Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-05-11
ELLSWORTH NAINE FRIDAY, MAY H. 1866
The Family and Society.

1t were better to discard every other a.
gcncy iii our efforts to save the nation and
the world than the Family institution. II
its radical power be not invoked, all our
tolls and sacrifices will be futile. If the
children be not looked after and educated
and trained at home in early years, in the
guard their morals and prosper them and
heChurch strive to win them to Christ.
The Family no longer occupies that high
and sacred position which it did in the
earlier days of our history. There is less
of reverence and Importance attached to it.
There is less attention and pains given to
the cultivation of the home virtues. and the
wise training aud development Of character
under the fostering influence Of parental
love. Family instruction and family re
ligion are not so faithfully attended to. The
reins of family government are slaekcned.
Parental authority is not exercised and rep
resented as it once was. The influences OF
home is less pstentiul on charac.er and
much of its sanctityi is gone. SOciety--a
modern but expressive wOrd-has come iu
great degree, to take its place aad -exer-
else its prcrogatives. What the Family
once was to lnan--his instructor. his life,
his solnce aud power-Society has grown
to be.
Sueety has come to overshad0w the
Family and dictate opinions and laws to
the world. Society is the one idea which
now gets possession of the mind. Society
is the influence which moulds opinions and
shapes characters. Education has cn,sc to
be essentially based on the tastes and max
inns which prevails in Society. The family
life is regulated by Society. Society forms
the marriage contracts. lisposes of our
children, and settles the grave question in
volyed i'll life and duty. Society steps in
between the parent and the child and over
rules parental fear and love, and the max
inns Of the Bible. and the lessons of Provi-
dence and decides how the family powers
shall be cxcrclscl; to what ends and on
what principles our children shall be train
ed. In instances without number. the
hearts of the fathers are not turned to the
children, nor the hearts of the children tU
their fathers, but both to Society.
There are ten: of thousands of families
in our land te-day who have no such head.
distinct personal and responsible, as God
! ordained in the family arrangement; they
hoNc ftAitS ho iHtuS'' ~ i'o'hN' '.'1 '-"~i
ETY.. Society owns them; Society educatcs
them; Society forms their principles and
habits Society directs their aims and dis
poses of them. The flthcr virtually VA
Gates his sacred office for usurper to fill.
The mother hands over her infant to stran-
gers to bring up; and it often draws its
nUurishment, its life blood, not from the
mother, but from an alien. Society nyades
the nursery with it's false ideas and super
s:itious stories and artificial training
Childhood and youth hear only of Society
and are taught to tliink only of Society and
mind and heart are developed mainly with
reference to Society. A fashionable edu
cation is given them, i. G., they are unfit
ed for home duties and educated to play
their part eentecly in Society. And when
their education is complete they are given
over to Society aud given up to it.
And what can be expected Of those who
have received such training! Where is
the Fanll, institution. with its sacred re-
lations and holy influences. and moulding
forces. III such state Of things! What
sort of nome influences will such persons
carry witt. them into life ! What sort of
husbands and wives, fathers and mothers,
citizens and patrints. Will they make =
Can the Church of Christ thrive in the mids,
of such generation Will the bonds OF
social order and virtue he kept strong =
Will the sacred duties Of life be discharged
by them , Will not God 'snitc with a
curse" for such things !-J VI Shcruood.