New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-08

religion of the Church: Professionalism OF the family
We may add in the degree in which Churches approx
to the depreciation of what IS domestic in religion III
tho degree in which they adopt thor9ughgo'5g hy
testantism and ceayo TO the evangelical falth 40 soy
value domestic life and cultivate domestic pieJ.
DOMESTIC TRAITS OF THE PILGRM FATHERS
These remarkable whO In 1920. resolved 10 cross
the Atlantic and found settlement on the shores
OF America, were distinguished by family religion
no less than for individual faith They had been driven
from the land OF their birth by tho cruel hand OF perse
ton, aud, though Holland they found friendly well
come and quiet resting place, they felt them
selves at home. The English language the English ire
side, the English home life all dear them. They
could not be happy without those they could not en-
dure the thought that their children should lose these
and therefore, they sought country whore they could
practice their faith and train their households as they
believed God had enlOned. IL IL not required OF me 70
trace the history Of The family life VI tqeg immediate
rapidly-growng nation now. I cannot doubt that tho
home traditions of those days still live that family
h iSSS the o Of ns people IN feshns. and
ygor. But the Pilgrim Fathers were watched
by band that remained at home or returned after years
OF exile IL was mainly by men OF TINS stamp whesner
within without the estgbishmeDt that Evangelical
religion wac kept up in Old England and from them u
has spread tl II has reached Ls present dimensions
would be interesting 10 compare the two streams that
flowed forth from tho same fountaln-head-the one IN
posal Will not allow me to follow the English currens
very closely. ana 1oroh me, even lol I en- AZ
glance at the American hOr many years Aier tno no
parture OF the Pilgrim Fathers from Europe those who
them out to the fun had we except the period OF tho
Commonwealth hard times OF It IN England Many OF
Them l0ngth most OF them became NOneOnfOrmists,
aud they had to meet Tor public worship chiehy ny
stealth. under restrictions which kept shem In con-
tinual fear Probably these very checks to public wor
ship led them all the diligently 70 cultivate famlly
religion. Their home services would become more elAO
crate services In tho church became more disturbed
and uncertain. At any rate we nave now ana Ihen
gmpses OF family religion in those days, winch are e&
quistely beautiful aud refreshing aud which account
for the depth anu Intelligence OL the piey ~hSn VIC
then often find Chief among these Is the sketch
which Matthew Henry has lovingly made OF the home
OF his childhood AZ WOrJheuDuy ana BtOau OAK, WhSIe
rule and order were strictly maintained bub Where JOY
aud freedom equally hourshed. His father. PhiIp
Henry was one OF those rare SPIRITS WhO seem Always W
dwell HIGH and whose lie does moro than the strong
est arguments 90 draw men 20 Christ Morning aud even
ing. You his children ana servants collected TO-
gether family worship but not till he and his wife
have kne together IN secret Tor they wished TO i've as
together OF the grace Of Christ that their prayers
especially their prayers together, should not DO nm
dered. 'Thoso do we'll" nc was accustomed to say
that pray morning and evening In their famies those
do better that pray and read the Scriptures; put those
do bost that pray aud read and sing psalms and Chris
tans should coyet earnestly bost gifts" This rule he
himself observed Beginning with snort but solemn
invocation OF the divine presence ana grace ne gave
ont a psalm which was sung quick with u good va
rety OF proper and pleasant tunes for he used to say
the OF rejoicing and salvation should De IN tue
tabernaees of the righteous." lie read portion
~ SrIntnre taking the BlDein ORDER In prayers" he
would remark speak 70 God by the word ne speaks
10 us. and il there any reason that we should speak all
the tabernacle the priests were every day 70 burn
incense and 10 light the lamps; tho former hgurng tho
duty OF prayer the latter th9 duty OF readg tne
here he had peculiar excellence Ills ObserVatlohs,
his tells US, were many times very pretty ana sur
prisng and such as We shall not ordinarily meet with"
After mis- exposition he would ask his children for some
OF what he had said, and would try TO impress
it on their hearts, H0 encouraged them also 10 write
dOwa afterward what they could remelnber. Then
he knet down and offered prayer, aud tsok care
that his family should address themselves TO she
duty with the outward expressions OF reverence
and cOmpOscdness. He usually fetched his matter
and expressions In prayer from the chapter
that read and the psalm that was sung, which
often, very Affecting ana helped much to sur up and ex
