The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 27, 1902, Page 3

L 11 1 (TR T anc e complete and pre- vil desola- the home the first lesson: 12l Atuss Of A > brought 1 mus: begin We period f a before that family and the fami on among profess- s as it has been in the fonary recently, in Advance, expressed e decline of family tes that before he depart- try for the mission t remember of a h family worship ly. He declares, his recent visit he finds, t on the ob- homes in , and is sences to both imed by rch at- regretted as aserious rious danger con- e df family religion. outlook for both church en home religion is laid n it be a home, a child’s home, asks Rev. G. 8 e answers in these It must be a house, with art, knowledge out religion, without without prayer, pen- th, faith, love and hen repetition and it children are natur- have wonder, awe, iderness, the Keenest ‘learning’ comes so 2 child as the learning of of children about God is as e men. There must be reli- a home. We, who ucation shall be re- people, bound to see n find their first faith, their first thought of en the schoolmaster ought to find that there thirg in their education c To send a boy or e ‘r world hool with- love erence and rd God. is to send s into their first fe as unfitted at life as a hea- d timely words. I ery parent might have them ters of gold and hung in a the home. God, who family, “has commanded hould be cherished in the s t they should teach ito thelr children. *“Thou m when thou sittest in when thou walkest by liest down and riseth iently, prayerfully, the truth of religious life 2 guarded and ntellectual and physical ced before the spiritual not be [ 1001 R o R WY % 5 \ 2 N ets of the child. Ci d and educated to be the country as well as the this might be so, the foundation of a good character must be laid in childhood. To do this parents must be good themselves According to the fable, the mother crab said to the daughter: “Go forward, m daughter, go forward!” The daughter r plied, 0d mother, do you show me t way!” Whereupon the mother, crawling backward and sidling, as she was wont, the daughter cried out, “Ho, mother! I g0 just as you do!” So does the life of parents count far more than emptv words in shaping the characters of their chil- dren. Example goes farther with children than mere precept The patriarchs were families; so shoul priest of God in hi family, mini: ing in holy thing; The father has much to do in making family religion possible. St. Luke ?l\cs us in the book of Acts, in the life of Cornelius, some idea of what a father can do making a Christian home. After the preaching of Peter, when Cornelius became a Christlan, he brought his whole family with him. Corneliu L a good man; his religious life was such as to give his children confidence in him. They had faith in his piety and so his teaching had some weight with them. Cornelius “feared God”: his religious life took hold of God and recognized his su- preme claims above mere struggling duty. is religious life wasn't simply a matter of respectability or humanitarianism: he acknowledged all that was good in himself and all that he might do for others was inspired of God, to whom he was respon- sible. Just imagine Cornelius saying, “I will be a respectable man, pay my honest bills and treat my neighbor on the square,” and then stopping there, as many do in our day. This recognizing of God in one's religion, this emph: sizing of the divine above the human, is essential, would a father impress his children for real plety. A religion that is all humani. tarian and without the spiritual and su- pernatural element will not prove of much inspiration and strength to children. The same might be said of a religion that is all intellectuality. = Some years ago the editor of one of the leading religious pa- pers of this country published in his paper be to ome. hat dren shou priests in their own ry father be “One Morning’s Meditations.” He had picked up daily pap that morning which was v suggestive to him. On the first page appeared the d announcement of the death, by his own hand, of one whose name had long been familiar. Said he, “Oh. the sorrow and pity of it for his family and for himself It opens another chapter in the record of human gzrief, an- other channel for the floods of human tears.” But, turning the page, he read an account of the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, and an address from a a of Buddha, How drear: withstanding the eloquen Buddhist! ““And he declares that his faith, s0 like an iceberg surrounded with fog, is equal to, and in. many respects better than, the glowing faith of the Christian!” Where would Buddha help a woman in sorrow like that of my friend? Where has that_religion ever offered comfort to any of the millions of wx en, the wretched widows who live al ys under a . curse where Buddha is worshiped? I recall the SUNDAY | 11 N \ ) /. v/ saying of Jesus, “By their fruits ye shall know them,” and wonder how there could be any one in that audience, born and edu- cated in a Christian land, who could ap- plaud the utterances of the eloquent but benighted Hindoo. Can it be possible