The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-07-12
CHILDRENs, SUNDAY.
INDIA STREET CHURCH.

~SSeN>SJ
ren's Sunday at this church. The congregation
was large and the church looked very finely
decorated with flowers and eversreens. The
arch over the pulpit was encircled with ever
green, and from the centre hung star COM
posed of evergreens and flowers. The memo
rial window in the rear was also EN- ,ircled with
evergreen. Below this window in the recess
behind the pulpit were the words "God is
Love- in large bold letters. Below the motto
was hanging basket of evergreen. Over the
pulpit depended basket of rare and beautiful
flowers. The pulpit itself was fairly covered
with flowers and evergreens. A beautiful me-
mortal wreath in memory of Miss Lizzie Pote
who was most estimabe young lady and the
only member of the Sunday School who has
died since the occupancy of the church, hung
in front OF the pulpit. On either side of the
pulpit there were stands holding vases of cut
flowers and plants. The table in front was
also covered with flowers. On the gallery in
front of the singers were flowers, and from the
centre over the door hung an anchor and
wreath. Hanging plants depended from the gas
fixtures on either side of the church. This was
the first attempt to decorate the church aud it
was perfect success.
The Sunday School occupied the front seats
and conducted the singing. After the opening
services the pastor, Rev. Geo. W. Bicknell, de-
livered an excellent discourse upon the adapta-
bility of religion to the young, from the words
in l, Sam. iii, 10th: Speak; for thy servant
heareth." This incident shows us that the boy
Samuel was fitted by has Guardian to receive
revelation beyond the power of man to give.
Eli instructed him SO that he was able to rely
somewhat upon himself Though young, yet
the record tells US he was able to receive, and.
in measure at least, understand revelation.
There are in the world too few people, who,
from any embodiment in religious ideas, are
able, when they hear the voice of truth speak
ing, to say with the confidence of Samuel,
Speak The growing tsuden,y is, desire
not to hear anything of a religious character.
Many believe religion something all well
enough when they come to die, but noao they
do not want it. They did not begin right
Now religion, in the speakers idea, is adapt
ed to children-they should begin by being
taught its principles. Some think religion
great theological problem, learned science,
something mysterious, only adapted to mature
minds. Others believe it necessary that child
and bye, what to believe; but an uncared for,
natural growth is usually an ignorant one and
the result of the belief is summed up in the
idea, that 1T is more agreeable to ride on Sun
day thar to go to church, and that the amuse-
ments of the world are the only angels, and all
church relations the devils of life. Mystery
does not surround true religion. It is science
only as true living is a science. The attempt
to make 1t something grand, which must never
be touched or thought Of except on Sunday, IN
the church ia IN its cnirt oil ;n
simple, and when we say that the true subject
OF religion is too deep for the young-regon
which inculcates the necessity of love, sympa.
thy, pity, doing unto others as we would have
others do unto us, which seeks to so train and
mould the lives and affections of the being,
that they may be centered upon the loftier and
purer relations of life, when saylreligion like
this and its kindred features, is too deep for
the young-that its incubation ought to be
postponed until they are DID, we speak in igno-
rance concerning toe child, of which every one
ought to be ashamed
The religion taught should partake of Christ
who did not brighten them, but won them by
love. 1t should foster beautiful thoughts con-
corning life, death, heaven, angels, immedi-
atey, without being poisoned or stained by
miserable theological queries or weak skepti-
cal doub'ings. Children can understand sim
plicity.. Religion is simple. So teach it.
1t is in the season OF childhood that the gen.
eral character is found. Good or bad p-inci-
pies are to govern. The religious principles of
the Catholic, are SO impressed upon the minds
Of the little ones under his charge, that in after
life you seldom find hereto among them
Cannot our children be equally impressed with
our religion, if parents will only see to it-not
be negligent or Indifferent.
medication of religious principles is essential
for the young to rely, satisfactorily to their par
ents, upon themselves. Teach them love and
you Will find them acting 1t. Let them alone
and all sorts of passions may control them
Parents are not to direct their children as
pilot directs vessel totally and absolutely but
| teach them how to do; and the thoughtsthat
| they are to rely upon themselves will inspire
the young to act, somewhat at least, in har-
| mony with their instruction. The young NAV
| all during their early lives have tendency to
see some of the folles Of the world; yet, if re-
| ligious principles are inculcated in the early
years they will be as magnets to draw them
| back to honor and to virtue.
The speaker urged greater attention to the
| incubation of religious principles at home and
believed, too, that parents should attend the
| Sunday School with their little ones, and also
seer in our churches. BY and by sad result
will be seen. Too many of the young disregard
| the Sabbath and its observances Let the les.
son of history be needed; for if we forget God
and His law, woe can only be our portion
In conclusion, the speaker said that he would
employ every fundamentally possible to found
| good character in the child, and surround it
| with the strongest religious influences We
| have come up here to consecrate these little
ones to the love and worship of God. If there
was no other benefit arising the service should
be held for the influence which it has over ma
| ture Misunderstanding them to realize their re-
| sponsibiities. No one will say that those who
do not participate in this service may not be
| equally as faithful; yet there is an inspiration
in this service which will aid. Some may feel
| that the mere ceremony of conservation NAV
not possess any saving efficacy, yet the thought
| which will come up in each chld's mind when
it shall have grown older, or when it shall have
entered upon maturity. that in the outset of its
LIE loving parents consecrated it to the love of
God, Will have powerful influence in saving
it from many wrongs which otherwise might
scar its character. We all feel an inspiration
I to seek that purer nature without which no
man can see the kingdom of God The parent
feels stronger, it is to be believed, for the duty