Year: 1879

ultrn-rationalism would soonest dispense. The
philosophy which refnes the idea of the Deny,


until personality is almost entirely lost, wouiu
see little use. and possibly some abSidIt'' IN
direct appeals To Power which Is no more
than nm abstract idea, and which exercises no
sprcial influence over mortal aiitlrs. mere
is another theory that, as the Deity must
know better what we need than we can
pcs.ibly know ourselves, and Is at the
sa,ne time all-brncyOlcn., 10 Is qn'e
unnecessary TO trouble Him with our
notilions. To these views or notions III Is
generally supposed that a larger number oil
pefsons now subscribe than ever before; that
we are living in IN age of peculiar enlighten-
ment; that "a great deal formerly regarded
with reverence is superstliious; while really
il does not make much difference what mali
believes, always provided he believes niue
enough Without obtruding upon the domain
of religious speculation, we may venture 10
refer to this phase of popular thought as al
fecting the general happiness and well-belng
of society The faith which claims to make
men better, more benevolent, more valuable
citizens, is at least worth considering. Chris
tianity advances such claim. and usually 1t
has had its claim allowed. Ii is only in mod
ern times that it has been largely and seri-
ousy questioned.


Ii is not necessary to say that if there Is
any mistake here it is one OF high import,
particularly to young men. Youth is seldom
n season of cautious r fection, but it is
time of frequent and often of fatal mistakes.
In this country, particularly. young men come
so early upon the field of active life, and are
taI
that failure at the very beginning Is one of
the commonest of catasrophes. The journal
ist has the best means of knowing how many
tragic shipwrecks often terminate their yoy-
ages of life at the out t-et. All the sins swarm
about those who most easily and naturally
yield to their scductions. The mother Is not
sure of her son: the merchant trcmblos for
his clerk and watches him with sharp
anxiety the Faculty of the college compre-
hemds the threatened decentralization OF the
classes and all this time ruin dogs the heed
! less, opportunity temDts the weak, and a
| Thousand foes besiegc the character as yet un-
! formed Advice is scOrned example is me-
! elected: suggestion is sneered at; and II the
young man affect to conceal his vice 1t Is
| thought to be much for often he does not
even condescend to do that.


This is the dark side of the picture, and
melancholy one for all who have occasion to
! trust the Young, or who love them. But there
! is n brighter view. How many Young Mems
! Christian Associations there are In the coun-
try we do not definitely know, but the num-
Der is large. Now, if these were merely asso-
! cati0ns for the promotion of the coldest
morality keeping the young In the paths Of
integrity. of temperance OF purity, fostering
n taste for harmless reading or innocent amuse-
mcnts, their value would still b. apparent If
they are no more. they are at least TINS though
we put their definitely religious character aside.
! They are at any rate serious and earnest.
! They profess to promote clcanly living, good
| faith between man and man, AN honest per-
Torrance of duty, and wise views of life and
Its privileges.


A sceptc may have his own theory Of
! the faith which prompts religious eXertion;
| he may more than doubt the efficacy of
prayer; bat lie would find it hard to show
that these supphants, if deuded, are at ell the
worse for their delnsion. Theirs is an error,
if it be SUCH which is full Of nobility. Their
aspirations have in them nothing mean and
degrading. If they are stunning naught else
they are al least stunning what all agree, or
should agree. to be folly. They most certainly
are not seeking for any young man that
through the possession Of which he viii be the
worse.