Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-10-25
Forthe CHRONICLE.
EARLY MORAL EDUCATION.
BY ALoNzo Balm.

In our creation we are created with q
mind so formed and constituted, as to
learn a certain amount of knowledge
of this world; and if we do not learn
that which is good and moral, we
learn that which is bad and immoral.
Our happiness deDendsupon our NOR
al character. The happiness of a
family depends on the moral charac-
ter of its members; the respectability
of a community depends on the mo-
Tality of its people. The honor and
integrity of our nation depends upon
the moral character of its citizens.
Our early moral education is neglect
ed, our parents and teachers fail to
engraft into us the principles of truth
and honesty, and we are left to grow
up, amusing ourselves with pleasure
in whatever form it may present
itself to our minds;our parents indulge
us in little things which have bad
effect, and even encourage by not dis
couraging us.
\ little hole in a ship sinks it; a
small breach in a sandbanlI carries
away all before it; little stab in the
heart kills a man; and a little sin, as
his final destruction.
In all well regulated households,
the father of the family exercises a
watchful care over his children. He
notes their various phases of ftempera-
ment and dispositions, their hopes
and fears their anxieties and disap-
poiRtments; their physical develop
ments and moral progress, and he be-
comes, in a measure, answerable in
society for their good conduct. With
the help of the mother, most youthful
minds may be moulded into gentle
ness and obedience. Filial duty then
becomes a pleasurable habit that is
observed through life.
A disobedient son or daughter al
ways creates unhappiness, and ulti-
mately brings dishOnOr to the dOmes-
tic circle. a father is without power
to govern his family if the mother
thOughtlessly oppose him; it is utter
ly impossible TO prevent evil results
flowing from a conflict of authority
OH the part of the parents. The chill
dren are insensibly imbued with a
spirit of disobedience, and are quick
to manifest ii on the least exercise of
parental authority.
A good mother can exercise no holi-
er calling than to guide the footsteps
of her children in the path of duty
and virtue. 1t is the mother who
moulds the character and forms the
destiny of the child. Think of the
solemn responsibility that rests on the
mother the destiny of that child's soul
and its influence in this world.
If the parents would keep their
children under their kind care and
protection, in a quiet, happy home,
until their characters were well form.
ed, by a matured and ripper age, they
would then have q guarantee written
in their characters, guarding them
against sin and immortality: tfBy
would have an insurance policy,
life policy paying them an annual
dividend of honor and integrity.
I think there is something of mis-
take made in our churches. We sup
port ministers to preach the gospel 10
those who have passed the meridian
oftheir lives and are quietly walking
down to the grave; while the youth
and rising generation are more neg
lected; and l ask wouldn't it be as well
ifnot better, to pay more care and at
tentiOn to the rising generation, and
build up in them a monument which
shall have engraved on it good NOR
al character, and that will stand the
storms of temptations, sin and i'm
The care of, and the tendency of the
present day and generation, is not
what L could wish II TO be, and / can
only commend the rising generation
to the God who created them, that
He will preserve and protect them
from their own disposed destruction.