The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-26

Talked to the Society and Its Wards
beneath the Oaks.


beneath the Oaks.
After the business meeting the members
of the society and the boys of the home,
headed by the band, escorted the speaker
of the occasion, Rev. ]. Y. Fair, D. D., to
the speakers stand under the oaks. The
officers of the society accompanied Dr.
Fair to the stand, while the boys
arranged themselves on. the benches In
front The large audience ranged itself
behind the boys. The speaker was intro
duced by President EstilL
DR.. Fair expressed the great pleasure
which it gave him to look upon that beau
tiful and historic place. One of the first
books he ever read, he said, was the life
Of the man who founded this home, George
Whiteheld. Dr. Fair said that his address
would be to the boys and his subject 1.-THE
Battle of Life and How to Win IT.
Dr.. Fairs address was eloquent and in
spring in its nature, yet thoroughly an
propriate to the occasion and we'll suited
to his audience. He dwelt upon the value
of a high and noble ambition, true courage
and faith in God for him who would win
the battle of life. To the young, he said,
life seemed but bright holiday to be
spent in pleasure. Life to them seems a
picnic. They think the tree of, life will
bend down its branches about them and
that its golden prizes will fall at their
feet unsought
The true idea of life, which they must
learn he said is that it is a great battle
a terrible struggle, for which they must
be prepared. They must learn that there
is nothing worth having that does not call
for a struggle. Men dig for gold They
for II
not come to the successful man by chance.
Years of toll economy and self-sacrifice,
wears of hope deferred must precede sue
cess The great painter the great must
clan. the great orator do not achieve their
en,inence by luck. Work is the secret of
their success. Genius is but the capacity
with some to work in higher, quicker form.
They are great as the result OF their
Iabors. Success involves work. Life is
battle TO be won by conflict. There is but
one path TO success and it is hard and
stony.
Three things were necessary to him who
would win in the battle of life, he said.
The first of these is ambition. The first of
these is ambition, not impure,
unholv ambition, determined to win re-
qardless of others, but the ambition which
means a high purpose in life, the determ-
nation to accomplish something. The soul
that Is without dmDitlOn Is ike an engine
that is without steam. Dr. Fair contrast
ed the life filled with noble purpose with
that of one who drifts idly upon the pleas
IRE to the final shpwreck of soul and
bodv. BY ambition be told them that he
meant they should have an idea, an OBJ
iect In life, something towards which they
should direct their energies. The men who
have accomplished most for this world,
he said, have been the men of a single
idea.
Next to ambition comes courage. With
out courage ambition Is worthless. It
takes courage to meet difficulties. With
ambition and courage a good fight may
be fought But faith is the greatest Of
all. Il Is the shield of the soldier who
fights the battle of life. He who would
win must also have this shield.
DR.. Fairs remarks at this point were
peculiarly appropriate to his young audi
once. much more so doubtless than any
of them realized Abiding gently 70
their orphaned condition he lead up 20 the
thought that each one of them had a
Father in heaven OF infinite power and
goodness, within whose hands are all the
riches OF the earth. With faith in Him
they will have courage TO fight the bat
tie OF life. II Is this Father that makes
che promise, ITO him that overcometh Will
/ give to sit with Ne upon My throne"
DR.. Fair encouraged his young audi
ence by telling them That the greatest men
this country has produced began life poor
aud unaided. one President was a rail-