What Many Young Men Miss
By MEADE MAC GUIRE
THERE are thousands of young men throughout the country who seldom come into direct contact with religion. They are engaged in various lines of business, or perhaps are drifting about still undecided as to their life-work. They do not attend church. Only a very small percentage of the young men of the United States attend religious services regularly. They do not read religious literature, because comparatively little is written with a view to interesting them or meeting their needs. It is not always easy to address them on the subject of religion, for two reasons. First, it is a period in life when men are most likely to feel independent and care-free, and without any conscious need of religion; and especially is this true in this intensely practical and material generation. Second, for some reason, popular opinion or sentiment has raised a barrier between the intensely active, vigorous young man, who is filled with the ambition for conquest in worldly affairs, and the young man who belongs to the church, studies his Bible, and is not ashamed to have it known wherever he goes that he is a Christian. Now, this condition is to be greatly deplored, because— 1. These tens of thousands of splendid young men could be just as practical, and could enjoy their work just as much — and more — and have just as good a time — and better — if they were whole-hearted, sensible, genuine Christians. 2. The church is in desperate need of the vigor and enthusiasm, the moral and spiritual power, that such an accession to its membership would bring. 3. Notwithstanding all the learned discussion of theology and philosophy and higher criticism and science, the great fact remains that there is a future life, and for every human being a heaven to win and a hell to shun. 4. Thousands of intelligent, earnest, successful business men are ready to testify today that they missed the very highest and best of life during the years they drifted about without a definite Christian experience; also that since gaining this definite experience, they have found in it a mighty power to lift above the baser temptations to evil, and a practical source of comfort and encouragement during adversity, and the thing which really satisfies when everything else fails. MEADE MAC GUIRE.