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

religious lesson" and then what can
the school where religion is taught
alone accomplish? The home must
effect the principal thing in the de-
partment of religion. 1t may be
left to the teacher alone to inculcate
worldly knowledge. but religion
must be visibly displayed at home
before the children; love and respect
for religion must be made daily and
hourly manifest at home to the chill
dren, and be in word and deed the
evident traits Of parents, If they are
to take root in the minds of the
younger portions Of the household.
How, then, ought the Israelitish
religious education to be consti.
tuted? The child must be early
penetrated by the breath of religion,
early, at the first dawning of his con
seriousness, already must he obtain
an experience Of God, must learn to
love, to be grateful to him; and to
follow his law he must be taught to
consider as the highest aim. Of life,,s
and with the increase of years they
must learn to acknowledge the, only
one God, and be Instructed in his
holy revealed word, and regard reli,s
gion as positive reality, waetherit
be in divine worship, the law, or the
practice of piety. In this catmos.
phere should the Israelitish child be
educated, be animated by this spirit;
and then will they follow it to
whittier it is turned, and not depart
therefrom. ..s-.s !. ~ -. =.
I turn myself now to you, Beloved
| Confrmants, who are about to be at
tached to the congregation of Israel.
o, let this day not only be one ofre-
joiciug to you, but also one to be al.
ways remembered. For o-day you
are numbered among the responsible
sons and daughters of Israel, till
this day you were innocent children,
protected by the kind hand of paren-
tai authority, watched over by its
care. But from this hour you are
man and women in responsibility,
though yet children in years. Much
is not ia the power Of a child, such
as you are yet, but this you can do,
you can resolve to be, good, ol,edient
and dutiful' to your dear parents,
teachers, relatives and friends, and
trust firmly in the mercy Of God to
he with you in your pilgrimage on
earth, and further, let me admonisll
Z you, in this solemn hour, to be true
!. and faithful to the beautiful religion
which you have received, so tina,
those who feel in your wei.
fare shall rejoice to call you
their children. The future is truly
| ! Z.
before you like a sealed book,
: which you shall only be able to read
slowly with advancing years. Joy
| and sorrow stand ready, to accom-,
pany you on this pilgrimage, and
!, good and evil will ever be there te
claim your choice. Listen, then, te
J the voice of religion, which admon
| ishes you to depend on God and moi
7 on human aid, and not to follow tht
> example Of sinners. Let it, then, b.
, your full determination to remain
8 faithful to your religion, and as yol
> entered today into the congregation
: of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 70,
/ will prove that the ancient faith o
e our fathers will find true disciplel
0 in you. 9 Fasossa
8 May God bless you with his spiri
0 Of benevolence and wisdom, ant
9 consider you worthy to be accepted
f servants Of our great mission AM
: children becoming the image Of GU
: Maker; and may the ancient priestl,
s Benediction be fulfilled upon you
n .Yevorechecho," etc. MAY tn
d Lord bless your andpreserve you.'
;, "The Lord let his light slime upol
d you and be gracious unto you
: "The Lord turn His countenanc
; towards you and give you peace
], Amen" 1aF ss
$ a8 E sss
e PRAYER ~
e DELIVERED BY MISS JULIA GOODMAN
e ON THE DAY OF CoNFIR- No.
eI NATION.
9 We thank Thee, O Lord, for tn
}, blessing and instru ton of this sol