Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-10
THE PULPIT.
Two of Yesterdays Most Interest
ing Sermons.
Rev Medium breaches on Compan-
ionship---Bishop Walden Delivers
an Able Discourse.


Ldot SFNhihS htofs IA L.
preached in the Central Presbyterian
church. sermon especially adapted to
young men on the subject of "Compan-
onship." taking for his text Proverbs,
xiii 30:
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise,
but companion Of fools shall be destroyed.
Nothing tells on us more. the preacher
said, than our choice of companions. A
certain poet used to say that he could |
m old the will of nation if be could give
it its songs. Certain it is that anyone
could mold the life of young man if |
he could prescribe his companions. 1t is
a standing explanation of a young mans
ruin that he got among bad associates.
An old proverb says: Tell me among
whom you go, and will tell you what
you are
The different classes unfit for friends
may be variously put:
First. The fast young man stands at
the head. How the fast young man gets
his name is a question, The name doubt
less hints at his reck essness in spending
whatever he has in his purse and in his
conscience. He is found in every rank
from the highest to the lowest. He lives
for amusement, but it is of kind that
decent men shun. AS rule, he drinks
TO be like his companions. He is mel rly
always idle, and if not idle, he is lazy.
His reading is mostly restricted to the
sporting bulletin or the Police Gazette
Anything solid or useful he hates,
and as for religion, he left that
long ago. He sneers at the nov,
ice who will not drink, or who keeps
himself pure and observes the Sabbath.
Beware of himl Beware of him all the
more because he has good points about
him. 1t is no reason for eycusing fast
ness that it is joined with good qualities.
The devil takes care to cover his pit with
flowers Would to God | were able to in
spire within the breast of every young
man, an utter contempt for that low type
of juvenile manhood, those perfnmed
puppies that shine only in the ballroom.
whose speech abound in vulgar wit, and
WIZ tuiHh IL ubDit anu uduil VI Sltul
into the saloon and throw down com for
that which will make them worse fools
than before. Such creatures should be
laughed or Kissed out of society.
Second Beware of the vampire com
| panion. This race is as old as sin, The
| friend of the vampire order will stick to
you while you have the wherewithal, but
will let you 90 when you are drained.
| Old Richards story of the axe grinding
has thousands of illustrations. You will
be everything while you are turning the
| grindstOne, but when the edge is finished
| your only thanks will be to have your
simplicity laughed at. Do not be gulled
| by fascinating appearance and soft
words. Do not be voracious of compli>
ments. He who plainly points out your
faults is your friend, but keep clear OF
him who seeks to excite in your mind
the idea of good quality you do moi
possess. He has an axe to grind. HI
would by his soft Establishments win yol
over to be the tool of bis own infamy.
Third. Do not cultivate the friendship
of those who jest at what you or Others
hold sacred. Respect for religion is the
only fence that keeps evil from breaking
down all the good that is in us
To have no reverence, is 10 lack tn
higher manhood. To mock or fiou
shows a coarseness and want of sensi
bilitv on which no sanctions howeve
sacred. have any hold. True, God ha
created US with the faculty of mirthful
ness which he meant for use. 1t is
wholesome thing and helps to the seriou
labors of time. There is time to laug
as well as a time to weep. But let u
keep clear of those who 90 through thi
world as though life were a prolonge,
Joke. Borne on as We feel ourselves to b
by unseen forces. darkness our startin
point. darkness our goal, it is only man
illness to be thoughtful. The problems {
life and destiny are not to be settled b
pun or quirk.
Fourth. Give wide berth of thos
who would rob you of your faith
Christ, Far better strengthen your fat
than put it in peril. Sincerity is alwal
to be respected even though it be since
ity of an atheist but remember there
much more for revelation than against i
No citadel ON earth has been so stormt
and assaulted as this old Bible, but tods
it is as impregnabe as ever. Its Il
fluence wider and mightier than ever b.
fore. 1t challenges the most searchil
scrutiny. Its achievements are facts
history. Let no man rob you of 20
faith. Be 1t yours to say, Il am a col
panion of them that fear thee, and
them who keep thy precepts."
Fifth. The model companion is
whose character shows reverence, ami
bility, intelligence and christian fait
Religion must be the foundation. Chr
tisn young men and women will find
most thorough enjoyment and profit
the friendship of those who are chr
lians. Indifference or antipathy is ia
to friendship, sympathy is the gold
bond of friendship.
point you one and all to one wit
we may trust and love, who knows
frailtes, who understands us so we'll. a
has so mercifully promised to stand
us when all other loved ones swim aw
from our vision that we cannot afford
do without him. point you to Je'
- Christ, "a friend in need" and Erie
indeed" who came to us in our extrem
and has brought us Everlasting cOnsC
ton and gave hope through grace"
offers you his love, do not despise it,
BISHOP WALDEN.