Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-01-26

In the oldon time the father of the house
hold was its prophet and priest. The father
Of the present fast age can hardly find time
10 make the acquaintance of his own child
ren, 10 say nothing OF decent aud devout at
tention TO the proprieties and sanctties Of
family religion.
It Is a sad fact that in many households,
nominally Christian, there is no family altar
and no recognition Of God. The Bible is an
unopened book, and there is no open ac-
Acknowledgement Of allegiance 10 God, the
Father in heaven. goddess, prayeress
household is terrible spectacle, especially
when there is profession Of better things.
The evils are magnifed manifold where
there are young children. What can com
pensate for the sweet aud tender influences
Of well conducted family worship on the
minds and hearts OF the little ones Pa
rents who omit il not only provoke the wrath
Of the Lord, but neglect the best and most
natural means Of religious education, and
thus put in fearful jeopardy the souls Of their
children. II was not an idle superstition
that bade the simple.miaded, devout Nor
wegian girl 10 flee from the house where she
had engaged service, because there were no
prayers IN the house" A prayefless soul
is a fearful anomaly. But home whore
IHllhftn dIt NNTlI anu nuIlNItu hllu INdlfts
where loved ones sicken and suffer and die,
where, in the eyes Of the children, the father
should be the type Of the An Father in
heaven" aud the mother the ideal Of all that
is tender, affectionate and devout, whers all
precious memories should be garuered like
hidden treasures, and where all holy and pure
influences aud associations should pervade
the very air-with no open Bible aud no
voice Of song, prayer or praise-what shall
we say OF that home One can hardly con
ceive it possible that such home could ex-
ist in a Christian land. No wonder that the
curse Of the Lord hangs in dark relief over
the families that call not on His name.
We alluded 10 family worship as reli-
gious educator One can hardly over-esti-
mate the power Of this service over young
hearts. if wisely and earnestly conducted.
A daughter Of irreligious parents spent,
not long since, few months in Christian
home Selected passages of Scripture usu-
ally the readings connected with the current
Sabbath-school lesson, were read, each mem
Der taking verse in course. Not seldom
there was some familiar talk and comment
on the passage aud the Sabbath lesson.
Then a song, aud then all bowed in brief
and simple thanksgiving and prayer for daily
grace and protection. This gay Young girl
soon found the God thus honored and wor-
shipped in this house TO be her God and
Saviour. Not long after, another daughter,
gay, cultured, and highly educated, spent a
few weeks in this humble home She, too,
was sweetly won TO the religion so maguifed
in the house in which she was a guest. Co
ing to her own home, she preached Christ 10
her mother, and now all three are rejoicing
in the Lord. These girls attributed their
conversion TO the indirect yet powerful ap-
peal that, day by day, came to their hearts
and consciences from these simple ordinary
services Of family religion.
We fear that pastors and church officers
are not watchful and faithful in the over
sight Of the church touching this matter. es-
pecially in the case Of young couples just
setting up their homes Habits of neglect
once formed are not easily overcome. Start
ing right at the outset is often guarantee
OF lifelong fidelity Let the voice of the
preacher and the Christian teacher be lifted
up with no uncertain sound on this subject.
W need nothing so much as censecrated
homes Presbyterian at Work.