The Washington herald., 1909-03-29
FATHERS And SONS
ARE GIVEN ADVICE
Y. NJ. C. A. Worker Addresses
Meeting for Men.
CLOSE LINKING OF DESTINIEs
Fred 3. Smith, OF New York, Talks
at New Masonic Temple of Fathers
Responsibility for Their Sons
weIfare-WOuId Brand Every SR-
loon IA Reception Hall to He'll"

Am ] my brothers keeper" was the
question asked yesterday afternoon az a
mems meeting in New Masonic Temple
by Fred b Smith, Of New York, inter
national secretary OF religious work Of
the Young Mems Christian Association.
II was an address Of exhortation, direct
e6 especially TO young men and TO fathers.
To the latter Mr.. Smith defined in un.
compromising terms their responsibility
for the moral welfare OF their sons. To
the young men he pleaded for conversion
II they had fallen into evil ways. and for
strength Of resolve If they had chosen
right habits of life.
Linking of Destinies.
Speaking of the close linking Of desti-
niles and the influence OF one man upon
another. the speaker said:
1t is not too strong a statement to
make to say that BY o'clock tomorrow
morning each man hare VIII have infiu-
enced for better OF worse, for happiness
or sorrow. for heaven or hell. and for all
eternity, some man with whom he has
come into contact.
Cain. when the Spirit Of God asked
Abel. replied with angry scorn: Am 7
my brothers keeper Yet I want 20 tell
you that we all are our brothers keepers.
and viii be held responsible for their
spiritual dsstinies.
You fathers Of sons. what are you
doing. how are you living. IN order that
your sons may grow up with the best
Influences around them2
Father. where Is your son to-day right
now? Do you know? Tell me where
you drink your whisky and I will tell
you where your son learns 70 drink his
Tell me where you do your gambling, and
/ viii tell you where your son falls into
his evil ways. The only difference IS
that your sons dissipations will carry
him farther and farther until he is be-
yond redemption.
VIII Be Too Late.
TT will be too late then, you father.
70 excuse yourself by saying you have
taken occasional drinks all your life and
they have never harmed you. They have
harmed you through all eternity by the
harm they have done your sons.
IF had my way, would brand evsrJ
saloon IN the world in large letters: This
Is a reception hall 10 hell"
Turning then 70 the younger men in
the audience. Mr.. Smith spoke Of the
dangers Of small beginnings IN vice.
Il am not afraid only Of the man who
puts on a white coat and sells drinks
from behind bar" he said. 4 am
afraid of the man who holds up a spark
ling glass 10 a young man. and says:
Take Just one. Goodness gracious,
don't be a sissy. II won't hurt you The
man who offers you that first glass is
himself a saloon keeper.
And the great danger from gambling
lies not so much in the organized gambling
dens, for men would not 20 20 them
II they hadn't had their thirst for the
game whetted in small ways first
would stop all betting on football games,
as well as all betting on wheat that is
not yet grown.
Time Is at Hand.
The time. young man. 70 decide be-
tween right and wrong is right now. at
this moment. Put It OF, and II viii be
too late. I would put an end for al time
TO every canting deathbed repentance. Do
you think you can live as yeur passions
cOuAsel through al the years OF your
lives. and then when the end comes, call
IN a clergymen and have him conse-
crate your soul to God. If he had the
strength Of nations and the power OF bill
lions, he could not remove from your soul
the weight of~the hsrm you have done
70 others"
Earl Carbaugh sang a barytone solo.
"Oh, 70 Be Cared For" and ElphOnzo
YOungs played a cornet solo. The Holy
City" Percy Foster led in the singing
Of hymns. The invocation was pronounced
by ". H. H. Smith