Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-11-12


csse since the law at the period Of the chiljs ms
jorily relinquishe. its power il scrs merely pos,
pone an action, which in few years a, mos, may
be done without offence.
While, however, suppose this to be the legal
right ofthe parent, I by no means would assert ,ha
it is always wise just to enforce it, When a child
has arrived at such maturity ha, il 10 able to Judge
of its duty by ,eadng the scriptures for ITSELF and
has thus formed It's opinion questions Of religious
duty it is very difficult to decide In how f,r the pa
rent is morally hound to interfere provide it he
bono faie case ofregious belief. He should doub'-
less advise and teach and persuade. He may use
his authority to obIige his child to rehec, ma,urely
on the subject, and decide without the interference
of interested persons. Blu, having done this, think
ths, he should sl,w the child 10 obey the honest
dictates Of IFS own conscience.
But suppose the parent were disposed to pres.
the subject farther, and command child to do
what il could not, without, i, believed, dsohey.
ing God, or the contrary. Wha, in such case is
the child to dot This is a most irving cisr, und
would be deciled fy q variety of cir, umstsnces
The paren, ha, the legal right to control the child
hu, il the child, fom an homes. sense Of duty, disl-
beys ond mekly suffer, The consequences, do not
kn,w that could blame il,
But smother question arises. How far does the
law undertake TO protect the parent in the exercise
Of his authority !, certainly gives him tie right
10 teach his child at home, TO direct the reading
which it shall pursuc, and the persons who shall
visit it, No one has right to interfere with these
p rental privileges. But suppose a par>nt allows
his child to ungle in society to go where it pl'as'',
how ftr does his authority then extend! l. every
person bound 10 ask parent on what subject he
NAV TAX with his child! And ag lin: suppose the
child honestly desires RI giou< instruct on. and
comes to mc to ask for il. ! may nj 60 to the pp-
r,nr's house to prefer tt may no, in any msn-
Ter oh'rrdc it upon hi. child hu' If the child come
10 me and ,sk f il, am Obliged 10 or 1t liberty
To- refuse To- import il! | 'hink not Or suppose
child Of full rVo for relp resp ility came
TO me for my professional assistance. 10 enable it
TO perform y service which it supposed commanded
! hy God an | at liberty to refuse should urge
upon the child 10 deav--tr set the Of the
! act before the parent The law gives the parent
! the power of prevention If he choose TO use it,
/ ~ if h- DO no, il. and the child comes to me
u perform this rei:ious 'ervice. i" not know That
am "' hh't'y'' To refuse. Nor has the parent, that
SEQ, ury ground of complaint against me- pro.
vidrd have acted on the principles above spcci-
he'. were II Otherwise every reNgions teacher
aud every other man would he almost 'oi'hid' ~ TO
speak AZ" II were preaching a'a ach'd came
III whose pa''h''" were OF "'"e'e' OPINION rom
nv """' must STOP shu IN i'e' rhu'' p' 'ro''n an
ordinancc Of religion not according to the will oI
,.n, b,. ,ho r,,,.r IF ti.,,,;n, , .vo,v r.,.,,
-. - -,,, ~ o.,; =,