The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-02-21
SERMON ON
YOUNG MEN
Rev. R. A. Williams Speaks Strong
Words in Their Behalf.
He URGES ACTION ON Y. NJ. C. A.
Emphasizes the Need OF Such An 0reanl-
7atlon Here.

Young Man. and %" sermon was AN
appeal Tor enthusiastic Interest in The
welfare Of our young men. Rev Mt.
Williams said 800 part: oar text de-
mands--
l. Promptue.s " Run % The young
mAu Ouc of the greatest difficulties
that the church faces today is that men
are enthusiastic and eager about every
thing except the Kingdom uiGOd. There
Is one word that wr may select which 4
"A kind of watchword OF the age, that
word is Rush II is written ou almost
every consignment of freight, 10 per
meatp. the atmosphere of almost every
business house. il l- the slogan of the
commercial world. and he who d-re-
CARDS il i- laggard 10 the race. The
young man Is we'll up Ia the front and Il
the Christian manhood of the day would
save him, il must Overtake him, 10 must
must be prompt. eager. enthusiastic,
with words of the angelic representative
of God we must Run. and Speak 10 This
Young Man" Like our blessed Master
we must work the works of Him that
sent Us while IL is Yet day, for the night
cOmeth when no man can work. Our
texts demands also
n. Personal Appeal-Run. speak TO
this v0ung mon. The greatest draw
back 10 the church t0dayis nOtiniidelity,
NOT atheism. not ugnO-tic,Sm. Mr. In
ger,0ll has no conspicuous successors, on
the contrary great undercurrent oi
faith moves steadily beneath the trou-
bled surface of the waters OF lie, but
that which irightens us, that which
paralyzes Us. that which unneryes Us is
A terrible Indifference and ! know oi no
corrective. no force that will trAnsngure
Indifference into enthusiasm 80 quickly
and so thoroughly as strong. eager per
soual appeal.
We shall need prayer We cannot DO
without this the mightiest potential
agency which the children OF God have,
for il II upon the silver rung- OF this lad-
der that We bring down the unseen ngi-
merits Of God 70 our aid oh. Yes,
let us get To our kness, oh Israel, 70 our
knees, but in the face of the tremendous
needs all around Us. IN the i8ce OF the
Young manhOOi rushing into an unseen
and untried future. let u not stay there.
1 mere X hllUhAlEA AfN AAftNAft o. o." NAtf
mighty and magnetic step oi personal
appeal. / know of nothing that will
send the blood rushing through our
veins, and stir the soul, and tighten the
fbres of the spirit as a personal crusade
in behalf Of the kingdom OF God. Our
text demands
Ill. Promptness, Personal Appeal Be-
cause There is q Young Man Involved
We must be prompt 20 appeal 10 him be-
cause be il now impressiOnable. Speak
10 him now. therefore, because his heart
is soft and tender when the granite OF
the years has not hardened his soul and
the voice Of his friends be only a mocking
sound that echoes back to them from a
cliff. Speak 70 him now ere the tiends
have laid their ghOstly hands upon him
and the minions Of hell have stpaked his
soul with black Speak TO him now ere
the hope that once cleaned before bis
white soul has been wiped from his hori-
zon and il trailing in the dust In the
coming days be shall not forget II, Tor /
doubt not there is many man IN this
great crowd who canstill feel the touch
of a vanished hand and the sound Oi a
voice that is still Oh, my friends,
where il be- tonight? The boy that once
played at his mothers knee and sang the
songs OF happy childhood. IL helm some
ben.hOle tonight Is he where the at
mosphere is poisonous and his young
spirit is being transmitted by the alchemy
Of some deyilish chemist | pause 90 OF
fer nv need of praise 10 The Star and
The Free Lance, OF this city, for time
ly reference to the needs OF a Young Mems
Christian Association in this town.
When the consecrated and dauntless en-
thusiasm OF the young men OF the capt
tai city, led and held together by that
splendid specimen ofChristian citizenship
Mr.. Joseph Bryan, in a lightning cam
paien raised more than 1900, 900 and
laid il on the altar for building OF
this character, they gave magnificent
answer 20 the question:
What is the value OF the young man!
bid God speak 20 Danville, who pro
poses to put up a $4,000 building for
this purpose: but ask what's the Chris
tian citizenship OF fredericksburg going
TO do in behalf OF her young manhood
Where in this town can q young man 20
when business is over and the night has
come? Where shall we find the institu-
ton which aims 10 make man OF him
a man from the ground up, physically,
intellectually and spiritually. Outside
of the churches OF this place, what Is be-
ing done for him. believe we ought to
build a Y. NJ. c. A. to cost not less than
$4,000 put the institution on lts ieet.
man it. direct it and stand by it until its
light shall be fixity in the moral at
mosphere OF this place The young man
is worthy OF it. He needs it. He is here
for great things-irom his ranks we
must draw our presidents, call our COM
mercial PRINCES, summon our statesmen
and find the spiritual guides OF the race;
yes in the ranks OF this magnificent body
of toilers we must have the great sea
wall of q nations safety.
The sermon was listened TO with great
interest and the excellent music rendered
was an enjoyable feature OF the service.