secondly, because it brings you into closer relation, for a time at least, with your

clergyman.  Before your first communion the prayer book speaks to you very distinctly about personal advice and intercourse with your parish priest.  Neither your first or any subsequent communions are to be made unless you are satisfied as to your own fitness to come to it.  If you are in doubt you are advised to go to God’s minister, lay before him those sins that make you afraid or doubtful of coming, and seek his advice.  This is not pleasant, but it is useful.  Many people speak against it, but it is Christ’s appointed way.  If you feel that this will help you, go as often as you need, and do not be stopped by any foolish remarks of people who do not understand it, or by any thought of its being a weak and unmanly thing to do.  It requires courage, perseverance, and a true estimate of oneself to do it, and these are not generally considered unmanly qualities.  Some of the best men, some of the bravest soldiers, have not been ashamed of using this means of grace.  Knights of old were accustomed to confess before they went into battle.  Read the life of Henry V. of England.  He was no milksop, or, as people would say now-a-days, priest-ridden king, but he did not look upon it as an unmanly thing.  You are free

to choose, or free to refuse it; only pray to be guided aright by God’s Holy Spirit to do that which shall be most to His glory and your soul’s good.

Almsgiving.  Whatever money you have of your own some portion—a tenth, if possible,—should be given to God in some way or other.

Bringing others to God.  We must not be selfish in our religion—if God has made known the truth to us we must do our best that others may share it also.  You can do much in a quiet way, not only by example: you can get a word in where others have not a chance.  Many a youngster would gladly keep from wrong, and go on steadily, if he had only someone to stand by him.  It is not enough to be good, we must do good, and never laugh at another for his religion.  Many years ago a thorough change was worked in a school by the courage of one little boy.  He came fresh from home, where he had been accustomed to say his prayers.  He knelt down in a school dormitory, as he had been used to do at home, by his bedside.  There was a sudden silence, the boys were astonished.  Then some began to bully and try and stop him; others stood up for him.  But the battle was won.  The

better minded boys saw what cowards they had been to give up what they knew was right for fear of chaff—one by one they gradually followed his example, and before that lad left school it was the rule and not the exception for the boys to say their prayers.

Fasting.  People understand feasts and are ready enough to keep them, but fasting is quite another matter.  Feasts should be kept, and the more the great festivals are recognized the better.  Fasting, however, is quite as necessary.  Appointed times in which to remember more particularly Christ’s suffering for us, to deny ourselves lawful pleasures, and to make us think more of our sins and how to conquer them.  They keep us from getting careless, and letting our religion become a sort of Sunday clothes, to be put on at certain times, but to have no real effect upon our daily life.

One thing more.  God has given you brains and the power to use them.  You are bound then to try and learn about God, and the duty you owe to Him.  Every year you ought to advance in knowledge, and not be content with the little you were taught as a child.  Read your Bible—think it out for yourself—pray for understanding, and study such books as will help you to a better knowledge of it.

COURAGE.

Boys and men are great cowards.  There is hardly any accusation that an Englishman or boy resents so much as to be called a coward.  Still I venture to make the accusation, and will try and make good my words.  I do not mean that you are cowards in the sense of being afraid to attempt any act of daring.  You have pluck enough to tackle a fellow half as big again as yourself, pluck enough to endure pain without a word, pluck enough to risk your life to save another, but too often you have not pluck enough to say no, or to brave a laugh.  That is what I mean by saying that men and boys are cowards.  You will let the worst fellow of the lot be the leader and give the tone to conversation because you have not the pluck to say boldly that it is wrong, and that you will not join in it.  This want of moral courage makes a lad give up little by little his hold on what is right.  Sunday school, Church-going, prayers given up because Jem chaffs so about them.  If he chooses to neglect them that is his look out.  You have as much right to your

opinion as he has to his.  Why should you let him show more courage in doing wrong than you in doing right.  Are you afraid of him?  No.  Well then, stick to your duty.

I said just now that going to work throws you in with a different set of companions.  Here, specially, comes the test of your courage.  Are you going to follow bad leaders, or have you the courage of your own opinions.  There is one particular subject where courage is most needed, and where it most often fails.  A young lad naturally wants to seem to be manly—has a sort of feeling that he would like to show that he is not just a little boy and bound to do as he is told.  He is tempted to show his manliness by neglect of home commands, rough and rude manners, bad language and bad talk.  I have remarked before how home obedience and true manliness go together; here I want to speak more particularly about bad language and bad talking, and the evil it leads to.  S. Paul speaks about it very plainly when he says, speaking of the things that should not be named amongst Christians, “neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting, which are not convenient.”  Now, boys, all indecent words and conversations are

wrong—they are sinful, unmanly, degrading.  I know you cannot help hearing much that is wrong.  Shame, be it said, to the men of England—yes, men who talk of advancement and freedom, men who are fathers of families, that they too often make or allow the talk of the workshop to be such that no boy can work there without hearing words and jokes which are not fit, I do not say for Christians to hear, but not fit to be spoken.  Hearing words of evil you often cannot help.  To join in them you can and must refuse, and unless you do so refuse you are a coward and false to your profession.  I do not speak here of actual deeds of sin—no one can do or join in an impure deed without knowing that he is sinning, but many think that there is no great harm in listening to and laughing at what others say.  Be warned in time, it is but a very little step from laughing at to joining in bad conversation, and a very small step from words to action.  The same want of courage that joins in the laugh will make it difficult to say no when tempted further.  Never, with companions of your own sex, and still more with those of the opposite sex, let any corrupt communications proceed out of your mouth.  If it is necessary for you to speak upon such subjects

ask advice of those older than yourself, and not of companions of your own age.  You know lads that you love your mother and