The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-12-11
DIR. ALeRIeHT's LECTURE.
An Able Discourse Conveying a Wealt
of Information,

CIluTCn Ut Tile WOTluI
The speaker said that the emphasis up
on the prOnoun our boys makes the ques-
tion personal one. Praying hearts
have broken over the problem as to which
should win him, the church or the
world.
Three elements enter into this ques-
tiOn: the times, the age in which we
live, the means at hand to aid them, and
the boys themselves.
The times We disclaim against them
and think the former were better than
these. What do we do to make them bet
ter? 1t is mistake; the times are not
bad times. A popularity Of them in our
own country is characteristic elation
bOastfulness, a triumphant spirit. The
American beats the world in Dragging;
but this came about through natural
causes. The men are not all dead who
have seen wonderful advancement in
civilization in their day-the pioneers
who have seen the wilderness and prim-
itive conditions give place to towns and
cities, connected by railway, electric
road, telegraph and telephone. All the
implements of industry, the modes Of
transportation, the means and facility of
communication, rates of postage, the
conditions of comfort and convenience
have all changed within the lifetime Of
some who are still among the living.
The evidences Of education, intelli-
gencc and refinement have transformed
our homes. Is it any wonder that such
achievement should begct national self
satisfaction?
But growing out OF this is strong
tendency toward materialism. We have
been graphing with material difficult
ties and subduing them. Science and
system, classification of everything and
everybody prevails and grows. There is
a statistical fever. The census taker,
with ever-increasing columns of imperti-
nent inquiry, is only an example Of a
universal cOntagiOn Of finding out
minutest details. In business, in re-
ligiOn, in philanthropy, there is con-
suming curiosity for statistics that we
call 'red tape" and those who are
serving this taskmaster are in constant
terror lest some detail be forgotten OF
overlooked. So with all our enterprise
and eagerness and haste we come to lose
sight Of the moral and mental antece-
dents that have given us the victory in
the past.
No small courage, no little herOism is
required for young man to take his
young wife and child into the woods,
away from comfort and society and con-
veniences, and hew his way out into bet
ter conditions. We build monuments tC
our soldier dead: we should also build
for those who made country worth dy-
ing for.
The god of the American is said to be
the almighty dollar. But the earning
the dollar where pearlash was the legal
tender, and taxes and interest and prin-
cipal and the necessaries Of life were as
vital, as impOrtunate, as such thingsmus
be, is sufficient excuse for the valuation
put upon thing so difficult to obtain,
We inherit appreciation Of the value of
the dollar. What wonder that we came
to put upon it generous estimate.
Manliness, independence, have to dc
with money, depend upon it great deal
From being the servant, money becomes
the master, dominates over every other
consideration. Its requirement becomes
a mania. 1t interferes with the Sunday
question. What are we doing to stem
this oncOming tide of greed and Oppres-
sion? Who Of us is going to stand fol
the home, for the husband and father
who wants one day in seven with his
family?
Who of us will stand for the tOiling
millions from whom is wrested his
one day in seven in which he may wash
off the grimes of toll and gather to wor-
ship with Gods children?
We are putting worldly standards on
conduct and character, and have worldly
estimates even in spiritual matters.
Christian fathers give their daughters in
marriage to men who are measured only
by the standards Of society.
The hunger Of the boy is phenomenal.
Physically he is always hungry before
his meal, after it, between meals, at bed
time, however much he is fed. And he
is just as hungry in head and heart as he
is in his stomach. He bristles with curl
Osity about everything past, present and
future. Give him the respect due an in
quiring mind. He is as hungry Of heart
as in mind and this he says nothing
about, or rarely lets 1t be known. 1t is
not the brute in him that makes the boy
so restless. He cannot keep still. If he