The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-12-07


date room.
A picture of all the delegates in
one large group was taken near the
Y NJ. c. A. before the start OF the
parade.
Who Is The Master. ..
Never allow your best friend to
become your master-Self mastery
is life," declared Rev. Roy L. Smith
pastor of the Simpson Methodist
church CT Minneapolis in his con
ference address delivered before
five hundred members of the Min
neSota Older Boys conference in ses
sion at the Lincoln school gymna-
stun last night. Rev. Smiths topic
was Our Friend the Enemy"
Rev. Smiths talk was highly spir-
ttual and educational as we'll as very
humorous and dramatic. His deliv-
cry was of\a rapid fire variety. but
his voice was clear and distinct
with wealth OF expression that de
liyered his message with clearness
to his hearers.
The cheers which greeted his var
ious utterances seemed to shake the
big building when the large group of
youths let off steam. His talk was
so interspersed with humor which
he used to illustrate points in his
talk that the large throng was re
peatedly convulsed in mirth.
The seriousness of his message to
the youth of the state was that
practically everything that was won
deful could also be ones worst
enemy. He detailed various things
which to the people seemed to be a
most wonderful thing but taken in
a different light raised havoc with
life of youth.
Rev. Smith quoted an utterance
of Dan Crawford upon which he bas-
ed his latter talk to brink out the
meaning of his message. eff you go
too far east, you come west"
Pick Friend From Enemy.
ut is hard for youth to distin-
guish the friend from the enemy
Your closest friend may become
your worst enemy. Your best pal
and friend may circulate the worst
thing about you. Why? Because he
knows more about you than anyone
else"
The speaker told Of the wonder
fulness of water and the place 1t
held in the daily lives Of men. He
then told of the great destructive
ness of water when it broke loose
and swept destruction upon towns,
cities and crops. "a wonderful
friend is water, but a terrible
enemy"
He illustrated the same thing with
fire, electricity and other things that
we're essential to life, but were also
enemies of life.
Have a fear-haVe a fear of the
thing that sears the soul. ] want
to talk to you of some of the things
that can break its way through into
a mans heart"
Damage Of Money.
He said money was a wonderful
thing and then went on to tell of
the damage money did to the soul.
The worst thing about money, said
the speaker was that 1t cost too
much. He illustrated the point by
telling of instances where man for
to gain more wealth.
81 believe that a man who allows
money to take away the best things
of life that it has cost him too much.
Real wealth is the thing you put into
heart and head and not into your
pocket to rattle. Wealth is the pow.
er to en55ylife. What wonderful
thing is this wealth we have in our
hearts, but a terrible thing when we
attempt to live on 1t.
Laughter he described as a Won
derful thing-but which was terrible
when a man learns to laugh at an
other mans misfortune. 1t is mock
cry, he declared, for a man to laugh
at a sacred thing, for 1t will never
mean anything to him again.
Optimism is a great thing, de-
clared Rev. Smith, but a terrible
thing when fellows built up to much
optimism and becomes blind to his
own faults. 1t is a dangerous day
for youth when he does his best
work, he said, for from that day on
he is likely to do his second best
work. He urged the gathering OF
young men to hold a daily race with
themselves to do just a little better
each. day.
"a wonderful friends is optimism,
but a terrible enemy is complacan-
cy. Thank God for the spirit OF
discomfort, for it will make today
do the best work you have ever
done"
Self respect he described as in
the man who respects his own
chastity, but he berated the con-
ceited who possessed the thing
which makes life hideous and costs
one friends.
He urged the young men to carry
religious faith into athletics. He
commended prayer and the spirit
that makes every man a servant or
God.
Bruce TaIlman, executive secre-
the election Of officers which was
held at the first session Of the con-
ference at the Methodist church
during the afternoon. Herbert
Leonard of Rochester was elected
president of the conference: Rus
sell Bracket, West Hi-Y Club, vice
president and Phillip H.
State School for the Blind at Fari-
bault, secretary. Others who were
nominated during the afternoon
were Edmond Jackson of Winona
and Kenneth Wilde Of Lake Crys-
tai.
r. c. Coffin Of Minneapolis pre-
sided as POSTMASTER at the banquet
meeting which started at $3.50 p. m.
last night at the Lincoln school.
The banquet was arranged by Mrs
John Page with assistants from ev-
cry protestant church in the city.
During the various courses OF the
meal the delegates from each town
and city in the district kept the as
semblage in an uproar. Bedlam
broke loose when, Clarence Angel
led the large throng in song serv.
ice.
The Mankato High school orches-
ira played several numbers during
the time preceding the start OF the
meeting. Toastmaster Coffin CALL
ed upon Bruce Tallman to introduce
the various delegations attending