The Spirit of Our Youth
By Editor
ONE can not stand before the young men and women to be found in our various training-schools without feeling truly thankful to God for what he is doing for the youth of this denomination. How changed the situation to-day from what it was a few years ago! Then scores of our young people were attending worldly schools, and many who were attending our own schools were fitting themselves for worldly callings. But now we find hundreds of our young men and women who have dedicated themselves to God for service, and are seeking in our denominational schools a preparation for their life-work. These boys and girls of to-day will be the men and women of to-morrow, the burden-bearers upon whom the grand finishing of this great movement will largely rest. For these devoted youth we are indeed thankful. But what shall we say of the hundreds of young men and women to be found in every section of the country who are still contentedly attending worldly schools, and holding in their minds earthly ambitions? or of others who perhaps are content not to attend school at all, who are passing by opportunities which, if improved, might under God's guidance make them strong men and women in connection with this closing work. Some, we know, are kept at home by influences that they can not control. Upon some the burden of the family rests. Some are the support and staff of a widowed mother or feeble father. Some are laboring to provide others of the family with privileges which they themselves greatly desire. But we believe that even these young men and women are privileged to make a beginning right where they are. If unable to attend school during the year to come, they can establish a school in their own home. The history of this cause and of the world's work through the centuries proves that not those alone who had the greatest advantages achieved the highest results in life. The men and women whom God has used most mightily have been those who humbly dedicated their lives to his service, and made the most of their advantages, whatever they might be. How much might be accomplished by the young men and women who must remain at home during the year to come if they would devote their leisure moments to the prosecution of some study! In such effort an excellent help has been provided by this denomination in the Fireside Correspondence School. Scores of young men and women who have been kept at home during the last two or three years, have taken up the study of history, of language, or of science, and have made in their work a splendid beginning. If the way opens in the future for them to connect with some institutional school, that school will give them credit for what they have accomplished. Why should not every young man and woman in our ranks who can not attend one of our educational institutions, enroll himself as a member of this excellent school? You will miss much if you pass by the opportunities which may be offered you. You will gain much if you will resolve that the year to come shall bring to you an increase in knowledge, and if, with God's help, you will take advantage of the facilities that have been provided. First and best, if you can arrange to attend one of our institutional schools, do that; but if this is impossible, avail yourself of the help which you may secure through the Fireside Correspondence School, of a systematic course of study, under the supervision of experienced teachers. Do not be kept down. Resolve that by God's help you will make something of yourself for him. These years through which you are now passing afford the golden opportunity of your life. Resolve that you will acquire the very best education that you can. God will honor this resolution on your part, and will open before you ways and means by which it may be accomplished.