The Delawarean., 1900-07-07


young people with their possibilities
and the use they should make of their
| powers. 1t is intended to be an hour
of inspiration to the young; of inspira-
ton to reverence the heroes who have
gone before us, and for those who live
to-day, and who, true to the laws OF
/ life, conserve and mature the achieve
ments of their effervescent youth; a
time of inspiration to discover in the
realms of that trackless sea the un-
known contenent which lies beyond our
present ken. 1t is not normal for
youth TO sit down on the bank, content
with the present, and not wonder, and
even launch out on voyages of dis
covery and conquest for itself. And
the organization of this society is an
acknowledgment of the church that
she needs this element of her strength
combined and utilized; an acknowledge
ment not that she needs less ballast
but more sail.
1t is the sail that drives the vessel,
while ballast prevents capsize and
keeps things steady. Too much sail
for the ballast means danger, and too
much ballast for the sail means that
she gets nowhere The world and the
church need the ballast of age and the
force of youth, rightly combined and
properly adjusted to give the steadi-
ness of the one and the speed of the
other. The wise men of the Christian
centuries have recognized this fact, and
definitely expressed it. The words OF
the Apostle John should come to the
young men of this assembly like a
revelation. He had been young, had
passed with his eyes open through all
the stages of manly development, until
he had reached old age and ripe ex-
perience Yet, we find him in adj
vanced years recognizing the strength
and vigor OF youth, and penning some
of the choice portions of the Sacred
Writings directly to the youth about
him. that ne might enlist them for the
cause of Christ. In his Epistle he
says "I write unto you young men be-
cause We have overcome the wicked
one and to those young people he
gave some of the fatherly council of
that choice document. Then, referring
to one of his previous books, he says:
Il have written unto you young men,
because We are strong. and the Word
of God abideth in you, and ye have
overcome the evil one" John recog-
nized the force of forces then, and
wrote his Revelation to young men be-
cause of their
1. Muscular force:" Ye are Strong
3 Mental force: 1.-THE world Of
God abideth in you"
g. Moral force: "Ye have over
come the evil one"
First then: The glory of young men
is their strength. Bodily vigor gives
enthusiasm and energy to outward ac-
tivlty, and makes youth the mightiest
potentiality beneath the lace of heaven
The deeds which inspire the world
from the pages of history were largely
wrought out by the young. This is a
young mans world; and youth is the
force that moves it. 1t was the youth
full Sampson who became a living ter
ror to the Philistines; and who was it
that killed Goliath, and brought vic
tory of the army of Israel but David
the beardless youth? The notorious
fighters of to-day are mere boys in
years, Jeffries being in the early
toric evidence proves the superiority of
youth over age in struggle and con-
quest. The great warriors won the
victories that made their names i'm
mortal, in the days of their youth
Alexander of Macedon conquered the
world, and ruled it through personal
force and energy, though he only lived
to be 80, a great commander at IS, a.
king at 10, and conquerer of everything
in sight at %. When Hannibal dealt
his staggering blow at the Roman
world power on the plains of Cannae,
and brought victory to the arms OF
Carthage. he was only thirty years old
Mark Anthony was less than thirty,
when he wrought wonderously in
Egypt and Syria. It was at the age Of
27 that the great Charlemange made
himself master of both French and
Germany Charles the 18th, was but
II, when he ascended the throne of
Sweden. and at 19 had conquered sew
eral nations and won the great battle
of Narva. Gustavus Adolphus died at
3S, the terror of the Catholic world,
having reigned king of Sweden since
his 18th year. When Morris of Sax
ony, called the founder of the Protest.
ant Reformation, died at 80, all Europe
acknowledged the loss of the greatest
general and profoundest statesman of
his age. Cortez was only 80 when he
subjugated Mexico and gazed upon the
western sea. Nelson, the greatest Of
BrittOn's admirals was pOSt-caDtain