The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-08
YOUNG MEN SHOULD
 HAVE LOFTY AIMS
Rev. MT. West Breaches a
 Practical Sermon
THE FIRST OF A SERIES
Theme Was "Young Man in Busi. ness.p Pastor of the Warrior Methodist Church Sets Forth
 Principles and Rules.

The Rev. Sam P. West recently ap- pointed pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. south, at Warrior, preached yes ferday the first of a series of four sermons to young men. His text was from Prov. 22;29 "Seest thou a man dilgent in busi- ness? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men"
 MT. West said in part:
 This text is the divine code for busi- ness life Business has moro than it's technical meaning in this discussion- more than barter and sale. It stands for one's life work, whatever that is, whether 1t is a trade or a profession.
 Every young man should be in some business. God has ordained work, and 1t is therefore right. We are under the same obligation to fill six days with ac- tive, useful toll that we are to keep one day of rest. No young man has a right to spend his life in idleness because he may have inherited from the labor of others sufficient means to keep him from work. If he does. he forfeits his self TtSDcCl, anu dli Cletlii lO lHt ItHpNIl bl others. No amount of inherited means ever exempted any young man from the divinely imposed obligation to work. Every man owes this world the work of an honest, true, industrious life.
 Important Questions.
 What your business in life shall be is question of very great importance to you, and is worthy of most serious con sideration. Success or failure depends largely upon whether your work is con genial or irksome. Select work that will be pleasure to you, and one for which you have fitness. No one man can do everything, but, God never made a man that could not do something.
 What can you do best? What Is your individual bent? Better learn a trade if you cannot make successful profes- sional man. Better be a good mason, than an inferior physician. Better be a good carpenter than a briefless barrister.
 Sound principles must guide you in whatever trade or profession you select. Do not determine to make money at all hazards" Any amount accumulated in this way is achieved at too great a price. Men ought to make money, but making money is not the chief end of life. Don't let your soul dwindle to the size of dollar. Avoid all get-rich-quick schemes, and everything that has the semblance of gambling in 1t, and be satis- fled with legitimate profits from whatever you have invested, whether it is mind. l or muscle or money. Be satisfied to ac- cumulate slowly.
 Should Be Master.
 Every man shall be the master of his I business, and not let his business be his master. There are men who are as veri- table slaves to their business as any slave that ever picked cotton on a south ern plantation. Their business has mas tered them, and holds the lash over them
 with relentless hand. When our busi. ness prevents the discharge of the duties
 we owe to our homes, to society, and to God then are we the slaves of our busi- | ness. The wife of many a business man
 yearns for companionship in her hus. band she does not find. He will give her money to spend, but that Is not all she
 wants She wants comradeship with hel
 husband, and she has a right to 1t. His l children need his counsel and advice. A
 man may accumulate money and property at the expense of these sacred obligations | but, after all he has failed in the at. tainment of the highest and best things
 in life. An, this mad rush for money l To succeed in business, there are cer-
 tain traits that every young man must possess. He must be honest from plume | to spur--from his hearts center to hi. finger tips.
 Honest men alone give stability to com merce, and all others are but drift-wo on the sea of life. An Irishman said tha, l honesty was the best policy" for he | had tried both. A man who is honest as matter of policy is at heart dishonest man. Our own honor should be held inlin- tely above every material interest. Ths successful young man must be reliable he must be punctual; he must keep his promises. If he neglects his business foi pleasure, if he is dissipated. if he runs with the boys" and is fond of having a lark" 1t doesn't take a prophet to sec | what his end will be.
 Must Be Energetic.
 l He must be energetic. This is a fast | age. Competition is sharp. Go after the | business. If you do not the other maI | will, and the man that goes after it will get it. mountain moves slow. Better gc | to the mountain than wait for the noun | tain to come to you.
 l The young man must be thorough The conditions that confront us today make | this essential to success.
 He must be courageous He must keer stout heart. Discouragements will come | There will be times when he can see noth- | ing ahead but foreclosure and ruin. If he has lived according to the rules laid dowr | in this discourse they will be to him most | valuable assets in such a time.
 Every young man should be trustful Not trusting, but trustful. Trusting is | your life turned towards men Better bt careful about that. One matter especially to which your attention is directed. Solo mon says: He that hateth suretyship is sure" And: Be not thou one of then | that are sureties for debts" Do you set | the point? Did you ever stand" for any. body? If you have, the probability is you know q little something about this | as well as Solomon.
 Trustfu Is your life turned towards God. You cannot do too much for that Truth of Text.
 | Do you want proof that the text is tru, | of such as are ''dilgent --honest, reliable energetic, thorough, courageous, trustful | Look around you and see if you eve ' knew man to fail who possessed thes, quelities? Many illustrious examples coulC | be given. Would you make success in If,