Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-03-20
YOUNG MEN AND THE oHUhoa ss.
Sermon by The Rev. w. P. swariz
on stY0ung Men''-Their Part in
tho Great Achievements OF thc
world.

ON ssYoung Men''-Their Part ia
thc Great Achievements OF tho
world.
The Rev. william 2. Swartz, pastor Of
Central Presbyterian Church, preached
Sunday evening on "Young Men and the
Churches There were many young
men in the congregation, Mr.. Swnrtz
took for his text l. John, IL, ID. II
have written unto you, young men, be-
cause yeu are ptrong.n
MFR. Swsrtz began his discourse with q
demonstration of the fact that young men
are still strong and occupy All the places
of prominence aud power now aa they
did in tho past. Examples were given OF
suoh. Solomon, the young men OF ancient
Athens, Alexander the Great, JGliuS
C@alr aud Nero, all OF whom made their
mark while youug. Christ himself and
John tho Baptist, also Paul, we're yoang
men when they began 10 preach. Louis
NH. OF France, Napoleon, John Calvin,
Martin luther, Wendell Phillips md
others were cited as more modern in
stances OF men Who became famous be-
fore they were 80.
The best welfare of the country de-
mands that tho young men be in The
churches and the best welfare Of the
churches demands that young men be in
them.
Eight Wilmington churches had been
selected to give the proportion OF young
men who we're members. or the total
membership OF Brandywine Grace and
st. PGuls M. E., Bethany and Delaware
Avenue Baptist, the Church Of .the
Covenant and West and Central Presby-
terrain churches, but $40 persons were
men under 80 years of age. Estimating
the total membership of the Protestant
churches of the city to be $4,000; at tho
sam proportion there are but l 400
young men under 80 years OF age who are
members. Estimating that there are
ii 800 young men in Wilmington between
the ages OF is aud 50, and taking out
! | 700 as bslonging to Catholic churches
there is but Que young mau in Gsven,
who ID n member of Protestant church.
OF the $50 members of political club of
this city, mostly young men, not 10 are
members Of churches. The remainder
are all young men Of good moral
character. In Pittsburg one olan in is
q church member; and in New Albany,
Ind, one III 10. Taking the country at
large the proportion ia probably not as
large as II IL IN wilmington.
1t is a question of supreme importance.
The nation needs Young men in every
line of effort and for the best good OF the
nation they should be Christians. The
question is OF vital Importance to the
Young men themselves, for they must
take and decide it. What reason can be
found for this condition OF affairs. The
subject Is not taken up because of lack
of young men in Central Church. The
proportion ia better than some, being Is
TO 100 Neither is it taken up because OF
q pessimistic idea that the condition of
affairs is gsttipg worse. II Is better than
1t was LOG years ago Then it was an
| usual thing to find Christina young man
in college, Now in the colleges nearly
60 per cent Of the students in GU colleges,
are protesting Christians.
MIR. SWertz gayo tho results of num-
Der of inquiries addressed to prominent
mon asking what reasons young men
gave to them for not heing Christians.
The reasons could be grouped in three
classes: First, those which do not find
their root in the churches or Christianity.
The most potent ia, II must see some
taing of the world first, and there is plenty
of time" Both of these were answered
ina summary manner, the question being
asked were they any better for it. An.
other reason is self indulgence on the
Sabbath, recreation and amusement.
They should not be followed at the ex-
pense of more important things. Mr..
Swartz advocated weekly half holiday
and claimed that this would do away with
ovar-produet on in manufactures and en-
| forced idleness for several weeks a year
The injury Of those who wander about
from church 70 church, 50 church
tramp was depicted.
The second class Of reasons are those
| which object TO the ministry aud CHURCH
rs ut present constituted. They assert
that there 10 u lack OF originality and in
dlviduaiity among the ministers and they
are insincere, There are surely some
preachers in Wilmington who are original
and who are sincere. Why not then hear
them. Another class says that there ia
Hypocrisy in the membership of the
churches. Ret these persons who ohjsct
to associsting with hypo9rits in the
church, associate with such in business
every day, II savors Of much pretext.
Others Say that there is no difference
between The worldly minded and church
members? Ii this is sometimes partiy
/ true, yet church members haYe given no
/ the hope Of getting 70 heaven % their
own meria. Ii the righteousness OF
q worldly mau will take him to
heaven, he viii not get within sight of
the gates. 4 is not iluG that there IL
difference, Arc there as many church
members as non. church members, n
I jIls, the police court, saloon keepers,
\ prostitutes, gambler9 and others known
as the dangerous ciGss2
Another says that the Baryiues are dry
and uninterestinE. II cannot be said that
they arc long, oua to one and a-half hours
~ the limit. II toy are serious and un.
interesting, the subject is serious. 1t ID
the worship Of God. No eaurch COM
petea with circussa or theatres to enter
tain people. Phey are invited to attend
iof mofa serions purposes.
The third class are oppo ed to churches
and Christianity as an instil1tion. ANY.
one who studies Christianity will find it
ilii and complies. One says chat the
power that placed us here viii LOOK out
Tor us now aad hereafter. But if their
lie il cn5 Of seliisnnegs thsy must take
chre that they are not taken care OF az
state criminals.
II 10 ASSERT d that the church exists o.
an end for itself that it Ia lacking il
purity and simplicity. LOOK to your
selves and cultivate nobler ideal than
the manhers Of the ehurch. Their ideal
is that which tho chuich holds up, Uhrie,
the ideal OF q perfect manho d. IL ii tc
study His virtues and His example and
not ourselves, that the church has exist
ence. We have not yet reached the goal
nor attained the ideal; We invite you L
take hY yoke upon you and learn o.
Ma for ] am meek and loWly in heart
aud We shall tiai Fegt INTO yonr snuls