The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-23

OUR SUNDAY COLUMN.
Original and Otherwise-Pre-
pared by Mark.
NO. &c.

NO. &c.
have como across some strange and
sad statements of late respecting the
alarming Indifference of young men
to the claims of God and religion. A
gentleman making speech at relig-
ious meeting in Philadelphia a few
days ago, said, among other things,
only a million of young men out Of
eight millions in our land who are
seen in church. Only Eve per cent. Of
that number are members; there are
more young men in Jail to-day than in
the fold of the church."
This declaration carries with it pro.
found sorrow. The statement was
doubted by reporter of one of our re.
ligious journals, but the speaker forth
fed his statement by repeating the
same and giving his authority. "The
figures" he said. come from little
book called Dying at the Top by Rev.
Joseph Maddell Clokey, d. D., pastor Of
the First Presbyterian Church, New
Albany, Ind. On page 10 it is stated that
of 100000 young men in the United
States, over 5,00o,U0 never, or practi-
cally never, enter church door,
The national convention Of the Y. M.
G. A., in a printed statement, claim
that but per cent. of the yodn9 men
of our land are church Nom bers. but
that Is per cent. occasionally 20 to
church, and that rs per cent. never go
to church. 1t is further stated that only
three of every 100 OF our young men
wear the yoke for Christ On page %
the author states that "there are in
prison at this date, in round numbers,
90, 900 young men, and over 500, 600 who
are now, or have been, convicted or in
C ,rce1ated criminals, being $50, 900 more
than those young men who profess
Christianity in the churches of this great
land"
These are sad declarations. What
power can change the figures? The
gospel OF the grace Of God is the only
conservative influence. But what can
be done to bring the young men of our
land under the influence of the gospel?
Here is work for every Christian young
man. So far as Roanoke is concerned
1t must be stated that many of the I'M
saved young men who come to this city
are driven farther and farther from
Christ and the church by the evil ex-
ample OF many Of che church members.
This is an awful statement to make
and yet it is true. The unholy
example OF church members keeps
the unconverted away from church
and confirms them in sin and
unrighteousness. Young men. whose
names are on the church register,
where are you throwing the torch of
your example? In the saloon? the
theatre? the pool room? Seventy, FIVE
per cent. OF our young men never go 10
70 10 10
responsible for this neglect? Let the
Christian young man who reads this ask
himself how many unsaved, non church
going young men in Roanoke he can in
fluence to attend church. Begin this
work at once and save some young man
| from the fate OF those who court pleas
ure and win perdition. "Only million
young men out of eight millions in our
and are seen in church"
Only five per cent. of that number
are members; there are more young
men in jail to-day than in the folds Of
| the church, Let these startling and
sad statements stir every Christian
| young man in Roanoke to grid himself
for work in Lehalf of the hundreds Of
| young men in our city whose steps lead
down to death. Bring them under the
influence of the gospel. Vice and it's
| allurem ents, vice and its consequences,
| vice and its seducers are rife in our
land, and from the ranks of young men
the great harvest of crime is gathered
| The prison reports OF 1886 show an in
crease OF criminals over 1879 OF So per
cent, while the population increased
only 40 per cent. Crime twice as preva-
lent as 1t was thirteen years before.
| According to the United States census
crime has more than doubled every ten
| years during the past half century, and
still its tide is rising. The situa ton
calls for profound feeling and earnest
prayer. The guilty revel over the wine
cup, the scott at religion; the sneer at
| piety, the hilaritY Of the dance, the
embrace of lust, the violated Sabbath,
the profane expression of young mon,
are each and all the substances of
images, which will rise up, grim and
| ghostly in later years, or in the dying
hour, to torment the remorseful sinner.
Should any young man in Roanoke
read these lines let me beg him to
| ponder and tremble at the conse quences
| OF vice, shun the cause-sow not the
seed-touch not the sin-stray not from
| the side of virtue, but seek the aids OF true
and saving religion. Cleave to purity,
| sobriety and virtue as the noblest orna-
mpnt Of the soul and the purest guide
to happiness here and hereafter.
But, II young men prefer to listen to
vice and its allurements and seducers
| must leave them with text that
| seems to give them license, but at the
same time sounds the warning. Here i,