that any intelligent woman has a word of favor for a religion whose teachings are degrad- ing to her sex and whose fruits are S0 bitter in millions of hopeless lives? While thinking thus a clear voice in an adjoin- ing room began to sing: How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In @ believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear. It makes the wounded spirit whole, It calms the troubled breast; 'Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary, resti Never did the words sound so sweet! The contrast drew more and more impas- sive as the hymn went on: Dear name, the rock on which I bulld, My shield and hiding place; My never failing treasure, filled With boundless stores of grace! Then in strong tomes he heard the words of Jesus read—“lI am the good ghepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. I know my sheep, and am known of mine. 1 give unto them eternal life, and they shall never per- ish, neither shall any men pluck them out of my hand.” Then followed the brief and earnest prayer, commending the family to the Father's care and thanking him for every good gift. In closing the sweet voices of the little children united in the Lord's Prayer, “the simplest form of speech that infant iips_can try.” Did ever any household, worshipers of Buddhae or followers of Confuclus, begin a day with a service like that? Shall we compare them—the dim searchings after an unknown God, if haply they may find him—with the clear shining of the true light in Jesus Christ? Shall we compare the dreary hopelessness of any other faith with the everlasting consolation and good hope through grace in - which th» Christian rejoices? Rather, we will say, as did one of the representatives of the Christian faith in that congress, “I possess a treasure compared with which all else in the world is as dross; a treas- ure so rich that I want to share it with all mankind.” Another good - thing about Cornelius’ religion was the practical turn it took. / 2% NP 0 1 11 ) [1 | i { Vil A Pt Sy A P He ‘“gave much alms to the people.” Devotion to God cannot be genuine with- out devotion to our fellow men. Many a father would impress his children more favorably if his devotion should take a more practical turn. Then, Cornelius was a man of prayer. He ‘“prayed to God alway.” What a beautiful example of a godly father we have in Cornelius, leading_ his family in inquiring after God! He besought God continually for his own salvation and also that of his family, which to him was identified with his own. I believe with President Hyde of Bow- doin College that family worship' should be like family life—free and unconstrain- ed. Bays President Hyde: “The aus- terity and somberness with which many people conduct family worship make the children dread rather than love it He then gives an illustration which he knew to have occurred in a strict Puritan house- hold. The only son, a boy of 8 or 10 years, was following as best he could the morning lesson. Struck by some startling and paradoxical expression, he ventured to Inquire: *“Father, what does that mean?”’ “Ho.ld your gabble and study your Bible,” was the reassuring and edifying answer he received’ And vet I haye no_doubt that for the thirty- years that followed, in which that son took no Interest and saw no beauty in religion, the father was secretly pray. ing all the time for his conversion and wondering why his prayers were not answered. Our children must be taught the masculine religion of thought and outward expression, as well as the fom- inine religion of sentiment and inward fecling if they are to go out from . our homes to found Christian homes of their own; if their religion is to stand = the wear and tear of real life. How different must have been the fam- ily devotions in the home of the young man, one of a family of six boys, whose father conducted a large business which demanded his constant attention, when he is able to say: ‘‘My father’s influence over his boys is largely due to two things —the daily family altar, where his praye ers made an impression upon us,and the Sunday afternoon talks and readings which we were accustomed to have with him.”“Who can estimate the influence of the life of a godly father? Fow much we need a‘generation of fathers like the one a gentleman writes about in the American Messenger. He bears the fol- Jowing testimony to the influence of his godly father: ar (it i ] T i o i R 6 g WA @ ol % % (it | A ! N *If he did not walk in all the com- mandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless he did so in an eminent de- ee. He was a farmer, in the common walks of life, and was content with his lot. Religion was with him the supreme thing. It was his belief that the chief end of man was to glorify God and to enjoy him forever, and this he sought to do. He had his familv altar, on which incense was daily offered, both. morning and evening. The Bible was regarded and treated as the inspired word of God, and was daily read in the family, in con- nection with Scott’'s ‘Practical Observa- tions.’” He sought to bring up his chil- dren in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and