The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-07-05
ABLE ADDRESS BY PETER N. BAUM.
The Need Of Surrounding Youth in
Growing Cities by Moral
Influences.
Addresses Made by the Baptist, Pres
byterian and Methodist Pastors
Excellent Singing.

NiCh > ~ <hnoOSlAblOu HSics
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
This gathering tonight IN this new west
ern city is evidence conclusive that the
spirit OF moral progress has taken deep
root, and the day of better living has ad.
vanced to Il point where the doubter and
he who sneers at right government, and
lives filled with goodness and love, dare
not come. ! thank God tonight, stand
ing upon this platform, that it has been
my lot to find new home where men
and women believe in good and are seek
ing to found Ravens for the preservation
OF moral purity and virtue. There has
never been a time in the history of our
government when greater progress was
being made in the directlol of better and
higher living than today. This is evil
denced by the echoing footsteps of deter
mined men and women, IN the mastery
work OF temperance throughout the land.
Within the twilight of political struggles
just past, we read victories, real and sub
s%tantial. These awakenings throughout
the land are not of mere political striving
for power and place, but the result of a
higher public sentiment in the direction
of better government, and | believe that
much of it is due to great bodies of young
men, who have banded together and
worked silently, but with mastery effort
for the advancement of human good.
Applause.
do not believe that man in his sober
moments turns to a life of sin. When
left to himself God and love fill his
heart, and he Is in love with the beauti
full ana good. 1t is the exposures to evil
that drag him down and bring disgrace
and broken hearts to those who have done
him no wrong and are entitled to his life
of love. How best to keep from young
men the temptations and hindrances to a
life of usefulness and purity has occupied
the attention of philanthropists and 80
cieties for the advancement of human
excellence, from the earliest periods of
civil government. All over this broad
land, upon every mountain side, and In
every valley, church spires are pointed
heavenward, and beneath their shadows.
with bowed heads and hearts filled with
love, men and women are b%eseeching the
Great Throne that better social condi-
tons may exist. Mothers stand over
open graves of lost ones, and with hearts
broken with grief, beseech God TO help
them in their agony. Wives, widowed in
the life time of husbands; children, or
phans with parents living, are crying for
help, and side by side Of all this effort In
behalf of humanity, all this pleading, all
this misery, stand men with sneering lips
dragging down and drowning the young
men of this age in the liquid sea of vice
and sin. The land is filed with painted
bells. Men fatten upon the ruined lives
of those we love; angels weep wei shat
tered homes; dlsgraced graves filled with
suicides open upon every side; from
lisping infancy to tottering age, we see
the marks and prints of mans suffering.
Is 1t any wonder then that this meeting
has been called? Is there ANYTHING
strange in the fact that strong hearts, men
who are living lives worth living, come
together to organize In this western CITY.
not only for personal benefit, but that
where they have planted their faith and
built for those they loved, means of safe
ty for the great body of young men here
and coming, should be established. Be.
fore proceeding further, l desire to call
attention to some remarks made to ME bv
one of my professional brethren, when / |
came to this city: "You are now in
a western town; men do not look at |
things as in the east, and if you wish to
succeed you must become one of the
l heard all this and was amused,
The adYce sounded strangely to one who
lad seen the darkest eide of human life.
md was somewhat competent to Judge of
he benefits to be derived from a course
If careless living. Waiting an opportun-
ty, and n came early, | took oc-
'asion to speak in terms that
not be mistaken, and l do not be-
ieve there is a man in this COM
nunity that knows me, who believes that
fear the consequences that may come to
ne in any fight against men who wink at
DOSE living. From this platform, | wish
+ to be distinctly understood that I ask
% favors at the hands of any one en-
aged in that which tends to drag down
ny fellow men. l would rather beg in
our streets than to be the recipient of
atronage from those who make life a
urse. l know something of their friend
MP, where their interests begin and end.
the great benefits The establishment
+ associations known as Young Mems
'hrlstian Associations throughout the
and, there can be no doubt. The great
FORK undertaken by them has become an
ssured success. The sweet smile of Di-
approval lightens their halls and fills
lelr work with sunshine. (Applause.)
We should not ask ourselves whether
le establishment of such an institution
our midst is feasible, but should take
work of such establishment in hand
nd see to it that its final accom-
lishment becomes IN assured fact. The
lace that we shall take as q city among
cities of our land, depends largely
nnn tho EtohIIohrN tnra &c l
o%cieties, organizations for social culture.
nd institutions of learning. Every
aunt of vice we stamp out will add to
1r population, and when men come to
now, that If tkey wish to stand well in
asiness and social circles, they must en-
orse and help on every work begun for
establishment OF better society and
morals, they will be found acting
nd anxious to act in the work now UNI
consideration. The life of man is
%changeful, desultoriness, like
lat OF children sporting on an enameled
which loses its charm by being
aught under a wreath Of mist, which falls
amp upon the hand of disappointment.
'ow a feather of thistle-down which is
in the grasp. If we would prog
'ss In Christian life, we must forget the
avs that lie behind us.
A single word to the young men who
e here tonight, as to the benefits of the ,
'ganization under contemplation. The {
moment OF your life will be
hen you can say, II am a member of the
Dung Mems Christian Association in !
BOD standing" There is no place you
ay seek, no situation you may desire to
10 social relation you may coyet,
1T will be more easily reached by your
injection with such a society. Business
en- all over the country realize that the G
fety of their interests and the success of =
cir enterprises depend upon the high !.
Iaracter OF the men they employ, and :
any corporations, with nothing but that j.,
self-interest, have established kindred !
CARNATIONS, and through them built
lblic libraries, and In many ways ele-
ted the lives of those in their interests.
ley have found that from a purely bust I
IS point of view. it is safer and more |
to have sober, we'll directed eff
IT coming from men of character, In
Dir workshops and Offices, than the i
lak and caoftarod nfnIo IF Mos, 1aod-