The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-11-03
INTERESTING SUBJECT
relations Of the older Boy to the
Church Was Very Happily
Discussed by
Him.

lift movement make very interesting
address before the Ministerial Asso-
citation, taking for his subject, The
Relation Of the Older Boy to the
Church" Introducing his subject he
said:
sThe boy does not look, feel, think
or act like man. The calf is not
COW; the tadpole, frog; the C isa-
lis moth; the larvae, bee, or the
bow man. His physical, mental, So
cial and social life grows, Potential
", he is; actually, he is not. Jesus
grew in wisdom mentally, In stature,
physically, and in favor with GID, re-
ieionsly and man socially. Do you
expect any boy to beat that record?
What in your sesmcnz, plans, pro-
grams, policy harmonic with that
idea? Do you ever adapt sermon
to his immature and pecul ar needs?
Do YOU deal in doctrine or deeds? Is
IT creed and caution Or life and ac-
ton? Is 1t the speculations Of phil
osophy, or the heroism of men? Do
you begin where he is, or damn him
that he isn't where you are?
Some preachers spend SO muoh
time calling on the sisters, and fuss
ing with the Ladies Aid and caring
for the church nursery, ami operating
In the hospital OF wounded feelings
and imagined ills of sickly christ ans,
and catering to the whims CT good
financial prospects, that they haven't
time for cultural and training work
in the most promising field of human
endeavor. When you put more tine,
thought, study, invest ga ion and p ay-
er into the problem OF youth, the
church will advance more rap Oily.
After ideas are fixed, and habits TO M
ed. even the man Of GOD with much
intercession and great. effort can turn
a very limited numrer only from "a *
ness to light. The wise man will
work primarily, with child. en- and
youth. Ii you are not doing 1t. why
not? IL not now, when will you be-
gin to place the child in the midst,
and make him the center OF your
plans policy and prog ami He thea
emphasized the fact, in few strong
words, that the church must are fof
the fourIold needs of boy lie tn =
physical. mental, social and lei 81 us.
"she must aim to save him for lie
which stretches into eternity, ana not
for distant eternity only.
"Conditions, he SAID, make the
home almost complete failure Ia
dGVni1nmenI,
The relations of home life d. some
thing, but the lack for the broader
necessities of the social lie in tha
teen age is apparent to all. Fictitious
motives of values and wrong loeas IL
fashion and custom make it practical
ly impossible for the vast majority o.
homes to NEST the great and lnereas
ing need of young LIE along s2cia
lines.
THE home" he declared, doe
little, If anything for his mental, re
ligious and physical lie. She depend:
on the other institutions.
The school," he cont nued, is do
ing better than any of the othes t1rei
or all put together, to meet Its r spon
sibility, and yet every educator know
how far short 1t becomes OF the ent
desired. 1t should teach boy Y
know, to be and to do. 1t does falrl.
well the first but almost entirely fail
on the second and third Pouring II
facts for reproduction on examination
is not education, but stullif1catlon
Character is forgotten and turning
ideas into action, recent inVentiol
In trade schools and manual tiainin'
establishments. 1t is coming though
slowly. The cat found by the l1ttl
girl was a good cat. 1t had halr,
head, feet and tail. it was q mn
cat. There was only one thing wron
with lit was dead. 1t had no ilte
Such is the condition Of many VIII
leave our schools, either before or
examination. They look well, dres
hecomingly, behave properly and leaY
behind a record of fictitious marx
in the school registers. There IS oni
one thing wrong-they lack the III
which makes for character
The entire address OF Mr. Dfur
was gem of wisdom and good, hor
cts, practical thought along the I'm
of the ministerial and parental dut
and In conclusion he said:
"The church is the permanent II
Btitution. 1t has the spiritual, fyni
mic organization and equipment Sh
needs trained leaders. The Who'll
problem sums itself in good lie de
ship. Leaders s5 per cent and equil
ment is per cent. Give us men y
after men. Enlist men. Spend littl
time on the literary polish OF YOU
sermons and much en- finding an
training men,