The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-25

The mems meeting at the Y. NJ. C. A.
yesterday afternoon was the most sue
csssful for some time. Rev. s. G. Read
ing. of Williamsport, Pa. who is con-
Quoting revival services at the Baptist
church in this city, was the speaker,
: and made splendid talk. He was lis
tened to by the largest audience for
several months. Mr.. Readings talk was
straight home all the time, and was in
deed treat. For his text he used the
oft-quoted Scrlptural passage, rs the
young man Absalom safe?" This APP
propriate text for young mans gath
ering was evolved into a strong and
helpful discourse,
He referred to the many perils in the
pathway of young man starting out
in life. The perils of a great city were
touched upon to show the temptations
that beset the boy coming In from the
country. II is true, nevertheless, that
though many fall by the wayside, the
country boy becomes more successful
in any branch of business than the city
boy. A graphic picture OF the country
boy leaving home was drawn by the
speaker. His mothers advice and the
home where the Bible was read TO him
every evening are great helps to him,
after he reaches the city. He meets all
kinds of people, and there are many
snares set for him. Sometimes he falls.
He consents to spend an evening with
evil companions not intending to do
harm, or so any further. Then he takes
one step after another downward until
he is lost. Away back on the farm his
parents grieve over their boy. They
don't hear from him like they used to,
and often they ask themselves: is the
young man Absalom safe?"Then a day
comes when they almost wish their boy
had never been born.
On the other hand. the boy fresh from
the country becomes a model citizen.
All country boys go to church the first
Sunday after they come to the city. AZ
ter awhile they are coaSed to go to
parks, and their tempters make trivial
remarks about the church. But the boy
who refuses to desecrate the Sabbath,
and gets under the good influence OF
Christian men gets on the right track.
Years pass and he reaps the harvest of
his early training. His parents are
proud of him and the community honors
him.
The safeguards were enumerated by
the speaker. Among them are the love
of home, respect for religion and hon.
esty of character. A boy who loves his
father and mother, and Is not
ashamed of It, will always succeed. He
should also be found standing out
in defense of the attacks upon religion.
A man meets opposition who argues for
the closing of saloons, stores and stop
ping of street cars on Sunday, but then
it's only those who drift with the popu-
lar current who are not attacked by the
sinful. A boy will find that honesty will
nay. He should refuse to be dishonest
even at the dictates OF his employer.
He should always refuse to tell GUS
toners that goods marked below cost"
were below cost II they weren't, and re-
fuse to do similar practices. 1t Will pay
a merchant to be honest; the public
will have confidence then in everything
he says.
Rev. Mr.. Reading, in his concluding
remarks, poured hot shot into the sa-
LOGON and the brothel. Gambling was
also strongly denounced. The speaker
said he didn't know one playing card
from another, and didn't want to know,
and he condemned the practice people
have of playing progressive euchre at
their homes. He urged young men to
lead pure lives. He had heard 1t said
that ninety per cent of young men fire.
Quent immoral places. He didn't know
II II was true, but he hoped not. Men
ask for virtuous wives, yet lead i'm
moral lives themselves. They place the
woman too high and themselves too
low.
He made an eloquent and strong plea
for the abolition of the saloon, and said
that so long Us 1t existed so long would
there be wretchedness and misery. The
saloon could be stamped out II men
would only stand boldIy for the right,
Even preachers are afraid to preach
what they ought concerning the liquor
traffic, being afraid OF the liquor men.
II is q parody on the United States to
call 1t a "land of the free and the home
OF the brave" while the present fears
of speaking out exists; more truly is 1t
"a land OF the coward and home OF
the slave" Just as long as he had
breath he would continue to preach and
work for the stamping out OF the drink
monster. He had been In charge of the
Willlamsport, Pa, church for over MT
teen years, ana never lOsts an oppor-
tunlty to help the cause of prohibition.
Where one man left his church on ac-
count OF plain words, twenty-five had
come to hear the truth. AS a result the
church is enjoying wonderful growth.
II paws best to speak the truth. He
urged young, men to stand upon the
Rock. The character of a young man
twenty years hence may best be told by
knowing what he is now. "As ye SOW so
shall we reap"
After the speaker had closed secre-
tary Lynch asked II there was any
present who wished to give himself to
God. One young man responded The
meeting concluded with an earnest
prayer by Rev. j. II. Littell.
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