Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-09-15

still In his blood. and the redskin seems
20 be unable TO anchor his existence TO
a farm aud change his wigwam 10 a
stone freside. But. though l believe
much In prenatal influences. also be-
lieve much in environment. II you
and place the right kind or associates
about our young folks we can inevita-
bly, save them for God II we will.
How powerfully this truth came TO
me few weeks ago, Our last nation
al holiday OF Fourth OF July was n
very busy one for me. / was working
hard In my study. in order to hasten
my departure for the country, when
dear friend of mine called and,
against my protesting voice. carried
me of on an automobile ride. For
miles, and miles we left Los Angeles
behind until We came to one of the
great reform schools of our state. The
steady throb of the engine was stopped.
ana we entered the buildings, situated
In one OF the most romantic places 7
ever saw for a state reform school.
The flowers were there: the green hills
were there; the harvest fields and the
orchards were all there, but as l went
through that institution my heart grew
sick, for ] said to myself. Mature In
all her beauty is here. but child life I'm
all Its sinfulness Is here also" Then
said again: "Supposing one Of
my daughters should be taken out OF
her Christian home and In the most
critical time OF life be compelled to
associate with these maynard girls.
how would she turn out, what chance
for good would she have? All, little.
very, very little chancer And SO. nv
friends, IL by the help of the Holy Spirit
you and are going 60 save the young
people we must throw about them the
right kind OF Christian companionship.
We must WOO them to the church fell
lowship. We must make our young
peoples meetings so attractive that the
saloon and the billiard parlor and the
dance hall and the low theaters can
not successfully beckon them for
six nights OF the week and we
preach to them only on SUNDAYS.
We should cling to the young folks
or our cities. We should 20 after
them and hold to them all the time.
The Sunday school teacher who never
finds an evening to visit her pupiIs
during the week will never have pupils
who will have time to sit at her feet
on Sundays The young people of
your church who never invite the
strangers to their houses or visit them
in their rooms or arrange semisoclaI
gatherings for them In the church will
never have the newcomers crowdIng
their services.
Kindness to the Weak.
But. lastly. / remark. we must try to
liberate helpless men during their time
OF physical infirmities as well as dur
Ing their time OF physical strength and
good health. OF all times during which
we can most appeal to helpless man
the best Is when he is lying upon an
invalid's bed or In times of agonIzinr
sickness. Sometimes n strong man or
woman Is not easily susceptible 20
Kindness. But once let the strength
leave the arm. once let the brow be-
come hot and feverish, once let the
stomach refuse 10 retain its nourish-
ment, and then the slightest Kindness.
as rule, will bring tears OF gratitude
TO the eye and words of thankfulness
to the trembling Lip. But. though the
sick bed Is the greatest and best OF all
pulpits over which to preach. how few
OF us ever embrace the opportunity TO
minister there I'm Gods name as we
shouldl Indeed, as herses will nearly
always shy and run away from n sick
horse which is lying upon the ground,
so think well people, as n rule, shun
and fear sick people.
'why do you not spend your sum-
mers in Asheville or the Adirondacks
or in Colorado or I'm Redlands OF south
ern California Are they not beauti-
full places" I ask you. Eyes" YOU
answer, but / cannot stand the sick
people. Wherever you 20 In these
places you find them there, weak and
pale. Coughing, coughing. coughing.
appalling coughing. is continually
heard on all sides. Sickness is TO me
very depressing. Why, dislike to
look even at the windows OF hospital.
AS for going through a hospital, /
would no more do IL than 1 would
enter the operating room and see a
surgeon cut or a mans leg" But, my
friend, did you ever stop TO think that
as others are sick SO some day you
may be sick? Then will you not need
comfort! Week in and week out some
OF these invalids have TO lie in bed
with no callers. No one comes to
bring them a flower or utters word
OF prayer or speaks TO them even one
word about Christ. yet by their very
sufferings these sick people are in Just
right mood 10 reach up and take Christ
by the hand, II you will only show
them how.
But before / close bethInk myself
of one fact Perhaps you are not yet
lifted to go forth on these errancs OF
gospel mercy. Whyr Perhaps you are
today hearing Gods voice which spoke
at the tomb OF the dead Lazarus and
yet you yourself are sitting or stand
ing before me bound hand and foot
with the graveclothes OF past sins.
Then. my friend, will you let me re-
move them In Christ's name? VIII you
let me take away that sin OF the hand.
that sin or the foot, that ain of the eve.
that sin OF the lip, that sin of the
heart? Paul. the chief OF sinners. was
once bound as you. VIII you let me,
In Christs name, speak unto you the
words Of hope? Then, like the good
Ananias OF old, / will say unto thee,
blinded with sin, Brother Saul, Broth
er Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, whom
thou hast seen OK the Damascus road,
hath sent me that thou mightest receive
ger or cold or financial exigency of
some sort drove them to crime. God
inspire US to help those who are with
out work to get work. and those who
are without food and clothing to get
food and clothing. and those who are In
financial difficulties to weather their
few months of financial storm. Helm
that man financially. Do you not hear
the words OF my text. Loose him and
let him go;" God will save that man
in financial distress IL you disciples will
do your part
We must ssye men morally as well
as help them Intellectually and finan.
ciaEy. apply that word morally" to
all that is most vile and corrupt in
human nature I do nof hnvvovor an