The Foes of Youth and how to Conquer Them.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3641, 27 August 1880, Page 2

The Foes of Youth and how to Conquer Them.

This was the subject of a lecture by the Eev. T. L. Davies at the Presbyterian Church, last night. There was a fair attendance. The proceedings commenced by the Eev. Mr Neill engaging in prayer and a hymn by the choir, " Forward be our watchword." The Chairman (Mr McCullough) then introduced the rev. lecturer in a few well-chosen words.

The Rev. Mr Davies, in introducing his subject, referred to the great interest the welfare of the young had for all ' classes of society. He said parents think of them with deepest interest--with mingled feelings of fear and hope, and watch over them with care. Ministers regard them as those who are to fill up the vacancies occasioned by sin and death in our churches, and who, under the blessing of heaven, are to be the moral renovators of our country. Patriots and philanthropists view them as the life-blood jof every community—as those 'upon ; whose shoulders will be suspended, in a ' few years hence, the whole fabric of our I social order and national prosperity. Heaven regards them with profound interest, and appeals to every element of their nature —now in language of admonition and reproof, and then in that of 'promise and tenderest love. But while the season of youth is deeply interesting and important, it is also peculiarly dangerous. Their spirits are buoyant, the imagination is full of fire, and the heart full of hope. Elasticity and freshness characterise the whole soul. They are full of hilarity, ardour, ambition, and hopefulness. Their extreme buoyancy sometimes beclouds the understanding, prevents consideration, intoxicates the head, and leads the feet astray. There is an earnest thirst for all kinds of pleasure. This often renders them impatient of control, urges them on to extremes, and plunges them into many difficulties and improprieties. There were two kinds of foes—internal and external; but the internal ones (the thoughts) were by far the most dangerous, as they were known only to the thinker, and unseen by the wsrld. Thought could work out great things, but it was also capable of many evil ones. The external foes were—First: Sinful companionships which were easily formed. Second: Gambling, which should be avoided in nil ' its forms, as when a young tain started i to gamble, he very often went on uutil he ! had ruined himself and his prospects for , ife, and it is generally associated with other crimes. Third : Intemperance, the great enemy of all good in young men. The habit comes on gradually, and very often is hardly noticed until it has a firm hold on its victim, whilt its evils are innumerable, depriving men of tlieir reason, ruining (.heir health, and debasing them to the lowest grades of society. Fourth: Bad books, which lowered the tastes of the people. The lecturer said that about 28,000,000 books and periodicals or^ an atheistical and immoral character were issued by the English press every year, exceeding by far the circulation of books that could be classed as good works. The theatre, the billiardroom, the bar, and the singing saloon were also briefly touched upon by the lecturer as having a great influence upon the youth of the present age. The choir then sang another bvmn, "The Lifeboat."

The lecturer having in the first part of his discourse, pointed out the many foes of youth, referred to the means to be taken to conquer them. The first requisite, he said to counteract these bad influences was promptness in refusing when tempted. The-next was watchful* ness. Young men should ever be on the alert, so that they could not be. taken off their guard. They should also improve their minds by intellectual and moral culture, making each book they read thoroughly their own ; and be guided by principles, which are ever the same, and not by circumstances. They should also choose good companions, who improved by their example all they came in contact with. In this days position was often taken before charaoter, but it was a mistaken idea. They should take as their model the life of Christ, who was the only good model who had come into this world, and follow in his steps. Iv conclusion, the lecturer said that as the young took example by their elders, parents should be very pare* fol of their conduct, Young men should

be brave and face the foe boldly, remembering that the path of duty was the path of glory. The lecture was concluded by a most eloquent peroration, in which the advantages of liviug a good life were pointed out, and the folly of indulgence in lustful pleasures were deprecated. After the choir had rendered the hymn "Christian Awake," and the collection had been made, Mr Bright moved rotes of thanks to the lecturer, the chairman, and the choir, which were carried by acclamation. The proceedings terminated by the singing of the doxol>gy, and the pronounciation of the benediction by Mr Davies.