CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.

INTRODUCTION.

Responsibility of the Teacher's Mission-Importance of a Single Thought-
Facility of the Youthful Mind-Author's Sympathy with the Young-The Sea
of Life-Life, a Scene of Progression-Anticipations of the Young-Dangers in
Life's Journey-Youthful Fear and Instability-True and False Bravery-
Moral Courage-Free Institutions, a Nursery for Youth-Self-made or Never
Made-Good and Bad Luck-Youth, the Seed-time of Age-Age, the Har-
vest Season of Life-The Young, Heirs to the Past and Future-What will you
do with the Future?-An Answer demanded-Duties and Rewards of the
Young..

Page 9

LECTURE II.

MEDITATION.

The Seed-thought of Future Usefulness-True Mode of Meditation-Mental

Impulses-Vacillation, the Ruin of Thousands-Pioneers of a New and Better

Era-Propriety a Jewel-What Constitutes Virtue-The First Lesson of

Youth-The Hopes and Glories of Youth-Noble, Self-poised Mentality-Power

of Temptation-Self-denying Energy-A Truly Noble Character-A Pattern of

29

Excellence..

LECTURE III.

THE DANGERS OF IMPULSE.

The Dangers of Impulse-Obstacles to Virtue-Evils of Ungoverned Passions-

Criminality the Fruit of Impulse-Restraint of the Animal Passions-Enthrone

ment of Morality and Intelligence-Self-government the Soul of Progress-Pub-

lic Evil flows from Individual Vice-Our Future in the Hands of our Youth. 43

FORMATION OF CHARACTER

Life is for a Purpose-A useless Life-What is Character?-Character Self-made

-Duty of Parents-Chance Character always Evil-Choice of Vice or Virtue

open to all-Will or Circumstance Clothe the Mind-Goodness the orly Source

of Happiness-Character is "catching"-Inter-relation of Minds-Power of

silent Influence-Way to do Good to the World-Molding Immortal Minds→→

Every One can be a Benefactor-All intended to be Happy-A vicious Course

one of Difficulty-Vice respects Virtue-Character the Soul's Habiliment—

Character Eternal...

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LECTURE V.

CHOICE OF AVOCATION, AND PERSEVERANCE

Man must Live for both Body and Mind-Temporal and Spiritual Interests no

at War-Every One should have a useful Pursuit-Special Training for the

Avocation-Pursuit adapted to Capacity and Taste-No Settled Business pro-

motes Vice-What Perseverance has done--The Great in Mind are Laborious

-Industry a Passport to Greatness-Friends and Success attend the Diligent-

Mental and Physical Labor give Power-Nature a Scene of Labor-If you

would be seen, Shine-Real Good on the Mountain-top-Idle Genius Unsuc-

cessful-Brain, and Hand, and Nerve must Work-Life in Earnest........
73

LECTURE VI.

HEALTH.

Health the Foundation of all Successful Action-Bright Stars oftenest Eclipsed-

Health a Binding Duty-Omniscience of the Eye-Omnipotence of the Hand

-Disease makes Man a Blank-Natural Death Rare-Disease a Penalty, not a

Curse-Health a Duty to Friends and to God-We Daily Sin against Ourselves

-Prevention the Best Doctor-All Else rather than Health Studied-Disease

Disgraceful-Ignorance the Mother of Disease-Youth the Hope of the World

-How to Preserve Health

LECTURE VII.

TEMPERANCE.

90

▲ Deceitful Sea of Pleasure-Danger unconsciously Near-Elements of Intem-

perance within Us-Save the Image of God from Blight-Bodily Pains preach

Temperance-What is Intemperance-A Personal Test of Intemperance-

Appetite, a Voice of Warning-Drunkards not the only Intemperate-Rich

Tables the Bane of Temperance-Little Roots support the Main Trunk-Youth,

the Seed-ground of Wheat or Tares-Ultimate Effects of Temperance

106

Laughter is Purely Human-Conflicting Opinions on Amusements-Importance

of a Right Decision-Amusement a Natural Instinct-Nature a Great and Just

Teacher-Why does Man crave Amusement?-Mirthfulness a Primitive Fac-

ulty-Hilarity promotes Health-Quality of Amusements-Excess a Source of

Dissipation-Exciting Amusements Dangerous-Proper Amusement Spiritual

Enjoyment-Amusement should blend with Duty-Home the chief Scene of

Amusement-Foreign Amusements Unsafe-Amusement removes Care and

Sorrow-Labor and Recreation should not Conflict-Home made Happy by

Amusements.......

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LECTURE IX.

MUSIC.

What Music really is-Power and Influence of Music-The Soul Baptized in

Music---Music a Universal Language-The Harmony of the Universe-Music

is the Voice of Love-Music the Voice of Worship-Cultivation of Music—

Music a Spiritualizer-Prostitution of Music-Music an Essential of Educa-

tion
187

LECTURE X.

