The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-11
Griggsville, H., March s.
AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT DISCUSSED.
How Many Fault. IN "A Young Man Can We
Excuse?

How Many Faults IN n Young Man Can We
Excuse?
FRIENDS OF Fl. l.. CT have been very
i'll. but now that am better will try to
while away few moments of the dreary
hours by writing few lines.
/ shall take for my subject one of those
which / deem OF most importance, viz:
GLOW many faults in young man can We
excuse?" My answer to this question de-
ponds much upon the manner in which
the young man has been reared. There
is great deal of difference between the
influence of Christian home, in
which young man has been
taught all those principles rela-
tive to temperance, truth and integrity,
and that in which he has never been in
fluenced to strive for pure and perfect
manhood. | have always held to the
opinion that men are originally born
about equal. 1t is the influence by which
we are surrounded that makes or mars q
mans character. do not deny the fact
that some are by inherent tendency more
liable to err than others, but, yet, were
We all subject TO like temptations and sur
rounded by the same influence | believe
that there would be little difference in
any OF us. For the first time the very
best NAV err" and what happens 10 one
may likewise happen to us all. There are,
OF course. degrees of transgression and
one may be entirely innocent OF sin
committed by another, while at the same
time he would 90 wrong were the
temptation presented in like manner
We little know what weakness we, by
nature, possess until subject TO tempta-
ton, and because some one among US has
gone astray. it does not follow that we
| ourselves are less apt 20 sin. Many a
Young man, now leading a life of dissipa-
ton, might once have been brought to
Christ had those who style themselves
| Christian people but given HIM a few
kind words OF gentle admonition before
he had reached his present station in the
downward road. He once WIS pure and
innocent. An! dove not look back upon
a time when in childish sport he mingled
with US, with no care TO forbOde the
future, no cloud to dim the sunshine of
the present? He perhaps, has met with
reverse of fortune; the company in
which he has heretofore mingled is now
no longer nis. Those with whom he has
spent so many happy hours, whose love
and friendship he 60 dearly priced may
now turn from him in the darksOme hour.
Heartsick and lonely he yearns for COM
panionship. He meets with temptation
and at last he falls.
o my friends. now easy it is to 20 down!
| A are willing to help you when you are
| able 10 imb. but how many are ready to
| reach out and save you when no longer
able to help yourself? The young man,
| having once gone astray, everv one uses
him for foot ball. If he tries to reform
! and mingle with good society. how many
are willing to associate with him? II he
tries to leave off mis- errors and instead of
| the saloon goes to church. how often are
| bis faults paraded and condemned, rather
than Gods mercy and love taught him
| that 1t is not too late to turn from them?
| once heard n young man say that for
| three years he attended regularly upon
| church and wished to be Christian. IF
| one kind word" said he, chad been
| spoken to me. one tender word of
/ encouragement, l would have Joined
the church" But alasl the word
was unspoken and the sins OF
/ which he was guilty were ever
kept foremost in view. The young man
/ quit going to church. AMI began to doubt
J the reality of religion. How often we find
/ il the case that Christians forget their du-
| ties 10 the weak and erring, seemingly
| forgetfu or the fact that Christ came to
save sinners and bring them into His fold.
How often. too, dc We see young ladies OF
| good breeding, and apparently good, true
women, who, in their association with
young men, neglect 10 use their influence
to convert them from their sins; and how
much we wish we could impress upon the
minds of every one the importance OF
reaching out the hand of help toihose who
are SO much in need of Christian influence
| should like to write more upon this
subject. Is I have only just begun to get
started upOn my theme, but space forbids,
and shall now leave il, quite unfinished,
to abler pens than mine.
Mark" of Fowler, Ind, if mistake
not, We we're once very good friends and
schoolmasters Do not your initials stand
ST. A. B.?'' Little Tnxie,'i / be ieve [
know you, too. Are your initials az
B ?" Detective" YOU write a good let
ter. Happy Old Maid" miss you from
our circle. When you come again. please
give us some more good receipts.
". f. p.
A COMET ATHwART THE SKY
a II