Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-11-17
Relieicms Department.
OUR CHRISTIAN HOMES.

At the recent Conventian in Burling-
ton of Y. Al. G. Associations of Vermont,
Rev. Prof. Weber of Middlebury Col
lege, in an address on the subject of
making Christian homes more servicea-
BILE in restraining young men from evil
and in bringing them to Christ, said
In these bright days, many of our
sons and daughters, brought up in Christ
ian homes, go out into the world avowed
disbelievers. 1t was not so % or 80
years ago; then, though perhaps all the
children of Christian parents die not
become pious, at least they assented to
the truths of Christianity, and gave
moral as well as financial support to the
church of their fathers.
There are two classes to be reached
at home, our own children, and other
children who are for the time away from
their own home. For the former, home
must be place where consistent Chris
tan spirit is shown-and how often and
how far 10 we see parents fail just here
Children of such do not think their fa-
theirs hypocrites, but they do insensibly
come to think all religion is outside ap-
pearance only, an intellectual assent
only, sort of sham. Home must be
made attractive. and evidently attractive
because of its religion. If there is any
thing our gospel can do, it is to create a
happy blessed home. There are many
homes made attractive without religion
now; add this and it is possible that
the children should reverence and love
the religion they see SO exemplifed, and
believe in its Christian spirit. There
IS sometime very religious spirit that
only makes the home repulsive-a one
sided religious intensity that suppresses
mirth, and frowns on frolic, that calls
all pleasures sinful and all expenses
beyond bare living extravaganza, forget
ting that as air to physical health, are
mirth and pleasure to the young. From
such a religious home a young man will
most likely be violently repealed.
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And lastly, the religious rights of all
must be respected, and their natural
liberties preserved. Religion is not a
thing of compulsion. Some of the blood
lest and blacklist pages in history are
those that record the efforts of States
to enforce religion. Now the principl,
Of tolerance in the State is admitted
but it is not always in the family. In
huences should be used, but not author
ity. We should bear in mind that a.
soon as child reaches the age whel
moral responsibilities begins, anythin!
like control in religious belief or prac
tice is tyranny. For religion belong
to the soul, 1t is a personal thing, an,
no man may interfere between the sou
and God. This does not nullify effor
on the part of parents at all, for childre
may easily be won to love, where the,
cannot be controlled
For the young men among strangers
precisely the same sort of home influence
will be effectnal. if they mado we
come in such Christian homes. This
a duty also often neglected. Do W
, feel under obligation to make our ow
sons? You may get them to atten
Church and Sabbath School, but yo
can't keep them, unless you make the
welcome at your homes also. If we d
this last we shall easily bring them I'll
! der influence of all good and Christia
things.