contributed to the agency by which they have been rendered effective.

"He whom Christians recognize as the Redeemer of the world was only a youth. Whether his religion be regarded as a system of doctrines, or as a body of laws, or as a source of extraordinary influence, it is passing strange that he should have died in early life. His brief period of existence afforded no opportunity for maturing anything." Dr. Young goes on further to remark that "we are not yet entitled to place the youth of Christ and the other outer conditions of his life by the side of his public ministry and his personal character; but even here an amazing contrast rises up, which we must suggest for an instant. In the ordinary course of events the memory of a mere youth, however distinguished, would soon have utterly perished from among men. But Jesus lives in the world at this moment, and has influenced the world from his death till now. It is no fiction, no mere conjecture, but a fact, an unquestioned, unquestionable fact. There have been multitudes in the world in all the ages since his death, and at this moment, after nearly two thousand years, there are multitudes to whom he is dearer than life. History tells of warriors who reached the summit of their fame in comparative youth; it tells of men of science also, and of scholars, and of statesmen who in youth rose to great and envied distinction. But the difference is obvious and it is wide between the conquest of territory and the conquest of minds; between scientific, literary, or political renown, and moral and spiritual influence and excellence. Is there an instance, not of a man acquiring fame in youth and preserving it to old age, gaining vast influence of a purely spiritual kind, not by force of arms, and not by secular aid in any form, but simply and solely by his principles and his life— of such a man transmitting that influence through successive

generations, and after two thousand years retaining it in all its freshness, and continuing it at that distance of time, to establish himself and to reign almighty in the hearts of myriads of human beings? If there be, or anything approaching it, where is it? There is not such an example in the whole history of the world except Jesus Christ."

The achievements of youth have their apotheosis in Him whose unique career was closed at thirty-three, but which, "like odorous spices, suffers no waste nor loss though filling the air with aroma." The rise of Christianity had its strength and success in the young converts that were won to the new faith. The great missions which brought the nations of the north and west of Europe into the Christian Church were manned and worked by ardent youths. The revival of letters in the fifteenth century was accomplished in the schools and universities, where young scholars listened with enthusiastic interest to the new learning. The Reformation of the Church in the sixteenth century was mainly effected by young divines whose intellect had been awakened by the new method of instruction, and whose hearts had been touched by the Spirit of God and the enlightened study of the Greek Testament. The religious orders arose again and again in Christendom from impulses given by fervent and devout young men to their like-minded contemporaries. The Methodism of the eighteenth century burst into its springtide of spiritual life by means of the earnest preaching of young evangelists. Modern missions have carried the Christian faith to remotest regions and barbarous peoples by selfdenying efforts of courageous youths.

The young most readily break through prejudices which possess the old, and by their eager adventure and bold enterprise burst open new paths in thought and action. It is always to the young that appeals for change are made.

On

the training of the young most care and cost are expended. From them most is expected in the future. The youngest is often the chosen instrument of Heaven. "The elder shall serve the younger" was the choice prediction of the farseeing patriarch, as he looked through successive ages of his race. The young Joseph got the homage of all his brethren. The child Samuel became the prophet of Israel when senility and laxity filled the priesthood and judged the people. The young shepherd of Bethlehem, and the youngest of Jesse's sons, became the anointed of the Lord, the hero of the people, the father of their kings, and the author of their Psalter. It was Judas who became the Maccabee, the third son preferred by the father before the elders to lead the war of independence for the Jewish people.

It was long the opinion of thoughtful men in the ancient world that indications of youth presaged future character. "Youth," said Cicero, "is the vernal season of life, and the blossoms it then puts forth are indications of those fruits which are to be gathered in the succeeding periods." The English poet has added, "The child is father of the man." When the early bud blossoms precociously, it is a phenomenon. "I do not say that youth is genius," remarked Lord Beaconsfield; "but genius when young is divine."

Culture, however, is necessary to develop nature, and even genius gets most graceful setting by the assistance of art. Training can do much to make the best gifts effective. Instruction is wanted to guide youth to knowledge, to form the judgment, and to regulate the active powers. Hence the solicitude of parents and guardians, who are in possession of the present, to give proper aid and equipment to the young, who are so soon to fill their places. The hopes of the future are in the youth of the present. They will soon fill all the hives of industry and control labour. They will occupy

places of business and guide commercial enterprise. They will influence all elections by their votes, and some of them will be elected to seats in municipal councils and parlia ments. The cabinets, the schools, the universities, the bench, the chambers of lawyers, the consulting rooms of physicians and the operating rooms of surgeons, the offices of architects and surveyors, the exchange, the platform, the press, and the pulpit, will be in their hands. The cultivation of the soil, the rearing of flocks and herds, the working of mines and factories, will be under their management. They will soon possess the learning, the science, the arts both fine and useful, the patriotism, the philanthropy, and the religion of the future. Everything in the world will therefore depend on the intelligence and ability, the character and the work of formative youth. In addressing young hearts so full of future hopes, one is disposed, like John Trebonius, to lift his cap and salute them, and with him to say, "Among these youths are men whom God will one day make burgomasters, chancellors, doctors, and magistrates; and though you do not yet see them with their badges of office, it is right to show them respect."

The record of the Achievements of Youth may aid that hastening future. A series of examples has therefore been selected from various spheres of thought and life to illustrate what has been accomplished by youths who diligently cultivated their powers and opportunities. Some of them may appear to be prodigies-overgrowths; but the most will be specimens of what others may become. Greatness is not all born; it is chiefly acquired. "Home-bred industry" is as necessary to its development as "heaven-born inspiration." Few only can be great, but all may be diligent, painstaking, and successful in using means afforded for improvement. Sir Fowell Buxton in writing to his son said: "You are now

at that period of life in which you must take a turn to the right or to the left. You must now give full proof of principle, determination, and strength of mind; or you must sink into idleness, and acquire the habits and character of a desultory, ineffective young man. And if you once fall to that point, you will find it no easy matter to rise again. I am sure that a young man may be very much what he wishes. In my own case it was so. Most of my happiness and all of my prosperity in life have resulted from the change I made at your age."