The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-06-19

Do thon, father,help US, teach US
how to guide them the right path,
that they may wall in the light of
truth and Righteousness, and become
an ornament to ourleck, crown to
our heads, and be aolessing to their
fathers and mothers Amen"
ADDREs. s.
BELOVED BRETnRE AND FRIENDS:
1t is with extr'he reluctance,
founded upon knowledge 81 my in
ability to advance aything which
may be generally inteesting on this
occasion; I feel too little confidence
IN my attachments evn to ina inc
that l could do justicGo this solemn
hour by anything I an going to say.
Before l begin therebre, l am con,
strained to tell you tint l trust, af-
ter this candid avowal you will par,
don any defect which ;ou may dis
cover and be little inulgent to my
first effort at public spanking. 1t is
highly probable that most of you
may have heard all Which / can adj.
vance, but then, I"mst beg of you
to consider that know truths may
often he but family remembered and
that we may derive greet and lasting
benefits Ivy having then presented
to us in light in Which, perhaps
we had never before viewed them
I,ving promised thus much let us
proceed to the consideration of oul
subject. ga
As often as we unite On this festi-
val of Pcntecost our view is, of it
self, directed to the terors of yor
desert, where our fathers were as
scmhle'l at the foot of Silia to lister
TO the word, the commands of til,
Lord. The thought is too great eve
to he forgotten. Above tie thunder
clouds of the Lord; below millions o
nwestruck men; between the smok
ing mountain and, above all, TIL
Lords voice, which caused the doc
trines of right and virtue t.
sink unto everlasting into TIL
hearts Of mankind. Yea, til
very idea is divine. And wha
did God desire? To educate a grea
people to a knowledge Of diyin
things, to justice and to religion
This solemn occasion which we cele
brate this day should lead me t
speak Of the education of Israelitis
children. Is not to-day the feast G
the first fruits; but where can yo
find more precious first fruits, wblc
sou could bring to the altar of tn
Lord, than your children. his bless
ing and your joy9 Is not to day tn
feast of our confession of faith: an
how can you better lay your cor
fession before the only God, than i
your children? And do I not stan
now under canopy of boughs an
flowers; and what are the evergree
boughs of your life, and what al
your most fragrant flowers, if NJ
your children? Let me, therefor
speak to day concerning the educ'
ton Of your children. And behol'
the truest aim of education is e,
pressed by the prophet Ezekiel,
the Haphtorah to-day, where it say
"They went every one straightfo
ward; whittier the spirit was direc
ed to go, they went; and they turne
not about in their going" M
Brethren, how thea should educatio
be conducted, nay, is education at a
requisite7 I say yes, parents; the'
exists no more valuable gift, no n
bier possession, no richer and mol
useful present which you can besto
upon your children, than good e'
ucation. The spirit of a child in il
fancy is like wax, which receive
every impression, but like iron, r
tanning for after life and forever fa
to all impressions it has receive
But how shall education be const
tuted in order TO be goodS It mu
be an education of carefulness ar
constant watching. The parent
eye must be continually awake oy'
the child, as it is said from God tt
wards US, his children, "Behold! E
slumbereth not, He sleepeth not
and it ought to be the same fro
parents toward their children. III
first work Of parents must be to ed
cate their children, and they ther