was an example to them by his own godly walk. He taught them to ragarg the Sabbath as the Lord's day, and required them to keep it in a becoming manner. He was gunetuul in his attendance on the worship of the sanctuary, and commanded his children after him in this way of the Lord. He was seldom absent from the prayer- meeting. He was a member of the Sab- bath-gchool and one of its teachers. He contributed liberally of his means for the spread of the gospel, and advised his children to do the same. He was honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow men, and benevolent toward the widow and the fatherless. His religion was manifest even In the treatment of his dumb_animals, providing for tkem suitable shelter and abundant food and never abusing or overworking them. During his last long and painful {llness he manifested Christian patience, and was uncomplainingly submissive to the will of God. His end was peace. “My father died more than sixty years ago, when I was but twelve years of age. Jet I distinctly remember him, and the Fodly life that he lived has been an abid- ing presence with me and a restraining in- fluence upon me. It has been to me a life- Jong sermon, more influential than any spoken by human lips to which I have ever listened. I don’t remember that my father ever spoke a word to me on per- sonal religion, but his whole life was an appeal. I never had a doubt that it was his uppermost desire concerning me that T should become a Christian. I remem- ber that there were times when I desired some special favor of him, and was half inclined to say to him that if he would grant it I would become a Christian, be- lieving that this would be the most welghty consideration by which I could appeal to him. My remembrances of him are such as every Christian parent might well desire that his children should cher- ish concerning him.” The life of such.a father cannot fail to reap its fruit for God in due season. A father could bequeath no better legacy to his_children than such a godly example which is infinitely better than gold and silver or any other earthly good. Happy indeed that child who can say with Cowper: My boast is not that I deduce my birth From loins enthroned, or rulers of the earth; But higher far my proud pretensions rise— The son .of parents passed into the skies. What greater blessing can a father have for himself, or bequeath .to the world, than children with Christian integrity whose good influences multiply in all di- rections from each one of their lives. How much more the mother has to do with the moral atmosphere of the home than the father. It is mainly she who shapes the home influence and imparts to it its prevailing atmosphere. This is seen in her influence over her children. A mother with genulne, hearty, loving trust in God, and whose life is full of faith, meekne; and obedience to the will of God, Will exercise great power over her sons and daughters. They can never get away from the sweet memory that Christ Wwas their mother’s Friend and Lord. “!‘ée}" children rise up and call her bles- e sed. Mrs. L. H. Sigourney writes: And say to mothers, what a holy theirs; With what kingly powers their love Might rule the fountain of new born mind; ‘Warn them to wake at early dawn and sow Good seed before the world has sown its tares. One great secret of the mother's influ- ence over her children is the faith they have in her and their love for her, what- ever her life. This is one reason for the truth of Emerson’s saying: ‘‘Men are what their mothers made them.” ' This story is told of one of the sons of Em- peror Willlam of Germany: The court preacher was instructing him “in some matters o2 Biblical doctrine. The preach- er told him that all men were sinners, and in need of a Savior. “Is that true,” said the boy, ‘“‘of kings, princes, and other great people?”’ “Yes,” was the preacher’s response, “it is true of kiugs and princes as well as peasants.” The young prince was silent for awhile, and then he an- swered: ‘“Well, it may be true of my father, but I am sure it is not true of my mother!” That was a noble tribute to a noble mother; but the great danger is, that so many children look about the same way upon their mothers who are not the Christian character she is. What made the prince’'s such a mother was the saving grace of God. The young prince’s own sweet mother is said to be what she is—a woman of highest honor, of spotless life, and_queenly service, through her faith in Jesus Christ. Such a mother lives as a saint of God charge is - in her home and rules with marvelous pa- tlence, winning tenderness and undying love. Her good life reproduces itseif in the happiest development of her children in strong Christian character. Let the children bear their own testimony. Samuel, the servant of God, was the son of praying parents. Timothy, the friend of St. Paul, knew the scriptures from a child. Augustine owed evérything to his mother’s prayers. ‘“Susannah Wesley's hand,” says Dr. Cuyler, “rings all the Methodist church bells around. the globe to-day.” The impressions she left on her it S g [ i 1 I e T 0 e T illustrious sons was never effaced. Bishop Hal! had reas to thank God for a moth~ er who taught him much divine truth and gave him many pious lec Dr. Dodd- ridge’s mind never lost the impression made upon it by the wise and pious teaching of his godly mother. taught taments befor: cy Adams, not 1 visited by a gentle: “I have found out e could b What do you mean?’ he asked. “I have been reading the shed of your mother.” Th i flashed bright peculiar way in me I owe wrote to hi “T would r. than to grow o my when t and graceless boy Abraham Lincoln’s mother died when he a mere lad, a her influence was and ineradi- upon him cable. 