Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-11-07
WHAT IS SUCCESS
A Valuable Series OF Talks to
Young Men by Rev. DIR. Mason at

A Valuable series OF Talks to
Young Men by Rev. DR.. Mason at
First Baptist Church.
"Wbat is Success" or "The Young
Mans First Question" was, the subject of
Rev. ]. b. Mason's address at the First
Baptist church last evening. This is the
second of the course to young men on
Avenues to Success" Mr.. Mason having
taken pains to gather the testimony of
one hundred Of New Ravens leading citi-
zens as to causes of success and of failure,
according to their observation.
Every young man reaches the age in
which his ambitions begin to stir. He Is
haunted by dreams of success and happy
victory" Now 1t is ell important that he
gets the true conception of success. It is
not strange that many get the false con-
ception because the worlds standards
are generally wrong. Gold lures and
fame dazzles and to win either ia
commonly counted success. Gladstone
says that getting wealth ia the business of
the world, but he does not say that the
man who gets 1t wins the best success. In
the getting of money motive is everything.
The man who Is seeking 1t for It's own sake
will make failure of life no matter what
his wealth may be. This selfish search
sears mans conscience, blinds his mental
vision and hardens his heart. Ike oppor-
tunities for money making in this country
of ours are almost infinite, and the tempta-
lions which assai1 q man are innumerable.
But the man who loses the best gifts which
God has given him has made q failure,
whatever may be the possessions which he
has won for himself.
Agassiz understood money values and
the yet higher values when he said: "Gen-
tlemen, have no time to make money"
What do men want money fora They
think it will bring happiness. But men of
wealth tell us that 1t is not 80. Why can
we not learn from the testimony of others
and from the testimony of our own deepest
for any young man on the threshold Of
life9
Nor again is fame success. A little no
toriety is all that some men live for. But
to live for fame is to live a slave to un-
worthy ambition and victim to jeslousies
which rack and torment the soul. Long
fellow said that the talent of success Is
nothing more than doing what you can do
we'll without a thought of fame.
Neither is success to win great victories
on one field of war or of politics or of
business unless there is great principle
| of right to fight for. There was world
Of difference between the victories OF
| Napoleon and the victories of Grant
Things that are most deplorable are com.
ing to the surface in our American politics
Better defeat with honor than victory thai
ia bought with corruption.
Success does not depend on genius MOI
on education, though every man ought tx
get the best education that is possible fol
him, nor on luck as many seem to think
nor on the influence of powerful friends
Nearly all successful men have made thei
own way, and God seems to have reserved
this country of ours in order to show Il
the world that any young man of energy
honesty and courage can win the best ant
most enduring success.
The way to success, then, is not patl
of roses. On the contrary, it is a way o
hardship almost always and Of many de
feats. 1t is the man who organizes victor
out of defeat whom the world wants to
day. D'Israelis failure in the house o
commons was the making of him. Th
way to success is always a path of RICH
principle. The man whose motto is cit
better to deserve success than to have it
has won the highest success already. tn
way of SUCCESS, again, ia q path of free
dom. To be in harmony with the gres
unchanging laws of right which God ha
established-this 1t is to be free. Happi
ness must come to such e soul, however
may be oppressed by fortune.
So, young man looking out on life, stal
with right principles, form right habits, sc
before yourself noble ambition, get a
the education possible, scorn every ev
means of advancement, shun bad compan
ions, give your conscience and heart
chance as we'll as your head, above all rec
ognize and trust in the divine power with
out which all strength is weakness and Al
victory defeat, and you are sure to Wi
with the true success which may be de
fined as making the utmost of ones self
with your endowment and your attainmen
in your environment.