The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-04-23

70 work with the youth. The Baptist
Young Peoples Union of this church
should be a beautiful door Of entrance
into the brotherhood Of this Organiza-
ton. the church Of God.
present you the example Of Obadiah.
who feared the Lord from his youth.
should love to see you men and women
OF material power. | should love 10 be
able TO suggest to you the means by
which you could hOnorably accumulate
comfortable wealth and pleasure and
enjoyment | should cherish the
thought Of being able to prepare YOU
for the adornment Of some high
position in life. but with all the
strength Of which | am capable. l.,
Of all. wish 70 impress upon YOU
your duty; nay. did l say duty. Rather
should | say. your blessed privilege of
learning in early life. in early youth.
with Obadiah to fear the Lord.
This, rs | take 1t. is the mission and
the sole mission Of the Baptist Young
Peoples Union. or any other league or
organization of young people for the
cultivation Of the Christian graces. IL
Is matter OF great concern 10 edu-
cate one way or the other for the solu-
ton Of the problem of life. but the mat
ter OF supreme concern is the develop
uent OF Christian character and prep
/ aAANiou 10y lIC Ire nGNOOt.
My young friends. there is every
reason why. like Obadiah. YOU should
accept the Lord in your youth.
cynic has said that youth is a blunder.
manhood a struggle; age a regret. /
am unwilling to subscribe To so pessi-
miStc view of life. but whether or
not this be true will depend upon the
manner IN which We endeavor to work
out our own salvation.
| outh Is the entrance to life. IL is
a season in which We make our prep-
aration for our first impressions of life.
and give life Ks first impressions of rs
You know the value of first Impressions
You then know the Importance of this
preparation. Some have said that
90 per cent of the men are failures in
life, That may be true. but that does
not destroy the fact that il is within
the power Of 100 per cent Of men to be
successes in life. II may not mean the
success OF gratifying some commercial
/ ambition. TO be prince in the world of
finance. Ii may not mean success in
the qualification of n human ambition
for political position or worldly power
II may not mean the success of satisfy
ing some individual. peculiar. eccentric.
or even decidedly cOmmendable desire
/ but II does mean success in that which
]
OF Cody life that can be traced from
early youth through it, winding WAYS
/ ny the little flo ~ers of kind words. be-
nencent actions, pure example and God
| ly meditations until old age is crowned
| with peace that passes understanding.
| As someone has said. man Is simply
what he started 60 be when a boy.
You remember the story of Absalom.
lou remember that David was doubt
less loving father. but a very unwise
one. lou-remember the neglect in the
early training Of Absalom. and when
the messenger came back and reported
TO David that his armies had been vic
torious. eNultant in the triumph. he
proclaims TO David the glorious news
OF victory. but David, recalling his son
as traitor, rebellious against his
father 5 house, forgetting the victory,
exclaimed, Is the young man
Absalom safer When another
messenger rushes up to proclaim
the victory again David ignores the
mighty things that have been done bv
the army and inquirers. lis the Young
man AosalOm safe?" Absalom was
dead. He died q traitor. In the Ian
guage Of another il was not so much
the weapon in the hands Of the enemy
that killed Absalom as the neglect Of
his youthful training by an unwise
father.
Youth. my friends. is the period in
HE when all the influences must be ex-
ercised that are To control the actions
habits and thought of the future man
The decision for Christian service i'm
youth Is something in which YOU have
the deepest interest Of everybody
Your friends with whom you daily asso-
clate, If they are worthy Of the name
OF friends, rejoice at your early de-
cision.
Your father will rejoice in the Ian
guage of Solomon, that "A wise son
maketh glad father. and who will not
say that II Is part of wisdom to make
this early choice? "A foolish son is the
heaviness Of his mother" and who will
not cOncede that IL is foolish thing to
delay this choice2 But the very God.
your creator. is deeply interested when
he says, Remember thy creator in the
days Of thy youth. But Of all beings
you are the most vitality concerned.
The development OF Christian life
should be matter of first considera-
ton with everyone. What does II
profit a man if he gain the whole would
and lose his own soul?''
Youth Is the most appropriate sea-
son, when the mind is more easily
guided by good influences. When YOU
have not become hardened by tempta-
tons. When the neck is not hardened
and the heart Is not callous. good impress
sions are more easily and indelibv re-
celved than at any other period in life.
II is again the just thing to DO. 1t is
blessed thing TO see the man. after
spending his life in Christian neglect.
when the shadows are falling far TO the
east, give his heart to God. Ii is a
grander sight to see the aged man
whose every year from childhood has
been golden link in the chain that is
10 lift him to Heaven.
hope 1t may not be considered
selfish thought TO say that il is the
profitable time TO develop this Christian
life IN early youth. Ii brings a divi-
dend of peace of mind Ii brings a
dividend of material things. Indeed il
brings a dividend of health. prosperity
and all things that conspire to make
life enjoyable.
Il have been young and now am old,
yet have not seen the righteous for
saken or his seed begging bread. -
Seek We first the kingdom Of God and
his Righteousness and all these things
shall be added unto you"
There rs scarcely a man whose youth
was spent in the neglect of the Chris
tian grace who must not use the Ian
guage we find in Job: His bones are
full of the sins Of his youth which shall
lie down with him in the dust"
My friends of the Baptist Young Peo-
pies Union, ! rejoice tonight in the
prosperity of your society.
l share with you the peculiar Joy that
you have this opportunity of develop
IN u, II.