The Herald of Wales. — 1886-09-18 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

DLSTRICT COMMITTEES SUGGESTF.D.  THE YOUNG MEN OF THE PERIOD.  SMOKING A SIN.  A lecture on "Young men et the period" was delivered by the Rev. W. J. Bailey, of Pellstreet Chapel, at the weekly meeting of the Swansea Gospel Temperance Union, latdd at the Albert Hall, on Saturday last. Mr. W. Lean presided, and on the platfm la were the Rev. W. J. Bailey, Mr. Pilditch, Mr. Lloyd Davies, and others.  I ----The- meeting opened in a devotional spirit, after which the chairman made a few remarks in reference to the extending of tho temperance work in Swansea and neighbourhood. He was prepared to say that nearly all—if not all— of those who were in the habit of attending the weekly temperance meetings were teetotallers. This was very gratifying to the temperance workers, yet it was not exactly what they wished to see. It would add greatly to their gratification if they could see a larger number attending who were not teetotallers. They wanted to extend their work—not keep it in a limited compass. They wanted to speak to those who were not teetotallers, and not week after week to those who were. Those who were teetotallers should bring with them to the meetings those who were not. (Hear, hear.) He, the chairman, would suggest that the town Amid be worked by committees—each committee having a fixed district to work upon. He felt sure that there were many who would take a district, and teach the principles of temperance therein. Even if these workers could not win over converts to their side, they might be able to prevail upon many to attend the weekly meetings of the Gospel Temperance Union. There were about 35,000 teetotallers in Swansea—this was a large number, and spoke well for the temperance workers—but yet there still remained a large number unconverted, and it was on their behalf that he had thrown out the suggestions of forming working committees. Concluding his remarks, the chairman said that he knew that it was not a very pleasant thing to touch upon the subject he had touched upon, but he felt that there were times when a few words, however displeasing they might be, could be ;beneficially dropped. (Applause.) The Rev. J. Bailey followed with his lecture on "The young men of the period," namely, Means. Qum, Fop Smoker, Tippler, Rigmaromum, Hypocrite, Prodigal, Freethinker, Impudence, and Fiirt. Rich of the above named, espically the Fop .and the Flirt, were "taken off" with witticism that kept the audience in continual laughter, whilst, on the other hand, Mr. Bailey's delineation of the young tippler and the prodigal was such as to call forth sighs and sorrowful looks. In speaking about the young smoker, the lecturer gave his opinion on the habit of smoking. It was, said he a great physical evil, as well as a great nand one, especially to the young. Smoking leads young men into company; smoking and company leads to drinking; smoking, company, and drinking to gambling; smoking, company, drinking. and gambling to theft; smoking, company, drinking, gambling and theft often to gamble ; and smoking, company, drinking, gambling, theft and suicide, lead to hell. Ithad been said that a young man's first cigar was the first step to a life of sin, and he, the lecturer, believed this to be true, therefore he urged upon all young men not to commence the habit, and those who had commenced at once discontinue it. There were 16 millions sterling spent yearly on tobacco and cigars; 3 millions on snuff, and 130 millions on drink. This was far too much for England to spend on such articles—she could; not afford it. People talked about bad trade, and yet they spent such an enormous SUM annually on such worthless articles as were cigars, snuff, and drink. If they were to spend a hundred and fifty millions on manufactures, &c., there would be less talk about bad trade. Mr. Bailey concluded his lecture by stating that tha young men who were heeded for the present age were men with plenty of back-bone, and not jelly-fishes; young men with sound, honest principles—men who say a thing and mean it; who will stand and face the foe when duty calls them. Men who are not ashamed to take a clam in a Sunday school; those who will stand on the temperance platform, and lastly, men who will seek Clod in prayer, and will go out and preach his word. The young men thus asked for were men who were desired, whilst the other young men— Messrs. Quiz &c—were only a nuisance, and if lost would not be missed. (Loud cheers.) The Botiedictiou oloeed the meettihe•