The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-15
THEY STAY AWAY.
,vv. MR. SMITH TALKS ABOUT
YOUNG MEN AND THE CHURCH.

.ub, Is the House of the Lord For
.sken." His Text-The Ministers
are Mt FauIt in Some Cases, Rev.
Mr.. smith said--They should study
he Habits, Needs and Temptations
If Young Nen-Members OF the
durch May BE at Fault and So
Way the Young Wen Themselves.
The Excuses Commonly Given Dis
euSSed-Young Ladies Should Not
receive on Sunday Evenings.
Rev. Arthur J. Smith. pastor of the First
pss5yterian Church, preached another
fun sermon 10 young men last night.
q does his best work when he breaches
this class. His theme was. why Some
ro1s Men Do Not Attend Church" He
ok his text from Nehemiah, 1871. "Why
the house of the Lord forsaken?" The
eestion was asked by Nehemiah upon his
urn to Jerusalem and finding the tenn
s c.osed.
The priests and Levites, Rev. Mr. Smith
aid. had neglected the temple services.
This may lie one reason why some young
nsn do not attend church. The minis
ers are al fault" Mr.. Smith said he
Believed the confession ought to be made.
1.-THE men in the pulpit are not as deeply
&nteres,ed n young men as they should
BE-. They do NOT study their habits, temp
atoms and minds, and are not able 70
ater into deep sympathy with them. Their
.ermors are not adapted to them, ana
Ehere is not the feFvor sometimes that
Eoung men. like 10 see" He said the
Ehurch may be al fault also. The members
the church do not live as pure and
II ovely lives as they should, and young men
Fee this and abhor ii and stay away from
IA he house of the Lord. Church
Hnembers do not invite young
Enen 10 church and oftimes when they
\ ZONE they are not made welcome. This
h keeps them away. Young men generally
are warm hearted, and they are won by
cordial greeting.
The trouble" the pastor said, lis not
Railways with the church or minister. 1t
Es with The young men themselves oftlmes.
ETnel complain of fatigue and spend Sab
Htath in bed
II Nh Smith said he sympathized with ev-
IT, young man who had to work hard,
#Tlough this is not the real reason, for
la Dung men too often spend the larger part
Ol he night in pleasure.
TIE Sunday papers" Mr.. Smith charg-
Eel. keep many young men from church.
#Thoy are SO attractive that it is hard to
&Tes.st the temptation TO read them"
MIR. Smith said he respects the press
aad acknowledged his obligations to it.
Ehut he could not but feel that some Sun
day papers are absolutely baneful and
lou.d not be admitted to any Christian
Ehome.
Love of recreation also keeps many
Dung men from church The day is
a'a, hunting. fishing, bathing or wheel
=. They say they need physical eXer-
So; so they DO, but they also have two
her sides to their natures the intellect
an. and the spiritual, and these are often
El,s,ected
Companions have much to do in keeping
Young men from church. Mr. Smith said
A He Illustrated this in various ways and
aid he feie that the young women of Sa-
4 Fannah who entertain young men on Sun
day night will have much to account
for at the judgment
The musical part of the service was es-
Epecially attractive. Miss Summerlin's
solo, Angels Bright and Fair" by Boet,
was well rendered. The people of the
church are delighted with her singing.
She has been engaged regularly. Sunday
evenings she does her best work. The au-
dience nearly filled the church. The
printed programmes are greatly appre-
Gated, being so attractive that the people
take them home with them. new fea-
ture has been added to the programmes.
Besides the cut Of the church on the first
page there appears map Of the city on
the last, showing the locations of depots,
notes and churches. This is especially
helpful TO strangers.