CHASTITY OF LANGUAGE.

Mind, the fountain of Happiness and Misery-Creation, the Embodied Thought

of God-Power and Dignity of Language-Charm of Pure Language-Groveling

Minds employ Vulgar Words-Home, the place for Pure Speech-Home, the

School of Life-Simplicity, the Beauty of Speech-By-words Vulgar-By-words

Senseless-Profane Swearing-Evils of Profanity-Quaker Anecdote-Pure

Dress of Thought

148

LECTURE XI.

CULTIVATION OF THE INTELLECT.

General Adoration of Intellectual Capacity-Creative Power of Intellect-Uncul-

tivated Intellect has few Pleasures-Cultivated Intellect Grasps the Universe—

Geniuses of the Past-Mind Immortal-Mental Culture Progressive-Culture

gives Power to do Good-Knowledge is Power-How shall the Poor be Educa-

ted-Poverty a Mental Stimulant-The Wils the Way-Poverty, a good School-

master-Glory of Cultivated Intellect

169

CULTIVATION OF THE MORAL SENTIMENTS.

Moral Sentiments, the Imperial Crown of the Human Soul-Moral Culture neces-

sary-Immortality, the Glory of Man's Being-Alliance of Man with his

Maker-Adversity Fortifies the Soul-Moral Force, the Fruit of Trial-The

Storms and Trials of Life-Moral Power Invulnerable-The Five Moral Jew-

els-Veneration-Link between God and Man-Benevolence-Power and

Scope of Benevolence-Conscientiousness-Hope-Fraternity of the Moral

Affections-Faith, or Spiritual Light-Result of Moral Culture

LECTURE XIII.

CULTIVATION OF THE AFFECTIONS.

Page 176

Man's Sympathy with the Sentient Universe-Affection, the Motive Force of the

Soul-Power of the Affections-Charm of Reciprocity-Omnipotence of Love-

How to Cultivate the Affections-Moral Worth the Basis of enduring Love-

Reverence for Moral Purity-Reason and Will, the Guide of Affection-Filial

Affection-Trust only those who Love their Parents-Fraternal Affection-Love

of Country-Universality of Home-Love-Patriotism-Philanthropy-Universal

Brotherhood

LECTURE XIV.

COURTSHIP.

194

The Season of Courtship the most Important part of Life-Too Serious a Matter

for a Joke-Why Marriage is a Lottery-Superficial Courtship-Marriage Re-

veals the True Character-Love Character, not Person merely-Feeling, not

Reason, leads astray-True Object of Courtship-Proper Age to Select Compan-

ions-Childish Courtships unsafe-Evils of Premature Marriages-False Ideas

of Married Life-Proper Age to Marry-A Companion without a Character-

What is a Companion ?-Courtship should Reveal the True Character-Mutual

Hypocrisy and Deception-Court for the Future as well as for the Present-

frue Marriage not a Lottery
211

LECTURE XV.

MARRIAGE.

Marriage, the Foundation of the Social Fabric-Improper Marriage a living Mis-

ery-Marriage should be made a Study-Ignorance, the Bane of Matrimory—

Importance of the Results of Marriage-Characteristics of the Sexes-Contrasts

and Affinities of Character-Goodness does not constitute Harmony-Duty of

nearly all to Marry-Matrimonial Candidates Classified-A true Mate the other

half of Self-Honesty in Matrimonial Matters-Marrying for a Home, Money,

or Passion-Study thy Constitution-Harmony of Temperament-Intellectual

Adaptation-Moral and Social Harmony-A thorough Acquaintance neces-

sary.

...

229

HOPES AND HELPS.

LECTURE I.

INTRODUCTION.

Responsibility of the Teacher's Mission-Importance of a Single Thought—
Facility of the Youthful Mind-Author's Sympathy with the Young-The Sea
of Life-Life, a Scene of Progression-Anticipations of the Young-Dangers in
Life's Journey-Youthful Fear and Instability-True and False Bravery-
Moral Courage-Free Institutions, a Nursery for Youth-Self-made or Never
Made-Good and Bad Luck-Youth, the Seed-time of Age-Age, the Harvest
Season of Life-The Young, Heirs to the Past and Future-What will you do
with the Future ?-An Answer demanded-Duties and Rewards of the Young.

No position in the minister's or the author's life is more

responsible than that of lecturer or essayist to youth.

And if apologies from a mortal are ever needed, they are

when such offices are assumed. If a man should ever

tremble, it should be when he essays to impress convictions

upon youthful minds; for in them he will touch chords

strung by the Infinite Organist of creation, which will vi

brate when he shall be gathered to his fathers, which will

echo and re-echo from hill to hill down the valley of life,

and reverberate along the shores of eternity. A thought

struck into a young mind! Who shall tell what it will

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