The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-14
SOME ADVICE TO THE YOUNG MEN.
Given in a Sermon by the Rev. W. S.
HoSkinson.
The Case of Solomon Cited - Young
Men Should Have a Pur-
pose in Life.

At the Sixteenth-street Lutheran
Church last evening the pastor. Rev. w.
S. Hoskinson, chose for the subject OF his
sermon, Rejoicing in Youth" (Eccl. IL,
81, Solomon, he said, liked to be In
touch with youth. He was always young
and wanted to be. Even when OLD ne
was young. Like Gladstone some time
ago, when asked his age, said: II am oo
years young" Solomon reioiced IN hav-
ing guiding influence over the young.
He was true preacher in this. 1t ID our
great delight to have companionshlp ana
guiding influence over the young.
Too often it is the case that young men
and preachers do not understand each
other. Both are to blame. Young men
will not show the preachers their best
side and preachers will not show young
men their human side. And 80 many
young men come to estimate preachers
about as Sydney Smith did. he SAID
there are three sexes, men women and
preachers" Now preachers are not
freak of nature; they are simply human
beings.
Now, I do confess partially for
young men. / know they are not angels
Indeed l feel sure they are worse than
most preachers think, and also are they
better than most peachers think. That IS,
they are a medley, d sort of mixture of
good and bad. We have Travelled with
them by rail and by steamer, and when
free to show themselves at their worst.
And they were pretty bad sometimes;
some would have thought them COM
pletely gone in depravity. But again Inc
conversation would turn, ana this enc
and that one would say how he esteemed
al iYin n n
loved his Christian mother. Ana De-
meath a rough exterior we saw very ten
der heart and love for the good.
Many o young man has gone home
from a drunken debauch to cry aloud TO
God for forgiveness and help.
There is much good in young men. and
we want to respect the good and call IL
out to that which is better.
Now, as a help TO this, we want every
young man to believe in his destiny. BY
this we do not mean that fortune will
favor every one. Not every one is going
TO be President of the United States or
Governor OF California, or even Mayor of
Sacramento. No, not that; but that God
has made you and kept you for q purpose.
1t is not a blind fate that has your life and
has LETT you a founding at the doorstep
OF creation. God is your father, and he
has put you here. free born TO labor and
to learn. In the scheme OF this world
there is place for you, and with powers
and talents you are placed here as work
man to do your part. Thus it Is, then,
you have destiny, and there is a reason
and purpose for your existence.
Too many of our day go on and think
that life has no purpose. They pick a
flower here and there. They while away
the hours, talk and laugh and drink, and
dance, not to gather strength for to-mor-
rows work, but just to pass the time.
They never ask, Nv hat am L here for ?'
"What am l to become?" What am l
to do?" What am | now doing to full
fill my destiny ?'' Trifies take the time.
That young man looking out OF the school
window and up into the sky, what is he
thinking about? OF his destiny? And
those young men, with the fumes OF
smoke rising above them. are they dis
GUESSING their part in the great battle OF
life? Or is 1t their part IN the next great
ball?
Just drifting with the tide, down the
stream of time, singing as the boat skins
along over the waves. Drifting all
through the happy golden morning OF
youth under the beautiful sky, thinking
that it is enough simply to live. Happy
crowd; we are glad to see you happy.
But think of those words: rejoice
young man in thy YOUTH" etc. They
would not check your joy and gladness,
and quiet your merriment. and cut OIL
your pleasures and make you less gay.
Solomon wants you 10 feel that you
should have purpose In life. Youth, as
well as old age, God brings TO judgment.
This seed-time is important, and you
are real and responsible with work to do,
and God TO look on while you do it. y GU
have destiny here and now, and you
cannot fail in it unless you fail by your
own neglect. You are the keeper of this
destiny-tbe maker OF it. 20 mysterious
hand makes your fatesfor you at all. a
free Will is yours, and you make or break
OF yourself. You must work out your