The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-22
YOUNG MEN SHOULD
co into SOCIETY
Rev. S. P West breaches Third
of a Series of Sermons
BENEFITS OF GOOD SOCIETY
The Relaxation Afforded by Social In
tercourse Is Helpful to Young
Men and Does Not Conflict
With Religion.

The Rev. Sam P. West, pastor of the
Methodist church at Warrior. delivered
yesterday the third sermon of his series
to young men. His theme was "A Young
Man in Society,"" The text was: God
eetteth the solitary in families
The preacher said:
A young man should go in society.
God has formed society by setting the
planted the Gregorian instinct in our
hearts. This instinct is found IN all animal
life.
Young men who work as they should,
need the relaxation that social intercourse
gives. Lutte strings must be relaxed, and
the music they give forth is all the
sweeter for their being occasionally I'M
strung.
While young men should go in society
much depends upon the young men, and
on the society in which they go. A
young man should be pure In his life.
He should be as pure as the young wo-
men with whom he associates.
God has not two codes of morals, one
for women and another for men. His
law requires purity in men as we'll as in
women and God does not require of men
that which they cannot perform.
Benefits of Society.
Young men will get in society refine
ment of feeling, a polish of manner,
and delicacy of ease they cannot acquire
elsewhere, and the influence of young
women over them will inspire them with
lofty ideals of purity and virtue, which
will be to them a mighty bulwark In the
time of temptation.
While young men should go into society
the average young men; those who have
to make their own way, those who are
working for a salary, or those who are
starting in business for themselves, can
not afford to be what we understand as
Society man." The amusements of
modern society are not helpful to re-
1igious life.
Young men of the class referred to can
not afford it from a financial standpoint
1t will require time they can Ill afford
to give. 1t will cost money. 1t may cost
more money than he can afford to spend
If So under the infatuation of society life,
the temptation to do wrong is very
great
Better not take the risk. If young
man lives up to the last dollar OF his
Income to meet his expenses in society, he
is as foolish as was Esau, who sold mis-
hirthright for a mess of pottage. The
average young man cannot afford to be
q society man.
But, in society he may find the purest
pleasures and the brightest joys. There
are amusements and recreations in which
he may indulge. I have never been will
ling to condemn the innocent amusements
and pleasures of life.
Recognizing our obligations to Almighty
God, and careful of our influence we
ought to get all the enjoyment possible
out of this life.
Not to Be Amused Continually.
But. a young man is not child to
be constantly amused. He should have
within himself resources for enjoyment
He should find pleasure and profit in the
association of the master minds who have
left their great thoughts in prose and
poetry He should not feel "a moment
unamused a misery"
When he feels his need of social recre-
alton, let him seek such as will be up
lifting 10 the eHtlTS man iheAO - ~
conflict between social enjoyment and
the religion of Jesus Christ-none what
ever Christ gave the endorsement of
his presence to social enjoyment, and
the joys and pleasures were not lessened
by his presence. His first miracle was
wrought at marriage In Cana of Gallilee,
that the joys of the occasion might not
be diminished. Let no one suppose that
the wine he made was Intoxicating. think
l could show conclusively to the con-
trary but that does not belong to this
discussion.)
Go only in such society as recognizes
Jesus Christ, such as is in harmony with
his life and will.