The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-11-27
THE HOME INFLUENCED
Counts For Much In the Later Life
of Man.

Counts For Much In the Later Life
of Man.
Rev. J. Alexander Clyde preached
at the Baptist church Sunday morning
from l Timothy 1, 1919: "This charge
/ commit unto thee, son Timothy, &C.
cording to the prophecies which went
before on thee, that thou by them
highest war good warfare.
"Holding faith and a good con-
science, which some having put away,
concerning faith have made ship
wreck"
Following is 2 synopsis Of the SER
mon:
In our previous talks upon the as
poets of life as applied to the Best, l
have lifted before you the strong per-
sonalities, who rounded out their
careers with the achievement OF the
best. In any estimate OF their attain
ments, we view them as successful.
Today, 1t is our pleasure to study =
life In which only the expectation Of
attainment Is met. Such were the
early circumstances, that prophecy
laid against the man as an extra in
centive to noble effort. The life was
begun with excellent advantage, there
fore with extra responsibility.
The story OF whole life might help
nc hara Dirt vo 1iunifad I'm a few
references only. Most Of these express
the expectation that came as a spur
to the youngman. In this case, the
expectation was justified. He begun
with everything favorable to the best
life. II a loss is met with, it cannot
be charged to the beginning of the
career. This, Paul brings home to
Timothy. AS others had done, he is
not to make "shipwreck. Like a
new launched ship, Timothy .i'goes
forth to the duty OF living.
"a stately ship,
With.all her bravery on, and tackle
trim,
Sails filled and streamerS waving,
COurted by all the winds that hold
them play"
But beautiful as is the beginning,
this life must keep its courses, weather
gales and find it's port.
So many start we'll and fare badly.
Too many, with excellent prophecy, go
into life-tO wreck.
Paul lays this solemn warning In the
path Of Timothy and this warning is
made more solemn by the predictions
that went before on him.
Many young man or woman needs
to understand that the world looks to
them with expectation. Starting as
they do, we have the right to meet
them and demand of them the best
life. And to fail in giving is to be
prodigal indeed. But this prodigal
wastes more than his own powers. He
squanders them, and besides, throws
away the advantages Of youth. Some
begin life, robbed of their chance,
deprived OF childhood 8 rights, strang-
ers to the joys of love and care. But
to you, who know the value OF these
and enjoyed the advantages of Chris
tian nurture, you, we meetlthis day
with the demand OF the best life, we
have the right to expect it Of you.
1. You had a fair start. When
Paul speaks of the "prophecies," he
does not refer to inspired predictions,
but the hopes which had been cher
ished and the anticipations which had
been expressed regarding Timothy,
even from his childhood.
People who knew him, his charac-
ter, his environment, anticipated an
honorable future. They could say,
"he will live To purpose, and when
ne came to manhood they expected 1t.
He had a fair start. Little Is known
of his father. But much is said Of his
mother and grand mother. Upon them,
his training evidently devolved. They
were, both Of them, excellent and pi-
Gus women. Timothy spent his early
life in Christian home. Ia that time
this meant much. 1t gave to him the
right direction and the highest ideals
to seek. The wealth. Of virtue and no.
bility was his legacy at manhood.
That home and its influence was TO
be reckoned with In his career. What
ever he attained, ne owes 1t much. 1t
lays on him responsibility. 1t magni-
fies the reasons for living his best.
And this advantage of early Chris
tian influences is not overestimated.
TO begin life thus, is worth much to
anyone. 1t means much to a man to
be able to look back on the wholesome
home life Of his boyhood. Mothers
love or fathers care were worth a
great deal to US We cannot help but
value them highly. How true this is.
"Still DER those scenes my memory wakes,
And gently brOOds with miser care: