New Britain herald., 1921-06-27
EACH PERSON ALONE
 CAN MOULD DESTINY
Rev. C. M. MiSSirian Gives Advice
 to Young People

Stanley Memorial church. took for his sermon yesterday a timely topic, one dealing with religion and youth, during which the clergyman ex- plained that in the past, as at the present, the older generations worried considerably over what they termed the lack of religion in the rising generation. In this sermon, the preacher said:
 Tt has been the sad refrain of the generations in the past. as we'll as of the present to decry the lack of en- thusiasm and devotedness of the youth to religion and church.
 "The young people in each genera tion have been criticised for their lack of interest in matters of religion and in serious thought. And in the process of time when a generation of such young people have settled in the years of maturity they also in turn criticism upon the youth of their own day. forgetting that they were also once subject to severe and unjust criticism.
 "The human soul, whether young or old. is incurably religious. The sense of dependence on a Supreme Being, the distinction between the right and wrong type of living. and similar feelings or aspirations are potentially dormant or fully de- veloped1 and expressed in living creatures, just as the life of a tree or bush is potentially inlaid within its seed.
 Religion expresses itself in differ ent forms in the various periods of life. It will be quite abnormal to find the religion of child, perpetu- ated in exact way and form in the life of a mature person. And yet the young people are quite often severely criticised because they do not act or do in religious matters in the same way or form as their parents or grown up friends do. Considering the unique period and chaotic times in which we are living. I think the youth of our generation is doing fairly we'll. The girls may be a little over-stylish in dress. and young men wild" in their conduct, but they all are working hard and facing squarely this badly damaged world with all its puzzling and mixed up problems and world condition which is handed down to them from the older generation. The youth of our gen. eration. unlike the former ones, are true and loyal at heart. frank with each other and with their elders They are eager to bring right and peaceful relations in the affairs of the world and fully appreciate the church and religion which give 2rac- ical messages and honest and sincere expressions to various phases of human life.
 ''The youth of our generation is religious. The great dormant possi- bility of that instinct should be brought out by two essential means-I the individual effort of the young person and the intelligent and exemplary work of the parents.
 My young friend: Be ever thoughtful of your 'after-man'. the sort of creature you will be ten years ortwenty years from now. His des- tiny is in your hands, in your keep ing. You can. by your actions and habits. either make his life happy or miserable. Your 'after-man' or aft er-woman' depends on you alone. If you want a good investment, invest in your 'after-man'. Act today, so that ten or fifteen years from now. with a strong body and trained mind your 'after-man' can step in and continue your work. To do this only a little care. a little forethought, a little restraint are necessary.
 Tn the first place. evil habits should. be summed. for if you begin them you plant the seeds that will grow and mature in after years. In your daily thoughts, in your com panionship, at your conversations. at your pleasures, you are either dig ging grave of destruction for your 'after-man' or a step ladder, where upon it will soar into the heights of happiness and immortality.
 God, your creator and Heavenly Father wants your early years. It is fatally wrong and unjust to withhold our youth from God. A Christian woman was employed as a nurse in |a house where a dear mother lay i'll. Her daughter. a girl of fifteen, had never given her heart to Christ, fear ing that by so doing she might lose some of her youthful pleasures, and saying that when she grew older. then she would give herself to the inter- ests of church and religion. One day she came into the house bringing a bouquet of beautiful fresh carnations for her mother. The nurse con- mented upon ther loveliness and then said. We will not take them up to your mother now-they are too fresh and beautiful: we will wait a few days until they have begun Co fade and wither.' The young girl was surprised, almost indignant and sought an explanation for such a seemingly unnatural course. Said the nurse: Is not this what you are doing to your Heavenly Father? Are