The daily sentinel., 1913-03-03
(By REV. EDWARD G. LANED
Are the Young People Safe?'
q Sam. lS 29.1

The words of the text contain this
anxious inquiry of David, king of
Israel, when messengers came to
bring him tidings Of the battle be-
tween the royal troops and the rebels
under Absalom who had risen in re-
bellion against his father. Absalom
had been slain and when his question
was answered David grief knew no
bounds. In anguish Of soul he said
"Oh, Absalom. my son, would God |
had died for thee Some one has
remarked that the future of Absalom
would have been far different if from
boyhood David had lived for him.
That remark suggests contrast
between David's concern for physi-
cal safety of his son and his utter
lack of concern. seemingly, for the
moral and spiritual welfare of Absa-
lom.
The anxiety of David is that of ev-
cry parent How greatly concerned
parents are where the child is threat
ened with disease or physical injury
which may result in death We spare
neither means nor measures to effect
their recovery
What is true of parents is true of
individuals, and the public at large
Society concerns itself with laws and
appliances for the protection of hui
man life from physical harm and in
jury: all of which Is commendable
But. like David. parents and the
public and to very large extent
those who make up the public are not
concerned about the morals and spir-
itual injury that threatens and over
whelms human lives. resulting in
neral and spiritual disaster here and
everlasting destruction hereafter
The reasons for this lack of anxiety
and concern for the moral and relig-
ious welfare is due to one or all of
the following causes:
ID The heartless commercialism
which feeds and fattens on vice. What
can be expected of body of people
who make revenue to the extent of
millions out of the Generalization of
human life, and the debauchery of
human souls. Concern would mean
correction, and correction loss of
currency.
CD To ignorance of the power
within and the Influence without
which persistently assail the moral
and spiritual life.
CD To apathy and indifference.
(4) To hopelessness because of
lack of faith in the saving, regenerat-
ing and Transforming power of the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
This lack of anxiety and concern
of parents for the moral and spirit
ual welfare of the young is issuing
in results that are not only causing
individuals to cry out, is the young
man safe?" but Is causing many
parent to sob out their agony. oh!
child, would God had lived for
thee" And not only that but the
tides of anarchy, infidelity and un-
chastity that are sweeping over the
world today, over-topping the bar
riers raised by culture, legislation
and religion are making the public
question its own safety
The time has come to ask with
all seriousness. Are the young peo-
pie safe?"
The lack of anxiety itself is an
answer in the negative. No young
man or woman is morally safe in such
an atmosphere.
> But to be specific. the young peo-
pie are not safe.
/. Because of heredity. Every hui
man being enters into life handicap
ped from the start. The heir of all
the weaknesses. tqldencies. passions
and sins of their ancestors THE
slils VI tHe ldtnCIS are Nlslleu on lHe
children
H. Because Of environment. En-
vironment is a mighty factor in the
construction or destruction of life. a
city that allows its bill-boards to be
covered with photographic advertise
ments suggestive OF the sensual and
the obscence, that allows theatrical
productions that can be justly criti-
cized as Indecent" and positively
offensive" to be SO advertised and
produced is maintaining an environ
ment that is contributing to the NOR
al and spiritual undoing of its youth /
For that environment appeals
through the 3 Avenues of approach
to every human life: The lust of
the eye, the lust of the flesh and the
pride of life" But they are not on
ly environed by things but persons.
Young people are not safe when sur
rounded by those who would delib
erately debauch and debase them.
III. They are not safe, in view of
much present day teaching, l. e..
(a) That young people must SOW
their wild oats " hat stupendous ig-
norance that sentiment displays. Ig-
norance of the fact that the laws of
moral and spiritual harvest are the
same. A man must reap whatever
he sows. He that sows the wind
shall. reap the whirlwind he that
sows to the flesh shall of the flesh
reap corruption.
tb) That there is no sin. Every
system of teaching that puts evil and
error in the same category is bound,
sooner or later, to lead its advocates
into moral degeneracy. For If there
is no sin, if sin does not exist, then
no act of any kind can be sin. !
quote from one Of the most widely
read men of the present day: THE /
man who fails to meet the standards
of Righteousness and truth, the wom-
an who allows the ermine of her
chastity to be soiled have committed
no sin tif sin does not exist) No
matter what the worlds standard /
may be; no matter what the legal, /
physical, moral or penal consequence
of any act ma, be there Is Is 10 sin Il
Will not do to say that the false idea
that sin exists produces evil results. !
1t is impossible! As there is no sin, /
no actual evil Of any gnrt no matter