The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-06-15
FESTIVAL OF PENTECosT.
ADDRESS OF REV. DIR. sorHAR.
TO THE PARENTS.

TO TIE PARENTS.
"Tbis is the day which the Lord has
made, we will be- glad and rejoice thereon.
psalm Ii9, 94l In these few words the IN
spired psaliuist presents the Most HIvid eX-
preston imaginable of the emotions Wlth
which this day our hearts joyfnily exult.
We are assembled TO celebrate double
feast. We commemorate the greatest event,
the highest OF blessings ever granted by an
Advise Providence to gladden. the hearts OF
thinking men, which historical fact we re-
mebcr IN solemn rejoicing with all our CO.
religionsts and ut the same time we utter
PRAYERS of gratitude and hope, we shed
tears of joy and giadness, yielding 10 an
emotion which is the stronger, the smarter
the circle sympathizing. Still, both festive
occasions are merely supplementary to each
other.
ID Is TO religious liberty, to the birthday
of morality aud truth, revealed to Hebrews
and Gentiles to which this horal attire
wishes to do homage. SOleinnly we salute
this day, devoted to commemorate the
standing of the Hebrew people ut the foot
of Mount Sinai. which is particularly adj
apted to call up feelings of thanktlness
and devotion for the great good 50 bouIltI-
fully bestowed. And the unanimous vow OF
the Hebrews of old-that once great peo-
ple--to accomplish and promulgate the re-
Veuied preeepts, their latest descendants.
these, our SONS and daughters, will today
represent with renewed ferY0r On this day
rejoice with us, all that have not yet lost
feeling olsreligious enthusiasm. Let lis look
Mt this youth as al new hefalds OF the divine
name, rs at new pillars OF our ancient bull
wark, as ut new bearers of the glorious bail
ner of faithful virtue and of enlightening
knowledge, i'll order that by their ardent
hearts ours be rekindied with n never
abating zeal.
Particularly for you, the parents of these
children, is this day a day of joy and honor.
Yea, grateful joy fills yonr happy hearts in
this sacred moment, and with deep-felt
emotion yon may say: As far as this hath
the Lord helped u.s." Samuel /, 7, l2.)
Before your mental eye passes the life of
your child from its birth even 10 this eagerly
awaited hour. Now you recoIlect times and
seasons, dark and delightful, gay and
gloomy which the Lord has allotted to the
growing infant. How often the tender bud
was exposed TO danger and destruction by
the rough gust OF wind, before it developed
TO its present strength How often did you
lift up your hands i'll prayer for divine as
sistance, while human skill threatened To
fail and the angel of death already APP
preached the couch of your dearest possess
sion God In His infinite commission has
spent His healing balm, and rising from its
siek-bed the endeared child was anew re-
stored TO you. 1t waS then, when you
uttered the vow of the pious Hannah: :" If
Thou, U Lord, wilt indeed look on our affiic-
tion aud remember us and not forget, then
will we give our child to the Lord.n (Sannl-
ell |, l, H. And now they stand here, your
children, spontaneously to cofiseerate them
selves to God. as you once tremblingly
avowed; now they voluntarily desire, after
having been taught the lessons of His
greatness to confess the Great AM" ~
you wished them to resolve How yonr
heart beats, ii with Justified hopes you look
upon this youth Verify, read in your
radiant eyes that you prayed with us the
benediction in which We praise the Lard,
who hath permitted us TO see this cheerful
sight.
Dut is it joy and gratitude only. that ex-
presses your parental lorel DO you not
also trenible ut this hour, If You think OF
the dark and doubtful futurei DO you not
anxi0usly inquire What fate awaits our
sons and daughters, whom We carefully
brought up, If they leave our arms and have
TO be delivered to the care of strangers-or
il we are no more and our eye, that con-
stantly watched them, is closed in eternal
sleepi Have | correctly rendered your
thoughts, beloved parents, while you ac-
companied your children to this sacred
shrine You are right, darkness covers the
future, uncertainty the coming events. No
body, and ii he We're the wisest of mortal
sages, shall ever remove the veil that envel-
ops your future as well as that of your
children. Cheerfuliy may comfort YOU
BE certain that the thread of fate is left to
the hand of an Allkiud Judge; to doubt
His providence is blasphemy Do not be
too aplrehensive for the future OF your chill
dren. You have given them powerful
protector, who will surely shelter them, il
you can no more take care of their welfare
You have tied them by inseparlble bonds to
their Heavenly Father, and in this hour
they are renewing the score laden covenant
and vow themselves to Abriih.ms Fl
Shatldy for life and death. Gloomy hours
will not fail TO disturb their serene sky Will
storm and wrath; but if this covenant is
solid aud faithful, if they bear the Lord in
their hearts and consider themselves as
His children in happiness and adversely
lie will guide them through the vieissitudes
,'f human life in safety. Yea, if outside tho
elements are raging against each other, i
LIES prospects are barren and hopeless in
their hearts peace will reign supreme, over
spread By the smoothing rays OF Gods re
Election.
Behold, therefore, you can do nothing bet
ter for them aud for yourself than to SOW
carly. early the seed of reasonable religion
inyonr chid's heart. A youth without THU
instruction inculcated, remains u stranger t,
the feeling OF adoring love and lastin.
gratitude towards their parents, and con
sidering fntller and mother merely as thei
lawful supports, they often cause the earl,
end OF their good parents by their heart
lessness. You can do nothing more impor
tant at their entrance in ripper youth, thai
TO cause them to promise before the Lord
70 become ElohiIns confessors, 10 remain
I'll Shaddy's adorers, and never to Welt
from Jchovdhs laws. 1nelt
After hymn. followed the address