The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-09

church last night, Rev. George ~.
Guild preached very interesting SER
mon on The Obligatory Relation of
the Church to Young Men, He took
for his text the words in ZaChariah,
Pa, as follows: And said unto him,
run, speak to this young man." Mr..
Guild said:
Zachariah, a God called and God
sent prophet, figured in events which
marked the periods Immediately. pre-
ceding and following the year 52O Il.
e. as notable epoch in the notable
history of Israel.
The incident of the text excites cur
iosity and study because of its per-
sonnel, viz: Two angels, a prophet and
q young man.
It's the time of the rebuilding of
Jerusalem; or visions, of prOphesies.
Therefore, thus saith the Lord, l am
returned to Jerusalem with mercies;
My house shall be built, for 1 am jeal-
Gus for Jerusalem and for Zion" All
this was Zacharinh's first vision. and
now he lifts up his eyes and looks and
beholds the second vision, for it. the
two angels and the prophet are privil-
eyed witnesses. They see "a man with
his measuring line in his hand"
Observe the colloquy; it's celestial
because angels are "A party in the con-
Versation; it's earthly, because a young
man is the addressed. WHITTIER goest
thou?" The lad replies: ITO measure
Jerusalem; to see what its breadth is
and what is the length thereof" Evil
IDENTIFY that young man all atire with
energy for the wish of lions rebuild
ing, is taking measurements prepara-
tory to the literal re-establishing of
Jerusalem in her former glory. But
Gods architectural plans for the COM
ing Jerusalem far exceeded the model
according to which the old Jerusalem
was constructed. Now, that young
man, because of his ignorance, his
youthful judgment and immatureness,
not only had misconceptions, but was
in radical error respecting the good
service he was passiOnately anxious to
render the God of Israel and the peo-
pie of Israel,
THOUGHTFUL AND KIND.
How thoughtful and how kind for
Heaven to take hold of him and to
! correct him and to enlighten him and
start him rig't. And the one angel
sald with the other angel: Run, speak
| to that young man" Tell him that
Jerusalem shall hereafter be inhabit-
cd as towns without walls, for the
! multitude of men and of cattle, for l,
! saith the Lord, will be unto her wall
! of fire round about her and the glory
| in the midst of her"
The text Is not message from Heav-
! en- to young men, though it is this and
! as such most suggestive, so much as
! it is a Heavenly mandate to the church
| relative to her obligatory relation to
| young men.
The church stands for the second
angel in the story Of the text and to
| the church. as unto the angel of old
the word of command is, Run, speak
to that young man
! What does obedience to this edict of
i. Il
! ognition by the church of the poten-
/ TALLY of young men, for abstract
/ terms potentiality means possibility
| without present actuality. Its inher-
ent power or capability." Every young
man possesses this potentiality of pow
I or and it's a Heaven impressed Obli-
| cation that the church shall recOg-
ni2e the fact and by every possible
effort seek to develop it In young men,
to guide 1t, assert it and to identify
. il now and for the future with Gospel
ideals and Gospel service.
When David Livingstone united with
a Presbyterian church in the High
lands Of Scotland he was but a lad,
and the only accession on that SaCra -
mental Sabbath. How large or how
small that church was in it's member
ship / know not. This, however | am
sure of, viz, that Livingstone's con-
version, though he was but boy, and
church were of far greater significance
for God and Christ than those people
dreamed Of. Potentially, he carried
within him the Gospel of salvation for
Africa.
FUTURE OF CHURCH AND STATE
The future--the future of the church.
the future of the state--is an encased
pOtentality within the breast of our
young men, Everybody admits it, But
is the church acting according to its
theory? Oh that a vision from HeaV-
en- might impart to the church oul
imminent duty and privilege to recog-
nize and develop and guide and u.s.
the potential powers Of young men.
Again, the text suggestively admon-
iShes the church to recognize her young
men as component part of herself
Young men of the church are a part
of the church. The fifteen million
young men of America are a litera
part of America, and likewise is it OF
young men who are members of the
church. They literally belong to it,
they are vital. component parts Of it
and factors in it.
Woe be to the future of that church
that is careless of this fact, underes
Inmates it, or in any way neglects IT
AS a fact, our colleges and universe
ties are exercising a more potent relig
iOus influence upon their students theT
| bul NlluiCleS WIFI our llOIltS 10 dSSlS
are upon the young men at trades anC
} in business yocatiOns. Seventy five PEI
cent. of the students in Amherst col
lege are Christian young men. Othel
} colleges report equally encouraging
data along this line.
| It's doubtful If in any department
of life the regal potential powers o
young men are so coruially conceded
as by the gifted officers and professor
J of our colleges. May not this hav,
! much to do in securing such large per
centages of Christians among thei
students? Outside of college life tn
} Young Mems Christian association ha
done a magnificent work in detecting
and developing and using the power
of heart and mind of the youth VIII
} form the armv Of fifteen millions o
young men In our country.
MUST WELCOME THEM.
. How long, how long must it be er
the church will be fired with apostoli
passion, such as thrilled Paul for tina
! young man, Timothy, and will say
these young Christian men are Il par
of us, of the very body of Christ. w
must recognize them as such. We mus
welcome them as such. We must us
} them.
THE fathers. where are they?" 500
} that lament Of Xachariah's time wi
be the pathetic dirge Of today. Let tn
I elder generation Of touay be wise [
train the generation pressing behinC