The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-05-11

n NCAl - isAN Al'l Ky Uldllt wiz
~ has been preaching a series Of
sermons on the Temptations Of
Youth" has asked a number OF prom
incnt men and women to suggest the
way they think the Snares Of Satan may
best bS avoided
The replies embrace almost every
known theory Of combating the world,
the flesh, and the devil but, strangely
enough. no one has even so much as
mentioned the one potent weapon with
which temptation may really be fought
and overcome.
And that is the habit Of self control.
Teach the young that, and all the pow
erS of evil shall not prevail against
, them For them the wine shall sparkle,
bright eyes lure, the primrose path
beckon in vain.
Teach the Young that, and you have
given them the magic tallSman that
compelS success, that sets them IN high
places, that secures their happiness; for
they will be the masters Of their souls
and bodies, and may command fate IN
slcdu ol DtlnR us pupptl
Always, as long as humanity exists,
there will be temptations aSsailng us
Always We shall meet these tempta
,ions in a guiSe and an hour when We
least expect them Always they will
come upon Us when we have not time
nor power to argue or philoSophize or
even 20 count the cost: and then what
We do, whether we yield or resist, de
pcnds on whether We are accustomed 10
ruling our passions or are ruled by
them whether we have the habit OF sell
control OF not
Ii is not too much to say that there
is not crime that stains the world
with blood or a weakness that drcncheS
II with tears, that has not its origin IN
the flabby will power OF those who have
given away to every impulse and incli,
nation until they no longer have tht
power to resist wrong. For you can no
more summon strength OF character and
mind at will than you can physical
strength Both have to be built up by
years Of constant exercise
Take murder as a tragic example ot
lhiS. Not one murder " a thousand Is
prcmeditated A hot tempered man
takes offcnSe az some real or fancied
slight All OF his lie he has INDUCED
himself in bursts OF fury, and in his
moment OF supreme need he canont con-
troll his anger II masters his reason,
his judgment, even his sense OF person
al safety There is that thirst OF a
knife, or the flash OF a gun, and iel-
low creature lies dead at his feet.
Yet a moment before he had nc
thought OF killing The lack OF the
habit Of self control has made him a
murderer. and set him in the shadow ol
the gallows. or sent him a wsnderer
with the brand OF Cain upon his brow
to hide among the waste places OF earth
II is the lack oi the habit OF self con
troll that fills our pcniten,iaries witt
thieves. A boy starts out with the IN
,en,ion Of being honest and rising IL
the world by his own industry ant
thrift. But he acquires expensive tastes
He wants fine clothes. to ride in auto
mboilcs, to take girls TO the theater anc
to fine restaurants to supper lie ha'
never learned to deny himself or to Dc
without the things he wants, so h'
spends money he canot afford and get
IN deb, and then. when the bill collector
gets too pressing, he does things to th'
I cash register or ialsifies his accounts
!, is the boy who is brough, up witt
the habit Of indulging every whim VIII,
| yields to the temptation to steal Neve
the lad who has ben taugh, the habi
OF self denial
And eha, is drunkenness but ,h'
lack OF the habit of Seli.control, n,
man is so ignornant that he does no
know all that any temperance orato
could tell him OF the evil effects o
alcohol lie knows ,ha, he goes dowl
To the level oi the beast when he be
comes intoxicated lie knows tina, !
runs his health. impairs his mentality
decreases his earning power, pethap
dragS his family through all the hor
rors OF poverty and want.
Yet, because he likes the taste o
liquor, or the momentaty exal,ation
brings him, he will no, deny his ap
nstite lie has M cultivated power a