cite praying sraceS." "Immedatey AFTER the prayer
was ended. his children together with Bonded knee
asked blessing OF him and their mother that H. desired
them pray God 10 bless them which blessing was
given with great sOemity ana aect0n and II any one
OF them were absent they were IeInemberod-the Lord
bless you and your Drother or you and your sister that
is absent AHd lest any one should suppose FROM ths
description that the service must have been very pro-
traoted likely disgust rather than attract the mem
bers OF the household, his Oographer adds, he man
aged his daily family worship 50 as to make pleasure
and not task to hs chhren ana servants Tor lie Was
seldom long and never tedious IN the services Inc
variety of tho duties madO ~ tue more pleasant 50
that none VINO joined hun had ever reason 10 say,
behold what WEAKNESS Is IT, Such an excellent facuy
he had for rendering religion tue most sweet aud amaDo
employment IN the world; and 90 careful was he, Ike
Jacob to drive as the children could 60 Ii some goOd
people that mean well would do likewise, 1t might pre-
vent any of the preudices which young persons are
apt 10 conceive against regon, Wneh the services Oh IL
are made toll and terror 10 them" Then ne en-
dcavOred TO make the Lords Day day Of special JOY
His common salutatOn 10 bis family ana friends on tue
morning OF shat day " The Lord Is rise-he Is risn
indeed" and that the keynote 10 which all the en-
pOymens OF the day were set The voice OF praise was
more frequently heard, SUBJECTS OF an eNhiliaratlng
trumphant character occupied the attention, a
tone OF thaDkfunes5 and gladness was maintained.
But Mr. Henry did not depend for tho formation or his
chidreu's character upon exercises directly religious
He sought by mildnesS and gcnteueSs combined with
rmucs win their respect and affection, and thereby
them into the path which no pursued, Tor No was
most careful not to enjon on them what no did not
empify himself. He allowed them great freedom with
him. encouraging them % ask questions ON any subject
which Interested thgm and taking great pains give
them adequate and satisfactory answers. He very
maze them prefer character 10 perSuaSOns or
rank guarded them against mndlug high things" but
hunger
He encouraged them by some dOClded step 10 commit
to the service OF God, by adopting
prayer By praise, by systematic lnsructOhlh dc SCRIP
lures by free conversation, By personal example and
iniaence, he sought to make the family religion a
Successful that all his chren became exemplary for
t6er poty Now do not mean to say that ali parents
have the knowledge or skill to tram their family as
Philip Henry Did his, nor do moan tnat t desirable
that an should adopt his exact method, but do main
tain that ali ought IN great measure to employ the same
deIlDerate thought Lnat 80 tho education OF their
children may not be thing OF chance but thing OF
purpose. And would AHA tina! IN the
family hfe OF Philip Henry you see the KIND OF training
extent OF power carried out have placed before
Attempting, what my time would not allow,
history OF family religion from those days TO
religious lie of the family always been OF the
specific order the general religious lie OF the age
and IL Is 80 IN the present DAY NOW Ihe tehlehoy OF
the present Is 70 freed0m--freedOm OF thought
froedOm from the Obligation OF any dOgnatic creed,
choce OF amusements style or living parties. etc. etc.
TINS tendency Is especially manifest among tue easier
ealthIer classes OF the community, whose consequent
habits are uniavOrable TO the cultivation OF family
re- giOn. The husbands complete their days business,
ana home 70 late dinner after which they are
dsncned to anything which demands thought or effort
Rest or exciting amusement is what they seek they
have no for quiet domestic pleasures or recrealons
no disposition instruct guide their children Iney
omit family worship or reduce II ~ mere FORM Ihey
keep before them ideal Of home which they carefully
endeayOr to realize but allow accident very much TO de-
termne what shall be- Their spirit naturally spreads
through the whole family VINO AZ last prefer ieyersn
sensational life 10 a lie of deep, quiet enjoyment
Religion ia such a household may nOt DO formally re-
nounc ed but evidently " do little to mold the char
aeter or elevate the life that ths Is the tendency
OF things but would carefully add that, as matter OF
fact the exceptions both numerous and delightful
Many OF the finest examples OF family religion arc still
TO be found IN this rank. ln the less easy
and wealthy classes where steady, dlligent Work
demands certain sturdness aud robustness,
and tends check both speculation and luxury, mucn
OF tho Old quiet domestic rcl giOn still prevails Fam
lily prayer maintained the children regularly III
.,ds rflua