What a Young Man Ought to Know
“What a Young Man Ought to Know” (Self and Sex Series), by Sylvanus Stall, D.D., associate editor of the Lutheran Observer, and author of “What a Young Boy Ought to Know,” and other works. 281 octavo pages, neatly bound in cloth. Price, $1.00. Vir Publishing Company, Philadelphia, London, Toronto. Dr. Stall is an earnest evangelical worker, who desires to help young men. A key-note of the book is its motto, “Abstain from fleshly lusts.” The book contains sixteen chapters, among which are the following: “Equipment for Life,” “Personal Purity,” “Physical Weakness,” “Evils to be Shunned and Consequences to be Dreaded,” “Right Relation to Women,” “Marriage a Divine Institution,” “Who Should Not Marry,” “Early and Late Marriages,” etc. So far as we have perused the book, it seems to be eminently helpful and greatly needed. It is given to the public, indorsed by eminent clergymen, physicians, and educators. It is written in the fear of God, with a directness which can not be misunderstood, and yet with delicacy and chasteness of language. The author denounces the popular evils of to-day with no sparing pen, and eloquently exhorts to a pure, noble, strong manhood. We do not believe, as the writer claims, that danger from some of the dread contagious diseases is decreasing. And we are surprised to see the following sentiment in a Christian book: “The only proper study of man is man. The only way to arrive at the correct knowledge of human nature is by a study of human nature.” It is the old heathen idea of turning one’s thoughts inward. The only true way to know one’s self is by knowing God. This is the true end of man. See Job 22: 21, 22; 28: 28; John 17: 3. And yet the public may be thankful to Dr. Stall for the faithful warnings and earnest exhortations he has given to young men in this little book.