Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-01-22
MISTAKES IN REGARD TO PRAYER

i?eiingS towards religion itself. The re
f n's'ous training $50 called) which they
receive, rxcItes strong prejudice, againsr
oo'h religion aud its duties. Among 9th
ef means to which these results are attrib.
,n, may be mentioned the following,
ne religious parents, of course, are
"c'uatec by the best and purest motives.
!" oeS'flng to ImpIant religion, at an early
'9e' ~ the MIN Is OF their children; and.
Inuer the influence of these motives they
LIKE treasures 10 form In their tender
char9e' habIls Of devotion. Accordingly
'"ty occasionally, and perhaps frequently,
'e'ife WITH their children, aud pray with
them. SO TAR there is nothing wrong;-
hothtng' The results of which will proba
ply be Injurious: and vet where such
P'actIce prevails, it IS not at all uncom-
'noh 10 1lA1 II unsuccessful. The child
may perhaps, in bis simplicity and conf
dencc, pIalnI Confess to his molher.-and
almost break her heart by the confession,
that ne does not love prayer" But let
US pause and inquire what he understands
by "'pfayeF::" perhaps an answer to this
inquiry may so explain his meaning. as
70 render 1t by no means so wicked as, at
llfSt SIGHT 1t appears. Perhaps he has
had his mind filled with terrible IMAGES
OF the Divine character; and when he is
told that prayer is intercourse with this
terrible Being, can we wonder that he
Goes not love ii? Be it remembered, that
such child has scarcely any other con-
ceptions Of God. than such as are pre-
cIsely calculated to territy him; and vet
we wonder, and are broken hearted, be-
cause the Door little fellow does not lore
to be terrified Is this wise?
Again: Perhaps the father or mother
OF such child, though pious, and per-
maps on many other subjects, intelligent,
may be really Ignorant of the nature of
the material on which they are required
to operate: and hence, as might be cx-
pected, do not act in accordance with its
nature. Parents, in this case, nav not
know, or they may forget that activity is
indispensable to chIld's enjoyment; and
consequently, that stiffness or 1naction,
can be commanded on y for short periods,
without producing uneasness and rest
lessness: and through this forgetfuIness,
may lengthen the devotional duty of the
child, to the point where WEAKNESS begins;
and perhaps even much behind it. This
he certain does not like; and he asso-
clates confinement s. inaction with PRAYER
and says and thinks that he does not love
prayer.
Again, the mother may in her closet,
close not only her door, but perhaps her
windows and shutters also. The conse
quence of this is Darkness: now almost
all children dislike darkness; and some
positively dread, and are terrified at it.
Suppose, now, child with large and
norbidIy active cautiousness, and perhaps
marvellous y also, TO have been SO trained
and educated, with regard to the charac-
ter OF God, as 10 see only the terrible,
which belongs to him; suppose such
child Withdrawn to a dark chamber to
worship this dreadful object: how can it
be expected that the duty should be pleas.
ant to him? He says he does not like
prayer; but We can see that it is solitude.
confinement and darkness that he disllkes
and breads
Once more, possibly in addition to all
the preceding sources of uneasiness to
the child, the voice OF the mother NAV
be dlssimilar, in prayer. from ner voice
at other times; it may be hollow, and
sepulchral, or i! may be employed in sem
tones ii. e. a sort of half weeping tone)
from one end to another of long PRAYER;
and thus, to the affectionate child, is pre-
seated the Distressing object, of beloved
mother in distress. 1t was precisely thus
with child who expressed his dislike to
prayer, and assigned as reason, that ait
always makes dear Mama so sorry"---
Now let US be understood: we have dis
tnctIy sad that retirement with children
for prayer is not censurabIe: it is the
subsequen: acts of shutting out the light,
and utterinS prayer in the tones of dis
treSs, ana continuing the duty unit! the
child's position becomes uneasy: it is
these things which merit cenSure PRAYER
with children. especially when very
young, should always be sbort; -should
be uttered in d SeT.0uS Yet Perfectly nat
urat tone of voice: not difaring more
from that of common speech, than read
ing does; and it should be performed in
, LIGHT room Moreover, the appropri-
ate preparation for it is, jndcious educa.
:, ton of the child, relative to the character
Of the being whom we worship, when VIC
pray Not onIv should he be Instructed
. as to the power, and vens eance of God
but as to his wisdom, and goodness, anC
mercy; thus lIealty, and Btnevolence
= and Hope, are exercised; and exhibit &C
,ivity in admiration, and gratitude, ant
{ trust.-PhrenoL0gy IN the Family.
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
: BRANDON, SATURDAY, JAN. IS, 1910.