Advice to young men and boys: A series of addresses delivered by B. B. Comegys to the pupils of Girard CollegeComegys, B. B. (Benjamin Bartis)
Religion
Advice to young men and boys: A series of addresses delivered by B. B. Comegys to the pupils of Girard College
Comegys, B. B. (Benjamin Bartis)
Conduct of life; Girard College
It would be very interesting if we could know their thoughts, and see
with what feelings they look back on their school-life. I wonder if
any of them regret that they did not make a better use of their time
while here. I wonder if any feel that they would like to become boys
again and go to school over again, being sure that, with their present
experience of life, they would set a higher value on the education of
the schools. I wonder if any feel that they would have reached higher
positions and secured a larger influence if they had been more diligent
at school. I wonder if there are any who can trace evil habits of
thought to the companions they had here. I wonder if any are aware of
evil impressions which they made on their classmates and so cast a
stain and a dark shadow on other young lives, stains never obliterated,
shadows never wholly lifted. I wonder if there are any among them who
regret that the opportunity of seeking God and finding God in their
school-days was neglected, and who have never had so favorable an
opportunity since. “If some who come back here on these commemoration
days were to tell you all their thoughts on such subjects, they would
be eloquent with a peculiar eloquence.”
I wish I could persuade you, especially you larger boys, to give most
earnest attention to the duties which lie before you every day. You
will not misunderstand me, nor be so unjust to me as to suppose that
I would interfere in the least degree with the pleasures which belong
to your time of life. I would not lessen them in the least; on the
contrary, I would encourage you, and help you in all proper recreation,
in all sports and plays. The boy who does not enjoy play is not a happy
boy, and is not very likely to make a happy man, or a useful man. But
it is quite possible, as some of you know, to enjoy in the highest
degree all healthful sports, and at the same time to be industrious
and conscientious in your studies. I am deeply concerned that the boys
in this college shall be boys of the best, the highest type; that they
“shall walk in the truth.” There are, alas, many boys who have gone
through this college, and fully equipped (as well as their teachers
could equip them), have been launched out into life and come to naught.
I do not know their names nor do you, probably, though you do not doubt
the fact.
Whatever others say, who speak to you here, I want to discharge my duty
to you as faithfully as I can. I know some of the difficulties of life,
for they have been in my path. I know some of the fierce temptations
to which boys and young men are exposed, for I have felt these assaults
in my own person. I know what it is to sin against God, for I am a
sinner; so, with my sympathies quick towards you, I come with these
plain, earnest words, and I urge you to look up to God, and ask him to
help you. He can help you, and he will, if you ask him.
LIFE――ITS OPPORTUNITIES AND TEMPTATIONS.
March 12, 1885.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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