YOUTH RALLY

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LIII, Issue 80, 4 October 1932, Page 6

YOUTH RALLY

ADDRESS BY REV. J. C. YOUNG.

"THE PEERAGE OP CHARACTER"

At the monthly parish service at St. David's Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening a special service was held for the youth of the church. The Rev. J. C. Young was the preacher and gave an inspiring address on "The Peerage of Character." Of all beautiful things in this world, a complete human life is the most beautiful, he said, but no human life is truly beautiful whose character is marred and incomplete. After declaring that one's character was one's greatest possession he went on to explain that the original and simple meaning of the word "character" is an engraving—something carved or inscribed in a man's nature. "In every thought we think, in every emotion we cherish, in every habit we form, we are busily engaged in cutting deep into our personality, so much character, character which makes us what we are and which at the same time is readable by others, and being readable by others, is bound to influence others." Character is the greatest motive power in the world and when we remember that we are the creators of this great power, we acknowledge, surely, the responsibility God has placed upon our shoulders. Here is a responsibility that no man or woman must regard too lightly. Character is something that takes long years to create —and it is something that becomes more and more beautiful as it draws nearer and near its completion. But character is not easy to win and when it is won it is not easy to hold. Mr Young said that for this reason he had chosen for his text the words of Elijah the Prophet to Ahab, king of Israel (1 Kings 21,20) "I have found thee because thou has sold thyself to work evil in the sight oi the Lord." That is exactly what happens when a man stoops tc wrong-doing or to a low life-purpose —he sells himself, he throws his character to the wind, he becomes a slave instead of a master.

Discussing the statement, "Your character is your birthright," Mr Young referred to the Old Testament story of Isaac's two sons, Esau and Jacob and how Esau sold his birthright for one morsel of meat to satisfy a temporary craving of a physical appetite, adding: "Our modern age has many Esaus —young people who in a moment of hot-headedness, passion or appetite sacrifice the best that is in them on the worldly altar of damnation. Watch that you do not sell your birthright—your Christian inheritance. If you do your life

tumbles in. If you have had a good physical and spiritual start in life thank God for it. You will go far in life if you build upon that foundation with material that will stand life's testings and buffetings.

. ■ "Character is something to be won. No one is born into the world with character complete. In every child are hidden potentialities. These express themselves for good or evil only as the child grows to manhood or womanhood. For the most part j character has to be won. We direct j our life either for good or evil, but in the directing of it, we are responsible beings, responsible for the character we create Far too much has been made of circumstances and environment of recent years, with the result that some still seem to think that man is the creature of these things. It is not true. It is only the moral weakling and the moral coward who hides behind the cover of circumstance and environment.

Character is something to be guarded, said Mr Young in conclusion. It takes years to create a character—it can be lost in a moment and he appealed to his hearers never to be off their guard if they valued their life and most of all their character. It was easy for the strongest character to be undermined.

The soloists were Miss Hilda Hutt, of Christchurch, who sang "Love Never Faileth," and Mr E. Rodgers, also of Christchurch, whose item was "Lead Kindly Light." They also contributed the duet, "Love Divine all Love Excelling."