being, and to accomplish the purposes of his creation. In matters of detail I may have been mistaken, but in the great fundamental principles discussed in the earlier part of this lecture I believe that we shall unanimously agree, viz. in the identity of Manliness with Virtue, with Godliness, and with the perfect imitation of Christ. Take, then, these four words; remember that they are equivalent terms; write them on the table of your hearts :-Virtue: Godiiness: Christlikeness: Manliness! SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, The subject of the evening's address, as you will know, is Social Responsibilities. I must confess that the weight of my own responsibility on this occasion lies heavily upon me, and I regret very much that I have not found time for study in reference to this matter. Speaking five times a-week for the past eight or ten weeks, and travelling constantly, I have had no time to arrange ideas or to seek for facts particularly; and I feel this the more because of the intellectual treats that you enjoy in the course of lectures delivered before this Association, and because I consider this Association to be the most important in the world. I must therefore simply give you my own views freely-my own opinions with regard to this subject fairly and fearlessly. There is a social responsibility that is recognised by society everywhere. The law of the land holds men responsible for the loss or injury to life, or limb, or property, by malice, carelessness, or ignorance. If a chemist gives poison instead of the right prescription, through ignorance, you hold him responsible for the results. If a man throws a stone at a passing railway train, it will not do for him to say, "I did not think." It is every man's duty to think what may be the consequences of his acts. If a sentry sleeps at his post, and owing to his carelessness and want of watchfulness mischief ensues, that sentry is held responsible. I might go on to illustrate this by the case of engineers, of lighthouse-keepers, and of all those occupying positions in which their carelessness or want of thought may cause harm and damage to others. But there is a social responsibility recognised and enforced by the higher law of God, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." It is of this responsibility that I would speak more particularly to-night. Men of the world are generally opposed to the recognition of this responsibility, and they cry out with Cain, "Am I my brother's keeper?" But I address myself to-night to a Christian association, an association of young men who profess to acknowledge God's law as supreme and paramount to all others; therefore I speak with some degree of encouragement, and hope that I shall receive sympathy while endeavouring to illustrate and enforce this responsibility. And yet, among Christians, we find sometimes this question still asked," And who is my neighbour ?" I hold this to be a truth. Every human being on the face of this earth, whom God has made in His own image, is my brother. In this country you feel indignation, because the southern, gentlemen, in the United States, do not choose to call the black man their brother; and in your associations, when under high patronage, you send protests against American slavery across the Atlantic, you call the oppressed your coloured brethren. I spoke in Quincy, in Illinois, last winter, and I said, “I look upon every man, whether black or white, bond or free, as my brother," and they hissed me. It was on the borders of the Mississippi river, within a stone's throw of Missouri. You feel indignation at this want of recognition on the part of our southern brethren; |