1 death he s tears a tion 1T angel mother. One of the secre power and his mind mperisk lamented mmed wi with emo- I owe to my n Ruskin’'s s that Bible r when a s side, took ght him to heaven.” 1 women all great all > mothers the giants power and is but their » received and they owe who bore will be left authority with an expression ¢ as , but home sorbed in business eking on it must come So many parents their own lives growing up; they om their children, the right example. ng that he has not e inspiration to holy m the ministries of of God. We are shocked he heathen world exposed their children to danger. At the very time Jesus taking children in his arms and them the heathen world was ¢ dren to Moloch, them on the highways or bring- viie purposes in licentious when prompted by >r_economy. The but little recogni- y_parents ims of Mills: not recog- n in Chicago are many men and that no man children,” said em to go about 1 faces, tattered eared with t of the gro ldren even e with er they are for the moral no better et or in tempta~ to thet home side contaminating bring the devil to the form of social generation. m_with- ver be tempted in the 1y sons and daughters of the apples of the nothing ft to them They can’ home. To-da are eating t dead sea. T worth lving fight against them nearer the the end comes e back their down- ward course and you will find the testi- mony of many i My parents taught me to drink wine like s How sad that the dren and youth are tionable saclal cu ady or gentleman.™ the ques- oms of the times! We are so much inclined to run from one ex- tremie to another. The purity of the home must be preserved. To accomplish this the reading matter of the children must be carefully watched. Nothing is doing more to wreck the lives of childhood, to enfeeble their minds, poison their hearts, making the wholesome restraints of home and re- ligion burdensome and hateful than per- nicious literature. How criminaily careless are many parents in this matter of read- mg. The daily newspaper has the fres right of v in most homes. Now, not every dalil vspaper is fit to circulate freely among children” Even in some of the most wholesome newspapers there is much matter that has a tendency to en- feeble. the mind and pollute the heart, and the child must be kept from it. The most dangerous of all reading is a page of poison diluted with a graim of moral teaching, whether found in the newspaper or the gilt-edged book. Some parents are more eareful as to what their children eat or wear than what they read; but what they read has more to do with their success in life than anything else. When children become interested in first-class, high-toned literature they are well start- ed on the highway of safety. All this will take time—a very precious commodity with most parents: but to what more profitable use can you put it than in saving your boys and girls from open disgrace and preventing them from being dragged into the mire of sin. Harriet M. Morris writes In a most tell- ing manner on this important theme In one of our periodicals. She expresses herself as sadly comsclous that thou- sands of mothers are so overburdened that the actual demands of life from day to-day consume all their time and strength. “But,” says she, ‘of two evils choose the least; and which would you call the least—an unpolished stove or an untaught boy? Dirty windows or a child whose confidence you have falled to gain? Cobwebs in the corner or a _son over whose soul a crust has formed so strong that you despair of meiting it with your hot tears and your fervemt prayers?”’ She further states: *“I have seen a woman who was absolutely ignor- ant of her children’s habits of thought, who never felt that she could spare a half-hour to. read or talk to them. I have seem this woman spend ten min- utes in Ironing a sheet (there were six in the washing), one hour in fluting the ruffies and arranging the puffs of her little girl's ‘sweet' white dress,” thirty minutes palishing tins which ere al- ready bright and clean, forty minutes in trosting and decorating a cake for tea, because ‘company’ was expected.” Parents should ever keep.in mind that God will hold them responsible for the spiritual well-being of their children. Parents are in duty bound to guide tgelr children in the heavenly way. They may not be able to save the children of ail the world, but the least they can do is to make sure of the children of their own households. God's period is that of eh'ld- hood; that period should be wisely used by parents.