The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-10-05
AT THE Y. N. c. A.
Rev. Mr.. Spccrs Talk, TO the Young Scr
An interesttn. Address.

Rev. Mr.. Spccrs Talk, 10 the Young Men.
An interesting Address.
The Young Mems meeting OF tho
Young Mems Christian Association was
addressed yesterday by Rev. Joseph
Speer. pastor OF the Second Prcshytcr-
Ian church. He took for his text. second
book OF Samuel. chapter IS, verse 30:
And the king said. Is the young mar
Absalom sate?"
Aosalon had committed grIevous Of
lenses against his brother, sister. and
father. His father pardoncd him on
account Of eNtrcaties made to him. Nb-
colon was ambitious to obtain the
throne. and he did not cara to what
pcrody he stopped In order to obtain Il.
He planned the downfall OF his father
and his fathers Kingdom. After he be-
caine reconc!led with tn. king. he stood
at the SatcS and told the people seek
ing justice, that II he were king, they
would get Justice. AT heart, Absalom
was n murderer. His god was ambition
and he loved power and wealth. He be-
trayed his fathers virtue. When II.
wen: o to destroy David. God was
on tho side of David. AbsaIom's pride
OF his hair was hla destruction. Going
out to the battle his hair caught In the
branches, and unable to free himself.
he fell into the hands of David's SOL
diers. who slew him.
When tldlngs were brought to his
father. that his Kingdom was saved, he
asked OF the messenger with GuiverinG
voice: rs the young man, Absllom,
safe?" This Is a question might ask
to-day. We are in perIlous times. times
of temptation. unrest and unh0liness.
1t Is Il question We may ask If our
young friends, rs the young man. Abb
salon. safa?" Absaiom wanted 10 per-
reiuate his name as a great young
man. His C1nc remains az n synonym,
for ~treachery ard dehasrMcnt. 1t Is
better 10 die as Il poor man. than 10
perpetuate such n name.
Let US look into the times. We find
troublous pathways for the young man
OF to-day. Here In our own city, nmbi-
tAon 10 be something he cannot be.
draEs dowa many n youth. We lind a
young man, upon whom n widowed
mother may depend, anxious 10 dress
as well as his wealthy %nelGhbor. This
ambition to dress so stylishly on his
small means will tempt him to rob his
employer.
Again, n young mar desiring n POSI-
ton OF prominence, will not sto0p to
conquer. II he would only think tina,
God In his time would III, him IN!
Society and wealth are OF IL few years.
The robe OF death must eventually
come. 1t Is the resurrection We must
think OF. II You think OF that, you will
not bring disgrace upon yourself. Yo,
Will hear well done, good and faith.
full servant" and the joyous promise OF
eternity.
Envy may be classed with ambition,
But there Is only one direction for en-
W: ambition may be either in a good
or bad direction. Malice Ia also some
thing to guard against. There was NAL
ice In the heart OF this young man, Alb
salon. The story OF Ahsalom IS no,
an alleEory, like that OF the Prodlgal
Son. but 1t Is true history. We should
remember the example OF this Young
man. and guard against all the evil
qualities as represented by him.
The speaker made a strong plea for
young men to live lives OF virtue, lie
said that immortality was seen ,o1
much In Wheeling. and he hoped f1r
the day that would see this city purl.
fled,