g 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 care for your sisters. You would
be furious if anyone spoke to or of them as you sometimes hear women
spoken of. What would be an insult to them is an insult to any woman.
Stand up for the honour and respect due