The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-06-25

one of the young men and wrought such
effect upon him that he forgot the restric-
ton and stretched forth his finger beyond
the circle to receive the ring which she
proffered. She at once seized him and
drew him after her. 1t was with much
difficulty that the necromancer was able
to recover him. This circle is the rule of
right and virtue. The armed men are
pride, ambition, passion. The charmers
arc intemperance, voluptuousness and sens
uality. There is no safety unless you keep
within the circle. To do this, you will
need vigor, energy, resolution firmness of
purpose, prayer, faith, courage and bap-
tism of christian nobleness. Minds, to be-
come great in thought and strong in char
acter, must obediently observe the Divine
order; they must first surrender to God,
then they shall conquer difficulties and re-
sist the Establishments, skillful sophistries,
and bewitching seductions of the willy
tempter.
Do not, pray you, depend upon what
some call fortune" but trust in God,
then resolve. work, fight. Fear not obsta-
Giles, they have been overcome ten thou
sand times, and you can overcome them
There is mind enough in all of you, if you
wisely direct its energies, to accomplish
grand results. Say with Grecian poet:
81 seek what's to be sought; learn what's
to be taught, and beg the rest of Heaven"
Don't beg what you can seek, or learn.
"Qua you like men,; be strong" 1t is the
sluggard that sees a lion in the way even
when he is thousand miles off. The
coward sees the enemy on the top of next
hill. 1t is tho man of strong resolve, the
man who says: II can, and L aoiN," who
sees the correct size of all difficulties,
There is powerful magical form in the
words, II can, and will" They put
hosts OF phantoms and hobgoblins to flight
they reduce difficulties to half their size
they level mountains, exalt valleys, and
make straight paths for the feet The
words, 81 will not let thee 60, of the
wrestler at Ford Jabbok, transformed him
into prince. and gave him power with
God and man. So, the young man of
strong resolves, who steadily follows his
convictions of right and duty in calm de-
fiance of all opposition, in spite of poverty,
ignorance, and lack of social prestige, mast
develop into man of power-a man who
will cto hicc no
cares about measuring the blood OF brains
of such man; he carries his compass in
his conscience, his power in the beauty
and grandeur of his character Difficult
ties surrender in the presence of his firm.
ness and perseverance. Like solid, tow
erng, majestic mountain, lie rises in thought,
purpose, motive, and life, and communes
with omnipotent thought and love. He
has confidence in himself, because he has
confidence in truth, right, justice and God.
A consciousness of the Divine presence
gives him independence of thought, pur-
pose and action. 1t invigorates his intel
lectual and moral being, and lifts him into
holy and blessed freedom, and makes
him master of himself. In his soul no
tyrant of vicious habit dares to rattle his
chains No weeds of evil can grow in the
soil of his heart, for, it is consecrated TO
God, therefore is full of celestial fruit.
He is no vascillating vulnerable wretch
that allows evil to be his master, he is his
own master. He asks no fellow mortal to
think for him, or rule for him.. He does
says: Myself am king Of me-" He necer
surrenders to an enemy, but, like the Greek
hero, says Il propose to fight, not to run
When some one told Napoleon that his old
guards had surrendered, he exclaimed,
''imposible they know not how to sur
render" So it is with the young man
who follows his convictions of right and
duty, and whose life purpose is to be
strong in thought and character.
And this purpose is formed, not under
the influence of selfshness, but under the
power of the best of motives-loUe TO God
and man. Two great historic characters
are conspicuous on the pages OF history,
Napoleon and Washington. Analyze them
and you will see between them a difference
that is marked and eternal. What is that
difference! The answer is; Napoleon's
life was guided and fashioned by personal
ambition. To be the greatest man of the
age, was the goal of Napoleon's thoughts,
affections and efforts Washington loved
God, loved man, loved his country, and
his love was the polar star, the all domi-
mating, molding principle of his life. Ma
poleon died an exile on the storm swept,
volcanic rock of st. Helena Washington
is embalmed in the hearts of his country.
men, and honored by the world!
Dear young friends, make this principle
that makes men and women great in
thought and moral character the forming
ruling principle of your lives Then, the
knowledge you have acquired, the disci-
t,lipa Won hayp attained your topo,,o