The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-16
SERMONS TO YOUNG MEN.
DR.. Gilbert's Lecture on the Essential
Conditions to Their Success.
:, Or. Hydes Discourse, Yesterday, on the Need
of More General Observance OF
Sunday by Young Men.
HOW TO SUCCEED.
che Lecture of DIR. Gilbert Last Evening to
Young Men.

Young Men.
Last evening DR.. Gilbert, pastor of Meridian
street NJ E. Church. began a series of Sunday
evening services for young people, under the
auspices of tho Young Peoples Union, a society
lately formed. The preliminary exercises were
rendered attractive by additional music, the ex-
ee!lent choir being assisted by male voices.
There were two mixed auartets, one male
quartet, a tenor, and bass solo, beside the
hymn, all we'll rendered. Two young men,
Messrs Bosom and Clark. assisted in the devo-
tional part, the former reading the scriptures,
the latter announcing hymn.
DR.. Gilbert's lecture to young men. upon
the theme, THE Young Mans Helps to His Life
Work; or, the Conditions of Success" 1t was
delivered without manuscript and occupied
about forty minutes. The speaker said the well
fare of the young man is Of supreme Importance.
He is fastening out to his life work, success is
his motto. A few years hence there may be
written over the record of his lfe failure
Parents, citizens, all look with anxiety to those
who are coming up to the stage of action. desir-
ing that they may not share the fate of many
who have preceded them. The wreck Of young
men in our day is appalling. Who shall save
them? Surely minister of the gospel ought not
to be Indifferent to the question. The speaker de-
sired to be regarded friend, a counselor
and helper. To gain the attention Of those pres
ept he proposed to speak upon that in which all
ought to be interested-the conditions of their
worldly success. If they turn away from purely
religious themes they ought to heed this
= Two great mistakes OF young men on this sub
ject were pointed out Success is regarded by
many matter Of good luck. They have seen
some come into position and honor, and others
remain in obscurity, while there was seemingly
but little difference between the two, and in
ferred that success is the placing of the hand
syly into the great grab bag of fortune and seiz-
ing the prize Others, again, conclude that sue
cess is obtained only through the assistance of
others These wait for some one to lift them
out of obscurity and poverty, and they go
to their graves bewailing the fact that no one
has appeared to do them this service Whereas,
life is not an accident, and no young man ought
to depend upon others. That which appears to
be fortuitoas is rather the result of causes which
ought to be well understood and wisely en-
ployed. There are two words which every
young man should deeply ponder. words which,
taken in their deepest sense, contain all the ele
ments of an honorable and useful life Those
two words are ability and character.
A young man must possess power to do
something for his felowmen. All right ac
emulation of property is by barter. You give
something to another which he needs
something you possess in greater
abundance than you need. And he gives you in
:eturn therefor something that he produces
which you need That is a fair commercial trans
action. After time society prepares represent
atives OF value, either of metal or paper and
the trade continues, but it Is the same principle
The productive power of young man, there
fore, measures his success. If he comes to the
worlds market with nothing to sell shall he not
return empty handed9 But, if he brings what
others need, shall he not have his reward2 The
first word of counsel, therefore, to every young
man is, make yourself valuable to mankind by
acquiring a capacity for service.
But, besides ability, there must be DISPOSE
ton to use it rghtly-that is character. Power
without character is a dangerous thing The
world understands this full well. The more bad
man knows the less he is to be trusted That
sharp intellect or that skilled hand may rob a
bank, or plumber dwelling, or overturn the
State, if the heart that guides it Is corrupt Let
not the young man think, as he admits these
self evident truths, that he needs only certain
elements OF character, and may safely discard
all the other elemenrs-that, cultivating those
ordinary qualities, such as honesty and truth
fulness, he may ignore those rarer qualities
which are to BIO found in the Christian alone.
Character is like cable made up of many
strands. When all the strands are strong and
are we'll wrought together, then is the cable
strong but if any strand is weak wanting,
then the strength of the cable is diminished.
Hence, every young man needs a faultless char
: acter as he goes 70 his life work.
Need it be urged that there is abundance of
room for men of ability and character, whose
good hearts and excellent enGowments qualify
them for places of trustl Do such men need to
beg for pacel 1t may be said that with all these
enc needs friends who will bring forward the
worthy person. True, but those friends will ap-
pear. 1t may be said that'some. with little
ability and others with defective character have
arisen to prominence. True, but only to be
hurled down again with scorn by their fellow
mon when they have been known. The fact is
that diligent search is constantly made for per-
sons such as have been described They
TOD N1t Dc To- 49,
indeed, in every department OF life. The young
man who has ability and character may conf
IDENTIFY expect that sooner or later he will De rec
ogDized and sought
How, then, shall these essentials be secureds
1t is to be confessed that there are great 0i-
yersities of natural gifts, both of powers and
virtues. And yet, let it be known that there is
force which comes to hold in check the evil
that is in and to strengthen the good; that
force is divine Hence religion. early accepted,
is the surest help to the building of good char
acter. Let 1t be remembered, Also that the
natural man is imperfect. We all begin this life
with part of our beings closed up, certain pow
ers lying dormant Now this same grace that is
nelpIul In building character is also helpful
In discovering to us the qualities of our ure.
~maklng US acquainted with ourselves. Many
young men never know what abilities lie slum-
bering IN the depths of their beings until they
become religious. Then mighty energies awake
and a new career becomes possible. The young
man should, indeed, by STUDY and much personal
endeavor, seek to make himself all he may be-
for the purpose of filling some worthy place in
the world. But let him remember at the same
time that religious life will tend to the same
end.
After the lecture hand-shaking meeting was
neid In the lower roon many strangers making
acquaintances with the pastor and the vonn9
people of the church. DR.. Gilbert will speak
again 10 young men on next Sunday evening
"hen MS theme will be. 1.-The Good Prospect
ties"
OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.