The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-18
HOW A STUDENT
MAY MAKE GOOD
Rev. Frank L Wells Delivers
Message to Audience of
Young Men.
TEST OF LAWFUL PLEASURE
Restraint, Conviction and De
voutness of Daniel as
an Example.
TEST OF LAWFUL PLEASURE

II wish l might have framed and
put in the room OF every student IN
this city the words Of Mrs. Susannah
Wesley to her son when he was in
school She wrote to him. Would you
judge the lawfulness OF the unlawiui-
ness OF pleasure. take this rule: What
ever weakens your reason. impairs the
tenderness OF your conscience, OBJ
scureS your sense OF God. takes of
your relish for spiritual things. what
ever increases the authority OF the
body over your mind: that thing is sin
unto you, however innocent " may
seem In Itself" Thus spoke Rev.
Frank l. Wells to specially invited
audience OF students at the Broad
Street Methodist Church last even
ing. His subject was "a Student Who
Made Good"
The minister took his text from
Daniel. irst chapter. eighth verse:
But Daniel purposed in his heart that
he would not defile himself" Daniel
he said, was one of group of four
young mon chosen by the King ~
Babylon TO become students in prepu-
ration for public service. In the midst
OF luxury and corruption he attained
pre-emincnco and power through tho
strength of his character Tho story
OF his life is essentially one OF stu
dent who made good"
Must Learn Restraint.
Emphasizing the part played by SELF
restraint in the career OF the biblical
hero. Mr.. Wells said: Every man who
aspires to do and be anything worth
while in the world. must come to
realize tho place of restraint In his
l'fe. There are two voices that speak
within US. One is the voice of a
King and the other IS the yelp OF q
beast The voice of the King calls 20
high things and bldg US be masters in
a world OF splendid service. The voice
OF the beast calls for self-indulgence.
II says, Have good time at any cost
Be free man in free world In
other words. IT calls for license"
1T was related recently OF a great
surgeon that he gave up playing base
ball, not because he felt that playing
ball was wrong. and not because he
thought a und!gnired. He was very
fond OF the game. Hc loved TO play H.
But he came to realize that playing
baseball SO hardened and toughened
his hands that 1t affected the delicacy
OF his touch and rendered him less
ready for work. He asp,red to the
best and was willing 20 put restraints
upon himself TO follow his ideal"
Firity OF Purpose.
Tho second great characteristic OF
Daniels character. declared the speak
er, was his spirit OF conviction He
did not declare purpose one day and
give IL UP the next
1T took something OF courage" said
Mr.. Wells. Babylon was VIGOROUSLY
bad. Ii was a place OF spiurging SIN
fuiness. The life at the court where
Daniel was in training was enchant-
insly luxurious to one with u worldly
mind. But Daniels life in Babylon
WAS q rebuke to those who claim that
they cannot maintain their integrity
because OF their circumstances. Think
OF the circumstances ne faced Think
OF the many voices that called him
from his high position. But he was
young man of conviction and he stood
, Hr;n."
AS fine instance OF unfiinchinr in
tesrity' Mr.. Wells quoted the follow
Ing passage from Mark Twain's de-
script'on OF ruined Pompeii: Per
maps the most poeticai thing Pompeli
has yielded to modern research is thar
grand figure of Roman soldier, clad
in complete armor who. true to his
duty, true to his proud name OF Ro-
man soldier, and full OF the stern
courage which had given that name
its glory. stood TO his post by the city
gate. erect and unainchins till the fire
thar ragged around him burned out the
oauntless spirit 1t could not conouer."
Was Devout.
The third thing to be noticed IN
Daniels character" said Mr.. Wells,
was his devoutness. He had been
taught 1t, no doubt. back in his old
home. Maybe his father was a man
OF prayer. am convinced that his
mother was devout woman
When we are young 1t seems easv
to be devout. -he chlld's mind has
the very wonder of the world to work
In 1t reverence. Thus Wordsworth
speaks OF the child as having In his
heart the murmur OF the sea that
brought him hither'; of standing in
the light that never was on land or
sea- the light that all too early fades
into the light OF coming day"
Determine to have in your life
concluded the minister. "the spirit of
restraint. the spirit of conviction. the
spirit OF devoutness. and under the
favor of God YOU can come to large
place OF usefulness; you may win sue
cess In the largest sense of the word"