The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-02-07

rEnTroRTAL.

EDITORIAL.
Tn Incidental mention Of an active
member Of the Young Mems Chris
tan Association having offered
prize fer an essay on " How to Reach
Young Men" has, It appears, excited
many minds over the problem, one OF
the most important in moral and
social science. of improving the struc-
ture Of society from the foundations.
II VIII probably be found, 10y any who
assume to carry theories for the con-
servaiion. reclamation or regenSra
ton of Youthful morality and man
ners into effect. that one thing calcu-
lated TO repel young men Is the
destinations patronizing of them.
They do not ike to be approached in
the spirit Of q fresh professor of re-
Egi0n. who Is related to have extended
his hand TO an acquaintance with the
remark. . ] feel humble enough to
shake hands with dog" til not in
the province Of a general newspaper
taken by people Of all creeds and
classes even if it had the qualification
for such work. to discuss editorially
the religious aspects of the ques-
ton Of means for helping young
men IN character building. There is,
however. a subject intimately con-
kected with the elevation of the
social standard through individual
agency, which may with the utmost
propriety be discussed IN either secu-
lar or sacred circles. Reference is
made to the subject of self and
mutual improvement, the duty and
responsibility of which none arriving
at the margin of years of discretion
should evade. Itwould be ridiculous
10 claim that everybody, no matter
how Indifferent start it has been his
fate TO receive on the highway Of
knowledge, should strive, after begin
ming the struggle of life, to acquire
scholastic accomplishments. Yet it
should be the aim of every young
man. howsoever humble the avocation
IN which he wins his bread, to be
constantly increasing the quantity
and cahbre of his intelligence. With
popular self government making its
way steadily throughout civilized
countries, the intricacy and variety of
questions. IN the settlement of which
every member of an advanced body
polite has voice. are and must be
always augmenting. Unless this
great individual power conferred by
free political institutions be accom-
panied by a sense of personal respon-
sibility for its proper exercise, and IN
the degree in which such power is
not so accompanied, the apostles OF
anarchy's malefc doctrines and all
enemies Of free government will have
their course facilitated toward the
producing of dangerous crises in diff
ferent countries Mutual improve
ment has been associated with self
Improvement in the above prOnOsi-
IA. .,t-1dtiz,-. a. aJJlsted 10y reputable
philosophers Of all ages and schools
such is the memorable law governing
ali human development. IF the young
men of Honolulu desire to improve
themselves. either from mot neces
sarily reprehensible) selfish motives
or partly out of a desire to be Of the
best possible benefit to the com
munity and to the race, they should
not only apply themselves individu
ally. under the best counsel obtain.
able. to the work Of mental improve
ment. but take steps for securing the
undoubted advantages of association
in the same pursuit. Organizations
for the free discussion of questions
IN political and social economy, with
an occasional soar into the realms Of
more abstruse PHILOSOPHERS, have else
where proved to be extremely bene
fetal both to their members and the
communities even where only ftfully
sustained. Such an institution may
be recommended to the young men o.
Honolulu, as calculated to go very
far toward filing up vacancies in the
sum of their spare time, which other
wise viii invite the corrosive actor
Of idleness upon their natures or b.
occupied by pastimes impoverishing
to their physical, mental and mora
systems. There would be nothing
better than a popular debating soci
ETY. for stimulating research by it:
members into the treasures of knowl
edge contained in our public anC
private libraries, and promoting the
eereful perusai of current periodical
literature with a view to being eve1
with the times in general informa
ton. Notwithstanding the larg,
number Of societies existing IN thu
city. there ought to be room, as vel
as material and scope, for an organ
izatiOn of the kind herein advocated