The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-07
"The Privileges and Prob
lens of Youth"
An Interesting Lecture by Rev. VIII
lard c. Selleck.
Beginning Of o Series of Earnest
Words to Young People.

Last evening marked the beginning OF
the resumption of Sunday evening lec-
lures at the Church OF the Mediator,
Cranston street, by Rev. Willard Z. Sell
leck, the pastor. IL was also the first OF
series OF "earnest words TO young peo-
pie, II Deing the intention TO give eight
such lectures during this month and next,
and II last nights discourses any criterion
II Is fair TO presume that before the Sc
ries is ended the church will not be large
enough to hold those who VIII desire TO
attend. All persons are most cordially In
vlted to attend these lectures and II Is
hoped that they will be quite as interest
ing to the older people as to the young
men and women.
The subject of last evenings lecture,
which was closely listened TO by fair
audience, was: "The Morning OF Life;
or The Privileges and Problems OF
Youth"
Before beginning, the pastor made the
announcement TO the effect that the lee
lures are TO be given with view to en-
larging the church work and help uplift
the community in which the churcn is
located. In December he will give Sc
ries OF miscellaneous lectures and in
January and February will talk on the
Bible and criticisms OF the Bible. Later,
II possible, Mr.. Selleck will give series
OF historical lectures. There IS no work
he could enjoy more, he said, and he
would feel abundantly compensated IL he
does one soul any good. In return for
the service the trustees OF the chucrh
render by throwing II open TO every body,
oil Will be given an opportunity TO con-
tribute little toward paying for heating
and lighting, the minister to get his pay
in some other way.
Rev. Mr.. Selleck prefsced his lecture
by quoting the following from Donald
u. Mitchell:
"The way of mans heart will be fore
shadowed by what goodness lies in him
coming from above, and from around
but a way foreshadowed is not a way
made. And the making of a mans way
comes only from that quIckening OF re-
solve which we call ambition. Ii Is the
spur that makes man struggle With des-
tiny; Ii Is heavens own incentive, to
make purpose great, and achievement
greater.n
Following is the lectures
lone OF the most glorious phenomena
in our natural world is the dawning OF a
beautiful morning. Were il not SO COM
mon occurrence we should call Ii the
greatest wonder imaginable; and IL Ii
came but once in lifetime we should
make long pilgrimages, II need be, to be-
hold 1t. Even in spite OF its familiarity
we are filled with admiration and delight
conditions. In the rare and clear atmos-
phere of the Rocky Mountain region,
where the sunrise is heralded by an over
whelming radiance that / have never
seen elsewhere, / have watched the
deepening efulgence with feelings of
joy and gratitude bordering upon rever-
ence; ind j could easily understand how
some OF the simple children of Nature in
the ancient times worshipped the bringer
OF so much gladness, comfort and wealth,
saying:
"Parent Of light, allseeng sun,
Prolific beam, whose rays dispense
The various gifts Of PrJvidence,
Accept our praise, our daily prayer,
Smile on our feds and bless the year"
"Science has vastly enlarged our
knowledge of the universe since those
primitive. days, and shown us many mar
vels ON the earth and in the heavens;
but, after all, 1t has given US few more
enhancing visions than the intelligent
observer may And in the splendor OF
perfect dawn, usherlng IN the matchless
gift of a glad new day.
$50 wonderful and welcome q spectacle
may be taken as fit symbol Of the
earlier years of a human life, when il Is
Just opening into the fulness Of its am
billions and powers. For surely IL Is O
remarkable fact that such a being as
man. WITH his yeitTlOus tnuOWultDt VI
ability and capacity, feeling, thinking,
knowing, growing, achieving and reign
ing, should appear upon this material
scene himself a center of spiritual light
rising to fiji the world with meaning
and glory. 1t is only because we are so
accustomed to II that we are not pro-
foundly impressed with its significance.
We go hunting far and wide for the
strange, the inexplica6l the miraculous;
but, did we stop TO Ffy to comprehend
IL, there are more marvels and miracles (if
such we choose TO call them) involved in
the birth and progress of a human being
than we could find in all the thauma-
turgical records OF the ages Therefore,
nothing can be more interesting to a
thoughtful person than the development
OF those powers which lie wrapped up in
the soul and body of little child; and
no period OF its after life can more engage
ones mingled hope and fear than tho
fieeting, potential aud prophetic hours
OF youth. Young people are justified In
being largely absorbed in themselves, In
thinking and talking very mucn about
the plans and projects, the problems and
purposes which concern chiefly their
own fortunes. Let them know that
others, grown older and wiser, are sym
pathetic with them and solicitous for
them TO greater extent than they may
be aware. Mature men and women look
into the faces OF the young with an in
stinctive longing that is halt expectation
ana half misgiving, as they turn toward
the east in the early morning TO read the
promise OF day OF blessing or bane for
the world. No telling what youth or
maiden may become heavens ambassador
TO the nations OF earth; ana so a sense OF
reverence may well accompany the In
terest with which we watch the dawning
of a new career, az the powers OF the
boy or girl untold into those OF the man
or woman.
.'Now IL IL because OF this interest which
the world ever has i'm the welfare OF the
young that one feels like addressing to
them some words of counsel and en-
couragement. To he sure nothing is easier
than to give good advice; or harder than
10 get II accepted and wrought into con-
duct and character. II is impossible for
youth TO appropriate ell at once the