Mexborough and Swinton Times September 10, 1886

Lecture at Conisborough
“How to get on in the world.”

On Wednesday night, in the Wesleyan School – room, Conisbrough, the Rev. H.J.Boyd, secretary to the British Temperance league, delivered an interesting lecture on “how to get on in the world.” There was a fair attendance. The chair was taken by Mr John Dixon, who opened the proceedings by giving out a hymn, after which a prayer was offered, and the Scripture was read.

In introducing the lecturer,

The Chairman said the Rev. H. J. Boyd was a stranger amongst them, and as they had all him (Dixon) before, it would be presumption on his part to take up time by speaking himself, because Mr Boyd had come specially to talk to them upon a subject in which they were all interested. It reminded him of the old story of the Indian Chief, who told the people on one occasion that if they would come in a certain night he would tell them what they all liked, and of course if he could do that he was sure to have a large audience. The people came in very great numbers, and the chief said “I will tell you what you all like; you all like to buy cheap and sell dear.” He “the speaker” suppose that that Indian chief was not a very long way off the mark.

He (Mr Dixon) was doing some business with a man on Monday last, and a gentleman had told him that very day – he should have said that he had been in conversation with the Rev. Peter McKenzie – that he had made £147 in one bargain, and then asked him (Mr Dixon) if he had done right. He replied that there were a good many circumstances to be looked at before he could give an answer upon that point. Of course of worldly man would say it was a grand “spec.” and no doubt 9 out of 10 would say so. He believes that Christian people should act upon Christian principle; not taken advantage of a man because he was needy, and get all they could out of him and “freeze” him as many people did. That was not the way “to get on in the world.” Those were bloodsuckers – that was the term they ought to give them. They had no right to the title of punishment. They would drain the life blood out of their fellow men in order to rise themselves, and how many were there roundabout who were “bloodsuckers?” He need not mention those men in the liquor traffic. He knew that they were “bloodsuckers.” £10,000 had been spent in Conisborough in strong drink, and he was confident that that statement could be proved. If that was a fact, and if that stream could be dammed up, would not that bring prosperity to the town. He looked at that as the source and the bottom of our stagnation in the trading commerce, not free trade principles. He had been talking lately to a man about free trade principles. (A laugh) His friend smiled, but he was a little like Cobden in some things. Whenever he had an opportunity to condemn certain principles he would do it in the face of men and devils – he did not care who they brought before him.

As he was saying, last Monday he was talking to a man on this very subject, and before they had done he got very warm. He said it was free trade which at the bottom of the depression in trade. He (Mr Dixon) replied that even their Conservative friends, who had appointed a Royal commission on their side, had not condemned free trade principles, and they could not, because they were in accerdance with the great principles of liberty and freedom. It would ill become him to take up then time, but there were just one or two thoughts that struck him. He went to hear Ward Beecher at Sheffield, and he said the reason why so many people did not get on in life was because they were misfits. They were not in the right places. Some men, he understood Mr Beecher to say, who were in the pulpit should be behind the counter, and vice versa, and he believed Mr Beecher was correct. The reason why so many men did not succeed in life was because they were misfits. They did not get into those positions for which Providence designed them. He was reading about the way in which Sir James Brassey got on. He began life with a spade, and finished up by making 1 million. Some people will say that that was success so far is a monetary point of view was concerned. Many men had succeeded, but success had so many meanings that he supposed if he were to ask half a dozen persons what they meant by getting on in the world most of them would say by making their fortunes. Such men as Ward Beecher, Spurgeon, Moody, and statesmen who have not made wealth were men who had succeeded and prospered in the world, and whose names would be handed down in future generations.

In conclusion the chairman said he believed the reason why the Methodist did not make up so much progress was because they had set their hearts upon money, and they all knew that money was said to be the God of the 19^th century.

The lecturer, who was received with applause, said those present who were elderly had, what he called, “made their lives” – they were fixed. They had no chance of living over again, and they could not undo the past. He had no doubt that Mr Beecher was quite right when he said that there were people living today who were in wrong places. They had made a mistake. They had got some men in the pulpit, as had been said, and it would have been much better if they had stopped at their ordinary trade; and there were some men in trade who would do far better as leaders of the people, such as preachers, public speakers, and the like. But when a man got to be 45 or 50 years of age, he then had very little chance of altering his life. He had surrounded himself by so many circumstances that he required a superhuman power to create the circumstances and get through them.

Yes, when a man commences trade at 25 and at 50 has failed in business, they would rarely find that man succeed afterwards. He might be as honest as day, but he has broken his chance. Young people who had their lives before them much depended upon the way in which they made a start.

The lecturer then went on to refer to the impossibility of a man who had sinned deeply to ever get the world’s favour again. Once they got a mark upon their character, it took a lot of effacing. Everybody decides to get on, but it depended what they termed getting on. A man to get on in the world must be prepared to pay his way, but he must not only pay his way, but he must also have health, physical health – his body must be sound.

A man did not get on in the world if he had bronchitis, of if a man had rheumatism and could not walk, it was a bad case. In fact a young man should never know that he had a body, he should never know that he had a little finger of a big toe. He must also have a vigourous mind.

Most of them know what a sad sight is an idiot. The lecturer then went on to refer to a visit which he once made to an asylum and dwelt upon the pitiable sites there presented. He also presented forcibly to the audience it advisability of taking hold of every opportunity which would lead to success, honourable attained, and gave many pleasing illustrations of his meaning.

The usual votes of thanks concluded the proceedings.

A collection was made at the close to defray the expenses.