The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-07-01

dare to call IL an idol and have the manliness
10 stand erect when the sackbut and dulcimer
and psatery call the multitude to bow down
and Worship We want those who can walk
calmly into the lions den of popular wrath
rather than be disoyal to truth, To conscience,
and tO God We want young men and women
who can face the fiery furnace seven times
heated, confident that he who walks IN the
midst of the flames will shield them from
harm. We want men who can afford to be
poor rather than violate conscience, TO be ac-
counted liars rather than lose their hold on
those who are come after them. Such must
commence their training early bear the yoke
In their youth. undergrad thorough and earn
est discipline and learn to say with the divine
Gallilean youth. twist ye not that 1 must be
about my Fathers business ."
There IL another reason why IL Is incumbent
upon you to Gu. tivate most sedulOusly your
intellectual powers During your day those
profound questions that for ages have been
confined to few extraordinary minds, such
as philosophers once discussed In academic
groves, the school men pOndercd i'll their 81
lent retreats and the fathers of modern science
have elaborated, will he brought more and
more within the range of popular observation
and discussion. The great problems, social,
political and religious; which lie at the fonn,
connection with the whole structure or So
tety. and which affect our most vital interests
as individuals. will be discussed. analyzed
and criticised in pulpit, on the platform, in
the public journals, on steamboats,, In rail- cars
and on street corners. in your generation
Indeed, the work has already begun Those
ancient verities on which your fathers Leaned
with implicit faith are being attacked with u
power OF argument, with n cham OF rhetoric
and eloquence, and an array OF historic facts
which will stagger those who are not fortified
for the encounter.
This is an ordeal which none can escape
without fleeing from society. Wehave no fear
that the foundations OF truth will he event
ually disturbed and displaced by this upheav-
ing of the elements, but your personal faith
may be sadly shaken III you do not fOrtify
yourselves in season. Error Will approach
with the voice OF an angel and the garb OF a
| seraph; while truth may come clothed in
camePs hair rough in speech, like the voice
of one crying in the wilderness. Truth may
put on the garb of fiction, and fiction may
wear the semblance of truth. II then you
would save yourselves from perils that threat
Ell, IL you would exert helpful influence up
on Others you must subject your mind TIC, to
only cultivate those powers by which you may
discriminate between sOphistry and sound
logic, but cherish those higher intuitlons
which are superior to all reasoning You
must be able to distinguish sharply between
that which is Fictitious and accidental and
transient. and that which is vital and esse-
tial and permanent.
urge you, theref re, to grid up the lolns OF
your mind, to get ready for the eventful times N
which you live. Trim your lamps that you may
see what Is about you, and discover clearly the
path in which you ought to walk.
FOR we live in deeds, not years in thoughts,
In feelings i sI not IN figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart-throbs. He
most lives
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts
the best"
But your preparation for life will be very in
complete aud imperfect If you bring under discip-
line only the intellectual part of your nature.
Some of the wisest of kind As we are wont to
count wisdom, have ranked among the meanest.
knowledge is power, but 1t Is not virtue. The
more we know the better, II the soul is under the
dom Mon of lofty principles the less we know
the better, II selfishness and passion and sin are
L
itely important in time like the present that you
cultivate the positive elements of a high, gener-
Gus and honorable character. There may be in
society great popular decency of manner In COM
bination with very low aud lax tone OF moral
principle
There are vices which have no record in our
church discipline, which rarely interferes with
ones election to Office, which no hindr ,nce In
the way OF money making-that after all c0rrode
the very life of the soul, just as certainly and
fatally as those Offences which are more openly
condemned. Among the number whose name is
legion, will name one which to be SPREAD
Ing like an insidious Infection, against which
every youth VINO desires to retain his manhood,
his self-respect, will do we'll most thoroughly to
fortify him'elf. IL is difficult to ii nd word
that will define this moral disease, Some mildly
call it putting the best foot forward or shrewd
mode OF getting on" "A necessary way of doing
business in these times" Others speaking more
plainly call 1t deception legal swindling, obtaining
advantages under false pretenses while others still
II they happen TO be personal sufferers call 1t con-
sructive lying stealing, robbery This is one of the
evils to which our thriving youth are most ex posed.
by its wide prevale Their has been general low
eEing Of the standard of bus honor in the COM
munity. What is today the popular idea ofa good
bargain What is the effect OF what is popuary call
ed success, upon mans standings Does il at Ill
incline him 10 be oblivious the mode in which it
has been obtained Who has Implicit confidence
IN an advertising column? What seems to be ac-
counted the chief end of man ~ What is the cur
rent meaning OF the word specul tion?" | would
not make myself offensive, and therefore will not
IN aN. hny mi . Ia
be answ red but | would simply suggest TO the
young men and women here and throughout the
and that it is IN their power to reform aud elevate
the standard OF morality in trade. Ii one says he
cin&ot afford to be more rnr ST than his neghbors
the reply is, you cannot afford 10 be dishOn st
thou IN IL bring you millions.
BuJ this moral def'"t does not paevail exclusively
in the department. Of tradc. There is sad want OF
truthiG II. ss-or what may be properly vailed real
ity-which gives to modern society most unsatis-
factory and artificial effect. There is many fair
exterior that hides multitude OF secret SINS There
Is many corrupt fountain that discharges its n-
pure waters underground. There are many seraph
lc words uttered that have no connection with the
heart The human heart is just as deceittul and
wicked as ever. 1t needs just a. rigorous chastise-
ment as thorough renewal, as severe discipline, as
II ever did, though the style of outside morality
may be more decent aud seemly.
Let me urge you, therefore young friends. to be
as good as you appear. Be more anxious 10 secure
true fefrespect than to he respected by your neigh
bors. Lay aside all guile, all hypocrisy, conscious
that an alI-seeug eye scans the Utmost motives of
the soul, and knows the most hidden secrets OF ev
cry heart
1 call your earnest attention to another moral
evil intimately connected with what has already
been presented of which feel constrained speak
refer to the faithess spirit Of the age. When self
interest has rendered the consciences of men OBJ
tuse .there follows of necessity decay of conf
dence In respect Of all forms oftruth. Earnest and
practical faith Is discarded. Those who have no
real convictions themselves doubt the sincerity of
others. The critical and speculative habits of the
age tend to confirm this faithlessness, and prac-
tcal atheism gradually saps the oundations OF rec
titude and virtue Investigation aud inquiry de-
generate into the widest skepticisn,, until at last
the very light that is In us becomes dark ness And
then how great is that darkness We first do the
wrong, then believe and approve the wrong, and
so seems hopeless.
The remedy for these evils can only be found In
a sound religious training. l have no time. this
evening to enter at length upon this subject. can
only say that every young man nd woman
1t to himself, to herself to society and to God, TO
give to religion candid thorough and solemn ex-
animation The relations which you sustain to
the future world and to the Being who created you
canpot be safely and wisely sighted
ton before closing, is this: What kind of men and
alton? affirm that they ought. in the first place,
answer such as are firmly established in the faith,
knowing the grounds of their belief building upon a
foundation that will bear the closest and
scrutiny. You will ncel to hold your faith by
stronger grasp than mere tradition. You must
II 4.