The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-04-23
PROF. RUssELI's ADDRESS
TO B. Y. P. u

~ tulCu dfpFt~ldNtu anu 80 1aNofAOlN
commented upon that we publish il In
full for the benefit Of our readers:
Il fear the Lord from my youth"
wish TO express my appreciation of
/ the honor. because honor IL distinctly
is, of having been invited by the young
people of this church TO speak 20 them
on this occasion: the anniversary of the
Baptist Young Peoples Union
The responsibility Of speaking to the
young is one of the highest. and vet
one of the most serious privileges that
enters into mans life. Old age has
its fixed convictions. that have maturcd
with years of experience. Its brow
bears the wrinkles of misfortune. or
the callouSness Of cynicism, or again
the placidness Of happy and well
spent life. but the speaker can only en-
terrain. and interest with little hope of
controlling the trend of thought. Mid
die age with its activity ana vigorous
powers OF discrimination IS forming
convictions 10y experiences. and arriv-
ing at conclusions by the observation of
practical results in daily life.
Again the speaker is not destined to
leave lasting imprint. But with
youth the mind is susceptible of impress
slonS. Impressions that will last
through life. And whether those i'm
pressiOns are to be for good. for evil or
indifference Is the question upon which
/ depends the future usefulness and hap
pineSs of the man.
Youth Is the season Of sowing:
middle age the season of cultiva-
ton; old age the season of harvest
There Is not an old person before
me tonight who is not reaping
what he has sown in his early life.
There is not an old man within nv
hearing tonight who cannot in his ret
respective moments trace many of the
trm and controlling convictions Of his
life back 20 the impressions that were
received IN his youth by expressions
from someone IN whom he had conf
dence.
In the light Of this knowledge | re-
peat that II Is a responsible thing TO
speak TO the young. and he who does
50 should well consider his words.
| want to commend TO YOU tonight a
statement found in the 18th verse of
the 18th Chapter Of LIST Kings:
Il fear the Lord from my youth.
These are the words of Obadiah in
speaking TO Elijah. Obadiah was evil
IDENTIFY a man OF prominence He held a
very responsible position under Ahab. a
KING OF Israel And | want TO present
AttAA ~ q NNAANlNAtNAnlt tNdItlit lOT Lllo
youth of all ages. and present the scene
when he makes his call upon Elijah and
eNclaims in his defence. ~ fear the
Lord from my youth. -
We are here tonight 10 celebrate the
anniversary Of Baptist Young People
! Union, an organization created within
the Baptist church for the purpose of
interesting the young people in Chris
tan work. Some critics with all sin
eerlty are skeptical about the
multiplicity Of church organizations.
II Is felt by many that il has
a tendancy 70 weaken the organization
I OF the church proper. | do not share
the feeling that the multiplicity OF
organizations in Itself weakens the
organization Of the church. but the
danger turks in the purpose and man
| agement OF these organizations.
l share the belief that IN all Christian
organizations We must recognize the
fact that there Is one and only one 70
which all Others are merely auNiiiaries.
and that one is the church itself.
I l am in accord with the view that
no church organization should endeavor
TO establish It's own identity indepen-
dent Of the church. but its every work
should be SO closely welded 10 that Of
the church that il would be impossible
3
The value Of an organization depends
primarily upon its purpose. A good
purpose Is the ancestry Of good results.
and know Of no purpose that appeals
more strongly for approval than that
upon which the Baptist Young Peoples
Union is founded
l see IN II the great effort 70 develop
the individual power for Christ Of Young
men and young women. / see in it the
opportunity for the development OF the
latent Christian power that probably
would not be developed by any other
means. | see in II more than that: /
see the opportunity for leading young
men and women to an early recognition
OF Christ as their Saviour. Andafter all
has been said, that Is the greatest mis-
sion that could prompt the creation of
and justify the existence of any organ
lzation- The church must depend in d
large measure upon the auxiliary organ
lzations as its feeders. The great serv-
ice OF saving souls must be accomplish
ed through various channels of work.
and the earlier in life this work is done.
the better
Someone. approaching the value of
early instruction, has said, give him a
child during its childhood and you can
have him the rest of his life. No nation
can neglect its youth without destroy
ing itself. No Individual can have his
youth neglected without carrying the
pangs OF that neglect finally to his
grave.
have heard of churches neglecting
the youth, refusing the organization Of
socities for young people, but / have
yet TO find one of those churches that
can be pointed To as a progressive and
growing organization for God. Let me
plead that the young people of our com
munity stand by and encourage your
own organization. Do not lean too
heavily for active support upon the
older people, but bring your own ac-
Invites into play and into development.
Remembering at all times that the ac-
tIvlties of youth TO enjoy the security
of good results must be directed by the
wisdom and advice of age. Look to the
gray hairs of your community for
advice and counsel, but look TO your
own energy for execution and action.
Let US remember that the Baptist
Young Peoples Union, like all other
Christian organizations, is but an aux
iliary of the church itself. its great
mission being TO aid the church of God
IN the matter of saving souls.
All work, entertainment and effort
that is spent for the development of
your organization that does not come
from heart controlled by the supreme
desire of saving souls is instructed
energy.
. That your society has been the means
OF strengthening the Christian religion
and bringing numbers to the early rec
ognltlon of Christ as Saviour, cannot
be debated.
During its brief existence of posi-
bly, twenty years or more, it has pre-
. scented % the service of God rnnn and