplined and governed
until self-government commanded conf
dence and respect.
Look around you. See how few exhibit
confidence and trust tempered by prudence;
see how many show distrust tempered by
fear. The world is sadly il fault in this.
There is a large class of passive minds that
glory in being nothing. 1t is their re-
ligion, their hope, their future, their all.
But the active minds Determine the con-
ditions of society, either eleyahng or de- |
pressing it. Our College has inscribed
upon its walls the motto Of Agesilaus:
"reach YOUR bows that which they will |
practice when they become men," Beecher
SAYS, "Man must be a splendid animal if |
he would do great work" To insure the |
full strength aud service of this animal he |
must not chew or smoke tobacco. lie |
must not drink intOxicants, or be intern |
perate in anything. All growth, educa- |
ton, training and discipline imply ac-
tivity.
The heart and mind of youth must be |
awakened to active doing. He must feel
the throbbiBg Of the engine within, feel
the power andwill to do. lie must realize
the Importance of having clear head to
pilot and direct this power. Life Is real,
life is earnest" Let no one shirk the re-
sponsibility of his own act. Individuality /
must be distinctly asserted and realized.
1t is the essential negative in every life,
after which comes the building era, in
which man sees himself as
Part of one stupendous whole,
Whose body nature is, and God the soul"
Let all teaching inspire youth with
Bailey's thought: He lives most who
kinks most, feels the noblest, acts the
BEST" .Orwith another let them ting:
III you would make life's journey safe and
sure,
Be patient to endure;
Let all your thoughts be pure,
-FOUR aspiration high, each purpose strong.
70 strive and win the victory over wrong"