New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-10
INFLUENCE OF LITTLE CHILDREN.
Sermon By he Rcr r. " Hatfield, at ne orch Street Dr.
Church PhlddeLphi1.

X. ~ H.
Church, PHILADELPHIA.
The Rev. Dr. Hatfield preached yesterday in
Philadelphia on the influence excrted by little
children in the family choosing his text Isaiah x
"And little child shall lead them" He said:
We have in this chapter beautiful description OF the
advent OF the Messiah and the reign Of the Prince of
Peace The Evangelical Prophet throws upon the
picture, in which the triumph Of gentleness
brute force The men all kind-hearted and loving,
venomous scrpents harmless and the most fe-
rocious beasts led by little child am to speak this
morning OF the millennium, but OF the influence
ered BY little children. To some OF you the subject may
seem neither dignfed norimportan but little reflection
will show that it Is that deserves careful considera
ton. None OF Independent OF the influences by
which we surrounded and little children may have
good deal do in shaping character and destiny.
And none Of need resent this suggestion for
susceptible to gentle influences just IN proportion they
are refined gentlemen. Coarse and 0btuse natures
least likely 10 be led by little children. notice,
l. The influence OF children in developing benevolent
affections and kindly sympathios in the family. The
coming Of babe into yruous family quckcns into life
and activity affections and sympathes that have lain
torpid or dead would give encouragement TO I'M
kind criticism Of unmarried and childess women But
there H. most loyabe side OF wOmans nature that Is
beautifully developed as through maternity.
Women are by nature more afectOnate than men, and
less need than the other of the discipline that
mOds the heart to tenderness and love- There great
deal in rough contact with world that tends 10
make cold, harsh, and bitter. II the women who
shielded from this rough contact, knew how 1t
abrades the finer sensbies Of the SOUL and hardcns all
Within they would thank God that the lines have fallen
to them In pleasanter places. Wherever turn
In contact with selishness, dishonesty in
ot their manifold manifestations In the business world
crowd upon and trample down each other, like bull
locks in corral In political life they stO0p to almost
any degradation in order 10 success. The world
given over TO the devils OF greed and seshness
that We are sometimes tempted to conclude that nobody
for and that hardly worth while for 10
for nyb0dy IL Is the mission Of little children 10
from this shpwreck OF faith. They charm out OF
harshness and Ill nature before think OF what they
doing The evil spirit not suddenly exercised
from saul by the harp OF David than similar spirit
out of your heart by dear children You ashamed
Of yourself, aud ask how IL IL that often make fool
Of myself Intercourse with children strengthens
best affections by promoting their manifestation. And
this is amater Of great consequence. Feelings
suppressed and allowed fair play impaired In
strength II destroyed. There is good sense, the
wisdom In the quiet manner of webred gentleman, and
an angry man grows more angry In the use OF harsh and
bOsor0ls words. Little children not only claim love
but plead for It's manifestation. And when one feels
kindly and speaks tendery 10 the children, something
this love aud tenderness will overflow toward other
beers OF the household Aud this IL Just what led
~ many a family circle. Alterations and estran ,rmruis
have their origin In aud retccnce That
Say thai love for wiieOr child is something OF Which
should BE- ashamed. The husband, hard pr,ss,d
that MS heart rs IN tho right place. aud that ho
regards her the best woman living No doubt
sic knows all this. but 1t would do them both