Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-12-01

Many years ago word came to me
that two imposters, as temperance lee
turers, had been speaking in Ohio, in
various places. and giving their expe-
rience. and they told their audience
that they had long been intimate with
me, and had become drunkards by
dining at my table. where l always had
liquors of all sorts. Indignant to the
last degree l went down to Patrick
Campbell, chief Of Brooklyn police,
saying that was going to start that
night for Ohio to have those Williams
arrested. and wanted him to tell me
how to make the arrest. He smiled
and said: do not waste your time by
chasing these men. Go home and do
your work, and they car do You no
harm" took his counsel, and all was
well. Long ago / made up my mind
that IL one will put his trust in God
and be faithful to duty. he need not
fear any evil Have God on your side,
young man, and all the combined
forces Of earth and hell can do you no
damage.
And this leads me to say that the
mightiest defense for young man is
the possession of religious principle.
Nothing can take the place Of 1t. He
may have manners that would put to
shame the gracefulness and courtesy
Of a Lord Chesterfield. Foreign Ian
guages may drop from his tongue. He
may be able to discuss literature, and
laws, and foreign customs. He may
WELD pen Of unequaled polish and
power. His quickness and tact may
qualify him for the highest salary OF
the counting house. He may be as
sharp as Herod and as strong as
Samson, with as fine locks as those
which hung Absalom, still he is not
safe from contamination. The more
elegant his manner, and the more fas.
cinating his dress, the more peril. Sa-
tan does not care for the allegiance OF
a cowardly and illiterate being. He
cannot bring him into efficient service.
But he loves to storm that castle Of
character which has in IL the most
spoils and treasures. II was not some
crazy craft creeping along the coast
with valueless cargo that the pirate
attacked, but the ship, full-winged and
tagged, plying between great porSs,
carrying its millions of specie. The
more your natural and acquired accom-
plishments. the more need Of the reli-
gion of Jesus. That does not cut in
upon or hack up the smoothness of dis
position or behavior. 1t gives symme-
try. 1t arrests that In the soul which
ought to be arrested, and propels that
which ought TO be propelled. 1t fills
up the gulleys. 1t elevates and trans
forms. To beauty it gives more
beauty, to tact more tact, to enthu-
siaSm Of nature more enthusiasm.
When the Holy Spirit impresses the
image of God on the heart he does not
spoil the canvass. If in all the multi
tudes of young men upon whom reli-
gion has acted you could find one ma
ture that had been the least damaged.
l would yield this proposition.
Many years ago stood on the ami.
versary platform with minister Of
Christ who made this remarkable
statement: Thirty years ago two
young men started out In the evening
to attend the Park theater, New York,
where play was to be acted In which
the cause of religion was to be placed
in a ridiculous and hypocritical light.
They came to the steps. The con-
sciences Of both smOte them. One
started to go home. but returned again
to the door, end yet had not courage to
enter, and finally departed. But the
other young man entered the pit of the
theater. 1t was the turning point in
the history of these two young men.
The man who entered was caught in
the whirl of temptation. He sank
deeper and deeper in infamy; he was
lost. That other young man was
saved. and he now stands before you
to bless God that for twenty years he
has been permitted to preach the Cos
pei"
Rejoice. o young man, in thy
youth. and let thy heart cheer thee
in the days of thy youth: but know
thou that for all these things God will
bring thee into judgment.