The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-09-21
Snnaay Rtahiuq,
From the Richmond Christian Advocate.
Do You Teach Children to Prav.
During the summer of 1897 q .

Do You Teach Children to Pray.
During the summer of 1857. a plor;ous
revival of religion commenced in the town
Of C, Tennessee. Never before. in
the recollection of the oldest inhabitant
was such scene witnessed in that sec
ton OF the country. Business houses
were closed, and the usually bustling lit
tie town wore sober aspect. Ministers
and christians Of every name united in the
great work; and the great Father looked
upon the same and smiled and sent down
showers OF blessings upon the assembly
which daily meet within the walls of his
earthly sanctuary. There was an influep
tial gentleman, who had attended the
meeting for several weeks but his proud
heart rebelled against bowing in such
humble manaer, to request the prayers OF
Gods people. One evening while sitting
alone in his chamber, his only child a
brighteyed boy OF seven summers, enter
ed and seated himself upon his fathers
knee, looked earnestly into his face, and
| asked:
Pa, what is Christian 2
One, my son, who speaks the truth,
reads tho Bible, and prays.'
'WelI, Pa replied the child, you read
your Bible, and tell the truth, but you do
not pray and twining his little arms a-
bout his neck, he continued oh II wish
you were a real Christian, Par Tho
strong man bowed his hesd upon the CLOS
sy curis Of his darling child, and wept.-
'Ah" said he when relating the circum.
stance to me, that arrow went deep in to
my heart
That night the church bell rang ou, its
usual peal, and that father, accompanied
by his praying wife wended their way to
the house of God. When the invitation
was given for penitents to approach the
altar, he arose, and with calm resolve
depicted upon his face, walked firmly to
the altar and knelt. Many eyes unused
to weeping overf1owed TO see one so loved
and honored bowing so penitently among
those holy men of God asking direction
to the fountain of life. Before the meet,
ing closed, he arose with the glad cry OF
new born soul, and among the hossn-
mas Of Gods chosen ones, TO what spre.
cious Saviour he had found All! me.
thinks the angel Of Love that hovered
over the sleeping couch Of that Lowell,
child, sped its way back to the courts O
glory, and wrote Willie's name along tb,
side Of his papal's in the Lambs book O
life.
Upon awaking from the sweet sleep 0
r childhood, the ensuing morning, little
Willies mother bent over his crib anC
whispered, PAS Christian now, darling.
'Oh! Pm so very glad he exclaimed
why didn't you serd for Willie to see
God make Pa Christian = And apair
in that household there went up thanks
giving TO God for bringing the fathel
home to Him. Oh may the light O
Heaven beam lovingly upon the head O.
that sweet child, and may angels weay,
an immortal crown of Heavens flowers tc
deck his brow when he enters the glor,
land.
Mothers, do you realise the responsible
ity of training an immortal soul Ar,
you prayful? Do you, when the sunlgh
fades away, and the little eyes grow see
py, follow the little ones to their couches
and there bend your knee with them, an,
teach them to send up their pure devo
tons to the God who has given such jew
els to your keeping? II so, you too ma,
one dag know Of truth, that 'out Of th,
mouth Of babes God has perfected praise.
Just here let me relate an incident tha
occurred not many days ago. A lady
sat in the dim twilight, in her home. b,
her side was he, Oldest son, boy Of eigh
or nine years. She had been relating
circumstance relative to prayer Of on
Of his little schooimates who had recent
ly died. The boy asked why his littl
friend prayed, aud the mother explained
then, looking into her face with an earn
estness and seriousness beyond his years
he said Mother, you never taught m
how to pray But will now, my son
she replied and going to the stand, sh
, :eok down the family Bible and taneh
him the Lords prayer. o! what a re-
proof to that mother! Her son neve
saw her pray he knew not what it wa
topray. A prayerless mother O! ,her
is no sadder sight on earth. Think. mo
theirs, think what you are doing; for
your children do not sound the reproc
now, the day is coming when your b ear
will be rent by the awful cry, 'You neve
taught me to pray, moiherr Do nc
think it is enough TO pray for childre
but teach them TO pray.