The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-11
New Pastor Tells Dangers of Too Close Contact
 With the World
DEADENS THE FINER
 THINGS OF LIFE
Thinks Period From Thirty to Sixty Years Is the Really Danger Ous Time of Mans
 Life

The Rev. pr. Preston B. Wells, the new pastor of the Highlands Methodist church, yesterday morning preached a strikingl sermon directed especially to nen-men in middle life.
 He called attention to the demands Of modern business and it's tendency to higher things of life. He took his text from Proverbs s:4. Unto you, o men, call" and spoke in part as follows:
 The message of this hour is for the man in middle life, and is about the man in riddle life. Comparatively few sor- mons are prepared specifically for men; and the few which are prepared have td do with certain specific sins, such as in- temperance and impurity. Poets, preach CTS and philosophers have dwelt upon the innocence of childhood, the glory of youth, the beauty of womanhood. and the dignity of age. It is only in general way that the perplexities, dangers, op- portunities and possibilities of strong manhood have been emphasized
 '''In the work of the church, the plans to enlist the energies of men have been few and feeble. There are meetings and anniversaries for childhood, for youth, fot wcmanhood; but few and feeble have been the efforts to enlist men,
 'Too often in our ministry we have for gotten them. We have neglected them in our pastoral worH. In our preaching we have forgotten their peculiar needs and dangers We have seldom given a warning to the man In active life, the man from 90 to 60 years of age.
 DANGERS OF MIDDLE LIFE
 There are peculiar dangers which threaten the man in middle life They are not the same as the dangers of youth, but they are equally perilous. "A recent writer has called attention to the startling fact that the instances of moral decay mentioned in the Bible were not recorded of those who were in the season of youth, but of those who had passed into the middle time of life. Scores of failures are recorded of those who had passed beyond the period of youth into ripe manhood. Many of these had for many a year been making a safe voyage; but before they came in sight of the other shore they made ship. wreck, or came near making shipwreck, of the faith. In illustration of this. look at the life of David Solomon, Saul, Snemas, Judas.
 i4eok at the history of tho present tune and you will fgld that the most fear fdl Instances of moral decay are found among those who are in the middle period of fife The great sins of today are committed by those who cannot plead the weakness and impetuosity of youth. Many striking illustrations of this could be given.
 Look at our own city, and you will Ind that the same is true. You will find that in the majority of cases the guilty ones had risen to places of trust, were respected.and at whom no finger of scorn or suspicion could be pointed
 'In hundreds of cases where thera has been no outward evidence of fear III moral decay, there is every reason 70. believe that there has been a loss - moral decay and spiritual power. deadening of the finer sensibilities, and an unconcern that is like a garment of night about the soul
 How shall we account for this?
 We must attribute these moral lapses to peculiar dangers which threaten the monday of life.
 CLOSE CONTACT WITH WORLD
 "t2) What are these peculiar dan gers?
 "(a) The close contact with the world has a tendency to deaden the finer spiritual sensibilities of the soul.
 You men are in the busy marts of trade. with eyes set keenly upon fi- nancial interests, touching all classes and conditions, beset by strong temp tations, and for six busy days in sue oession. The very atmosphere which you breathe is electric with material activity. You are in danger of having your eyes blinded and your ears made deaf
 There are doubtless men here today who once had living interest in eter- nal things; not only dId heaven lie about them in their infancy;' their very youth was cheered by the breezes from the celestial hills; but today these things are to them only dim recollection; today the life is steeped