Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-10-15


But This cam ,t be. 1t is morally impossible that
a child's religion; education should bs neglected,
and yet its soul reniin all the while IN con tnmna
ted by sin. unsiained by evil. Injury tn its best,
its immortal interests must ensue. Satan S ever
busy the world 10 continually engr6ssihx the afac
tions more and morei and those evil passions of
which we speke cehtettng their, deep, dark, snefi-
be traces upon il. Here, then, nothing can be
left to the slow processes of nature the incna.
tions OF the child with any more safety than ia
any other part Of Its training or education, Not
to train up child in the principles aud practices
OF piety (hrst having dedicated it TO God in bcly
baptisn) under the impression that it may, and af
forwards will choose for itself what is right, is in
effec TO train 1t up in the ways Of sin nad irreg
ion, just as white and black which are not reckon
ed coors at all, are for ali practical purposes Just
us distinct coors as any of the seven, so not to
form the soul to good is in fact to form it to evil
And il This be so, who ran calculate the injury,
moral. spiritual, eternal, which must ordinarily
ollow the Neglect OF early gou culture and ira
ning or who can tell the burning shame IL viii not
one day gather into that paren is boSem who cared
nothing either for their souls Or bodissi or while
they cared everything for the QUE, cared nothing
Tor the other-who were all anxiety to see them
educated, accomplished, honorable and respectsdi
but cared little whether their immortal characters
were formed for the society of angels and Just men
made perfect, o. the so.ety OF the lost Ola it is
when negligent ana uni lhful parent; behold :heir
offspring on the broad road to ruin, aud no longer
are allie TO control them, that they will call tn mind
the words of the wise tna an "a chilli lsft upte hi.
self bringst tn his mother to shame and bitterly
regret that they did not, while it WAS yet in the
| power, teach them not merely few prayers, and
few abstract otions about God but SO Thoroughly
| lmbue their infant minds with the ftelingI aud
sentiments OF religion; and so train them up in
the practices OF true piety, as sho1ld have made
! them wise unto salvation, and patterns Of every
virtue.
| q But from the period Of infancy let US ,ss Oh
! to that which immediately follows. 10 the
| state which interVenes tetween what may be call
! ed infancy, and manhood womnn nhool, n nd see
IL here also 1T is not true, that "a child left unto
| himself bringeth his mother to shame" This l.,
| il possible, yet more critical period with most
than even infancy, since during this period chill
dren are brought into more immediate contact
with The worId-example excrts a more pctent in
1uence, and the Impressions Of infancy are liable
TO be eilaced, while frpm the nature Of the case
the control OF parents must be gradually weaken
ed or removed. 1t is therefore during this period,
while character is forming for life, and the young
are Us yet unable TO Judge act properly for them
( selves, that they need particularly the assistance
OF wise and friendly religious instru:tion auJ
| training. And if elt 10 o.loW their own innces
| 10 think, and cioo'e, and act for themselves, will
teach those who were so willing to relax their h,d
upSn them, that "a child left unto himself bring
cth MS m1thpr to shlmn.n
IA the period Of youth children are in particl-
tt danger from temptations that cross their path.
way, There Is II sottncss and pliablity oil charac-
ter; W nrmth OF feeling an hilari,y of spirits, a
loyulness al hope, freedom from suspicion pe:u
liar to youth. 1t is the season for st! ong attach
IneHts and brilliant an ticipa tions which scarce
ly known nmidss the urmoils aud struggles oi alter
ale. An yodih the is in all its beauty
wttheat Inc tAorn which lies concealed beneath (;
| hnd qe DO" OF pronise never bends its purple
area ncrsss darkeBed heavens. This feature in
the character of the young. whlo it may be made
! 'he foundation o mnch gool, it will readily he
perceived may be made the occasion also of meal
tu'"ae eva shond it b, thro Sn in their way. Bat
this IS not all the danger. IL il were il woud in
iaaaaer care itseli as The circle OF experience
b;caiHe enGaiEed>
Ia youth ihc principles and habits are formed {,
| aud theSe take tne:r complexion from those with
whom they as o:iate, mud 10 whom they look up as
odet and wiser than them iel,-s Vhare would be
40 e'ti bat good 20 result from this ii the exam
pes 10 wnch cnIldceR ats exposed, whether at
"o''c o. notetd, we're Always gnol bat sn III they
atc not One ngr at has been said) usually fntm'
the character Of that which snc:eed, it. Aud II
| lnis be true intellectually it is true also morally,
and We mny eSpec the prinsiples and habits Of the
yo"ng to be formed hpcn the basis of those o.der
than themselves with whom the associate. II the
| examples set before them be good. may een-on
ably nope taat they viii folloS them but if other
wise 1t is almost morally certain that the impulses
0i a giudy patNfe Win lead ihem TO follow them.
No" what is the state of example TO which the
young men Of our age aud country ere commonly
expcscdt ls it such as any wise parent would de-
sire his children 20 imtatet Everywhere almost
do they not see that God is forgotten, religion
desptsed or neglected. and vice preferred to virtue
The contest Carried on before their eyes is not a
contest for crown oil glory that iaieh not away
hut only of the earthly and pershable. Very Of
ten. indeed, pains are even taken to decoy the
young from paths Of virtue and religtOn-the
wrangers curse is sounded before them, the iicen
tous tale is whispered in their ears, the tenn ptns
cop Is pluced TO lheirlip'. and the gambler dice
placed in their hands. Their religious a:ruple:
are mOcked at, while their vices aud follies are
praised as smart aud manly by those vho glcry in
Their own shame. Under such circun'tnnees can
the young be ieIt to themselves without imbi5,ns
principles or contracting habits OF wandering in
to paths that will bring shame the mother tina
bore them. But u! the sin Of those who tlke de
light in corrupiing the prin 'ipes and morals o
the young, Hho speak lightly Of reig on be,o,e
ther o. InStil into their minds infdel sea tin,ents
of teach them 10 lle o. swear, or cheat 0g lax 10
intoXication. WHAT language eau expgess It's
greatness. Better for such a one ptghaps, if he
mad never been born o. that a hil aOne were
hanged about his eek and he were do ID 10 Lhe
depths OF The sea.
But IN youth also the judgment and taste are
| formed, and children cannot be left TO themselves
10 l0rm their own Judgment aud tastes without eN-
posing them to equal danger Fnis is percolyet at
ohce In references to their educ tiIl ior this lie
deem know not what is best for themselves The
youth when placed in school is not allowed to Gi.
rect his own studies. He is not permitted 10 say
this he will study and that he will not study in.
cllnation and fancy may dictate; youth thus eft
10 himself would soon bring on the school Of his
instructor shame. Aud why should the yolng
thought more capable of directing their mosaI aud
slislous education, than their intele;tua.! Taslr
Judgment aud taste can no more safely be consul
| ted in one department than another.
Our age is one distinguished fos activity, Mt
least, if not for reach and viRor Of Intellect
Books have heen multiplied to an almost uni mited
extent, aud their chsapnes pllees them witSin the
| reaca OF aimo't all wh1 ate di I"'ed 10 read The
diffusion OF general in teisencs is sre It blessing.
but IT has also its attendant evils. Ths press
that mighty engine which |, destined in sshe
msi'ure to work the redemption Of the ruin Of the
world, IS constantly seuding ab.otd (ds II we're an
tle wings of the wind) MT only the gnnd, bit the
evil also. Tbs publication not dnly oil inSipd and
wo.lheSs trash, as mach Vithlnt debate cilfa;-
ter as the minds from which it issues bul OF books
of higher order, yet Of immoral aud irreiS iSioIs
tendency, haskep pace but too wellwith that which