Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-10-24

Christian life in the home will maintain 1t,
self but let the home influence fail, and
the public ministrations of the gospel Will
lose their power, and the churches he de-
serted.
In these days, many of our sons and
daughters, brought up i'll Christian homes,
90 out into the world ayowed dlsbelieyerS-
1t was not so 25 or so years ago; then.
though perhaps all the children OF Chris
tian parents did 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 child
rem who are for the time away from their
own home For the former, home must be
place where consistent Christian spirit Is
| shown and how often and how far do we
see parents fail lust here Children OF
such do not think their fathers hypoerites,
bat they do insensibly come to think all
religion is outside appearance only, an IN
! tellectual assent only, sort OF sham. Home
must be made attractive, and evidently at
tractiye because of its religion. Ii there
is anything our gospel can do, 1t Is
to create happy, blessed home: Ihere
are many homes made attractive with
out religion, now add tins ana II
Is not possible that the children should not
reverence and love the religion they see so
exemplifed. and believe in its Christian
spirit. There is sometimes very religious
spirit that only makes the home repnlsive-
a one-sided religious intensity that sup
presses mirth, and frowns on trolic, that
calls all pleasures sinful and all expenses
beyond bare living extravaganza forgetting
that as air to physical health l. mirth and
pleasure TO the Young. From such a re
iigious home a Young man will most likely
be violently repealed.
And lastly, the religious rights Of all
must be respected and their natural liberties
preserved Religion is not thing OF com
pulsion Some Of the bloodiest and black
est pages in history are those that record
the efforts of States to enforce religion.
Now the principle of tolerance IN the State
is admitted, but it is not always in the
family. Influences should be used but not
authority. We should bear in mind that as
soon as a child reaches the age when moral
responsibility begins, anything like control
in religious belief or practice Is tyranny
For religion belongs to the soul, 1t Is 4
personal thing, and no man may interfere
between the soul and God. This does not
nullify effort on the part Of parents at all,
for children may easily be won to love,
where they cannot be controlled.
For the young men among strangers, pre-
cisely the same sort of home influences will
be effectual if they are brought under them,
if they are made welcome in such Christian
homes. This is duty also often neglected.
Do We feel under obligation to make our
homes attractive to others than our own
soEs? You may get them to attend
Church and Sabbath School, but you can't
keep them, unless you make them welcome
ss.f.. l.. 4. L.
shall easily bring them under influence Of
all coed and Christian things.
At the close of Prof. Webber's address, a
collection was taken up to deiray the ex-
penses of the Convention, alter which Mr.
X. \. Burnell was introduced and spoke
for half an hour, eulogzing the Christian
homes Of New England, lamenting over the
downward course Of so many young men.
and enforcing Prof Webber's advice about
opening our homes to the strangers among us
He regretted that such instances Of success
ful Christian work in this direction, Is some
which he related, could not be multiplied.
lie did not quite agree with Prof. Weber
that no authority should be used By parents
in religious things; our boys need a steady
hand. but it should be loving Christian
one. lie thought the sons and daughters
who went from Vermont now were Of differ
eut stamp from those of twenty-five and
thirty years ago. His remarks were listen
ed to with deep interest.
\ vote of thanks to Prof. Webber for his
address was passed, and the Chairman said
owing to the lateness Of the hour one thing
must be omitted, the answering of num-
Der Of questions that had been sent in by
members Of the Association. lie announced
the close of the session and said
Nv Christian friends before whom have
stood Tor two days As the presiding officer
of this body. feel 4 wonderful attachment
TO You. respect You and the hospitality
YOU have shown to US. We have seen and
been in New England homes like those
described here tonight. desire to
carry this thought Of the true Chris
than home little further, and to ask, Have
we all got home to which We are going ?
And while We make the best Use of our
homes here, let US bear always in mind
that this Is not our abiding place, that we
are 10 have home in glory.
The meeting closed with singing the
doxology. The house was filed full, and
the interest undated to the close.