American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-07
(touina Iced.
PARENTAL. RESPON IBiLIrY.

ildihS ItinclpdilN W 'Ht' IL StCCp
Chs i>tian parents in la! ing ii proper
MORAL AM. rel!s."us foundation for
The education OF th,iI children III
rariy lie, and shall IN this, my last,
,.Nhipil some of their Inconsistencies
;tS regards the MANNERS aud con
duct OF those OF more advanced age. /
On this POM, many. fear, VIII nos
ESCAPE mrrlird ctn>nrt., for there /
are but few who keep constantly
before their Otf>In lag those. 'hri~ti,n
= Faces which prove Iel,SI'n to bt,
their only guIoe, and To which all
iheir worldly pursuits and Interests
are made >ut,S-r>irnt. What must
oar sons and daugh els think of
thai religion wli:ch suits itself to
ami i.lac, :, and which
WHdS to the iaSt.S ana tabl,S OF
he wuri,Ii, mind-l Will the, not
tnIn with feelings of ahhorrrnce
from such conduit, and in their lives
~, her set be-, ter example, OF total
~ discard the principles of religion!
1t Is mach to he regretted that Sal
few parents set a Cody example t"
their children, and teach them those
thi. IS which would tend to draw
their AOung minds from the pompS
and VanitieS of the world, and fix
them on th"S.. things which would
make for their present aud ct rH'i
we.i-brIuS.
There is one great evil prac,iced
by christian parents which does
great ujustice to the cause of Christ,
and winch does not escape the no
lice of those vino make no prettn-
s,uns to religion. mean the ab>ur
dity of those parents who strrnu-
Ou.iy oppose conformity 10 the
world IN their own personal conduct,
aud Yet suffer their children TO
aGopI all .he ridiculous fashions of
he times, and iudu' 81 IN every Spe-
cies OF fashionable. amusement and
folly. Is 1t possible that IA respect
abe mitrOn who wishes her chill
,lren to adopt her sentiments, and
t.,k.. her exampi,. for their guide,
>hou d permit hem to pursue ii line
of conuuct 50 diametrlcallN opposite
to her OWns Or does she imagine
that by the licensed induIg euce of
these vanities they will 500 rer dis
cover their fo.l. Vain imagina-
;inal Common sense would blush,
au such l. assuming. Would yOu suf-
Ter Il child to Iun int. the tire to
iear, by experience to sliun that de
>tructI,e element? And SnT"l!
every partut who encourages this
III ural iondneS> for external decor
atiou and fashionable dissipation,
SlIrh "a ball, liiratIeS, clrcu St.S, etc,
Is gully OF an .bsur'.tty tqraiiy as
ylar.n. Are there hot many pa
rents prof s>ing "otlliae~s who are
far more >Oir,touS to make their
chil.Iru shine III the SaudN trap
pins at riiti. ttlanth-, are to make
them USEFUL citizen: and happy FOL
iowpfS OF the Son of GUd " no
show, Ivy heir indulgence, Il "re:iter
Satisfaction IN seeing them III Tact
he affection of the gIldy multi
.ud,-amonG whom n~Ith. worth
nor merit Is properly eSi!maie'i-
than they would TO see them lraIn-
ing AT the feet of Jesus to be. meek
and lowiy III heart ! False and pea
verified taa,e! | fear it originates
more from an uiiSanrtItied heart
than from ANY other cause. Many
D. rents act III this matter as though
hey were wisrr that s.. Paul and
rae HnlA Ghost, who cuHuem" aii
.,.,.IgeS of pride and vanity, and all
such SCENES as the bal-iu"m AMI
heai re, as sinful and dispensing to
q I'd.
A christian mother oncr remarked.
III the presence OF an eminent divine.
hat she bought chi dr-n, especial.
girls. should go TO dancing pal ties.
and visit other places OF amusement
and not be trained to any religious
sx+rci>rs u"tii they had arrived al
an age when hey could fully under
stand such subjects. HIS reply WAS
full of wisdom. ..Ma,iam." said he,
.'if you do not InIl'lant good doc
trinaS in Your chi!,;rrr,'S minds be-
fore that line, the devil will ill
Them with misrhie, Gus ones" The
moral education of children can
not be commenced to scan. Garry
out the theory advocated by this
mother. and when you attempt 10
cultivate the soil, You will find i
air, aiy ch ked with weeds. which
will require more time and trouble
o eradicate than would the incu,ca
ton of proper principles in early
life.
The heart-rending pangs which
souls feel for the want of early ami
pr per restraint, our prisons aud
abodes OF wrrichrdnes~ will best
aTteSt aud who that with feelings
of humanity has visited those man
siors of woe. but has been daily i'm
pressed with the impori ance OF an
Ell ~ restraint upon youthful pas
SONS? 1t is true, that thu IN Isl j.
dicio,lS methods have failed OF sue
cess in some ms inceS, bur this does
not remove the responsibility, nor
ought it to discourage us from *
-rtlli. all our facilities to promo
the gracious designs of an infinitely
wise Il, d holy Being, Tho has saI'!
in HIS word, ''Train up II child i
the way he >hnuld go, and when he
l. old he viii. not d'part from ~
a PARENT.