Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-07
WORLDLY YOUNG MAN
Dr.. Hhiusy Discusses Phases Of Glad.
ness, BADNESS. Madness, Sadness
Mr.. Cook at Ola Market, ana Mr..
Farlsnl at st. raul's-welcome to
SfsrsAall.street's New rastor-In.
spirins sigAt At Leigh.street.

"Ths Biography Of Q Worldly Younx
Man" was the title OF the sermon
preached 70 deeply-attentive congresa~
ton at Broad-street Methodist church
Sunday night by the pastor, Rev. J. 7.
whitley. The text consisted Of the nrss
half Of the parable Of the prodigal son,
40 recorded in Luke xv. Hill.
The pearl Of the parallels" the speaker
said. us the striking descriptive phrase
that some enthusiastic Bible student has
applied to this matches story Of thu
prodiKal son. II might with equal truth
ana force be styled the diamond" OF
the parallels: for. as the diamond has dif-
ferent and sometimes numerous facets
or polished sides. each Of which renec's
the light In q different direction, so this
wonderful parable has many dinereht
faces. each one shedding light upon
different truth. That portion OF the story
that I have read as the special text Tor
this occasion may be regarded as one
broad facet OF this diamond. 1t catches
the iieht OF Heaven and hasEes II upon
ssction of human life In which we are all
nrofoundly concerned. II traces Tor us
In biography of worldly young man.
In this biography there are just ioui
chapters. which, though short. are OIL
thrilling interest.
CHAPTER FIRST-GLADNESS.
"The younger son of wealthy fathe>
awskes to the knowledge that the woriu
- a bigger place than the horizon that
can be seen from the parental doorstep.
His imagination fills the great spaces pc
yond with aliuring pictures. At the same
TINA he becomes conscious OF his own
vouthful health and strength that NJ MN
10 20 out into the great, fascinating
world and enjoy IT, Theh he thinks OF
his fathers riches. q large snare OF "n,cn
will come TO him. and by means OF when
ne can see the world and become one Vi
ia heroes. As he dwells In Inauguration
mon the good times that lie before
him away beyond the horizon OF ms
fathers farm. his young heart hut'e'S
and swells with gladness. a
.'rhus he IL the type OF ardent anu
imaginative youth everywhere. uiau-
ness ia the title Of the first chapter IN
the biography Of youth. The woriu ~ 90
fascinating. with It's multiform mys'e,,e,
10 the habs cries and reaches forth after
the moon. the youth smiles and grasps
al the entire solar system. HOW ne
Iopes to be a mani The home circle DC
comes too narrow, the home LIE ,oo
dull and fat. The young man reefs tha'
he IL born to q higher destiny thah 10
plod along as his parents nave uone;
lie feels that out In the great "or.u
there await him pleasures ss y e, J
,osted. honors as yet withheld. victories
ss Vet unwon, and 10, led on by MS uh-
hridIed Imagination, he dreams only Oh
gladness when he shall see the world
CHAPTER sECOND-BADNESS.
"At first this youth in the parable ola
not think that his worldly gladness wonin
ead him into downright bdhDess' OUT ~
ala and that right early. He began 10
despjse his home and to LOOK upon his
parents as old fogies. ana surrey 'na'
was bad. He became impatient Oh re-
vtraint ana unwilling to DO ms sna'e -
he home work. and INTERNATIONALLY 'na'
was had. The next step was 10 make
The selfish and unnlial request OF his
sa,hsr 70 give him his portion OF IN"
family wealth. That war wholly haa'
Then. with indecent haste~'not many
says after'--hs gathered oil his posses
lions and took his journey into taf
country. ruthlessly breaking al 'he ZEN
8er ties Of home for the sake OF An carry
entrance upon the worldly pleasures De.
,Irted by his selfish imagination. That
was bad beyond palliation. Finally ne
wasted his substance with riotous Ivipe'
In company with drunkards and haricts.
This was this climax OF paunesr 49,
."The second chapter, then. IN the i"e vi
n worldly young man n BADNESS 1oe
glad anticipat ton OF selfish induisence
leads spsedlly 10 wrong-doing He begins
10 despise his home, to treat his parents
with irreverence 10 chafe against 'hH
mild restraints OF the Christian houst-
hold 10 Sped much Of his time In places
and pursuits that his father and mother
would not approve. He quits tbs SUNDAY
Ia ~
once in a while He likes 10 lounge on
s,rest-corners o, meet his cronits In
the club room Gradually he drifts awsy
from home, from his childhood purity
from reverence for sacred things. httle
by little he learns various forms OF fasc'-
natns immurality--Sabbath breaking.
swearing. drinking. gambling. obscene
conversation. impurity. In the house OF
shame. and death! The transformation
is complete; he has wasted hts substance
with riotous living He has joined the
great army Of the bay!
CHAPTER THIRD. MADNESS.
"Ip verse II there Is" DIR. Whitley con-
,inued. a brief expression that is full OF
Significance: When he came 10 himseli.
he said etc. This intimates that he had
bssn beside himself az the phrase goes
that his mind was unbalanced, and that
sound reason WIS temporarily dethroneo.
The prospect Of seeing the world had IN
toxicated him. All of his actions thence"
forth were those Of moral iunatlc. lne
notions he had about home and the far
country. the demand for DIVISION OF
the estate. the hasty and heartless ADAM
donmept OF home and those who loved
hin best, and the way In which ne
squandered his patrimony. all proved that
along with his moral badness there went
mental madness. 1t was, however, u
madness for which he was fully respon-
sible, since he brought 1t on himself by
yielding to the promptings or his seiiisn
nature.
And so the third chapter in the bio-
graphy Of worldly young man Is mad
ness Sin n a craze. 1t is contrary 10
sound reason f1s who tndulses In sin
warps his mental faculties, destroys the
ba'anoe that tina Creator established In
his nature and becomes sort OF lunatic.
Some artist has painted melancholy
but brilliant picture that illustrates the
mad pursuit OF the gilded prizes OF
worldly treasure and pleasure. A nude
female figure. floating In air. and OF sur
passing beauty. draws after her youth,
who madly spurs on an exhausted steed.
chasing the lovely vision. AT her feet
she rolls = golden sphere along a narrow
beam that spans an awful chasm and IN
her hand she holds sgilded crown. Be
hind the haggard-raced rider death closely
follows holding UP the hour-glass with
the sand almost run out. Beneath the
feet Of the wild horse which the young
man urges on lie crushed forms Of fairest
beauty. symbols OF the precious heritage
OF love and bliss. which the idolator
OF pleasure tramples under foot In pur-
suing phantom joys. His eyes are so
fascinated by the seductive vision before
him that the mailman sees not the yawn-
ing gulf into which he is about t. plunge
How true 10 life the picture Isl What is
It but madness that leads people to shut
their eyes against the best and most I'M
portant things In the universe. and spend
their lives In gratifying their lowest ap-
petites? What but madness that barters
eternal life for the pleasures Of sin for
q season? The wild locomotive rushing
10 It's own ruin and to the destruction Of
life and property Is a true type OF q
madly sinful life.
SADNESS.
The days of gladness In the far
country did not last very long. Soon all
the substance was wasted, and q mighty
famine arose In that country. Then tho
gay youth began to b In want His
tovial companions OF both sexes had no