The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-08-13
Ghildtrn's Column,
Fenced Cities for the Little Ones.


This was the question under consideration
one dav in the tribes of Reuben and Cad.
These two tribes had decided to ask as
their inheritance a portion Of the country
east of the Jordan 1t had already been
conquered, but before they could settle
down in it for good, all of them who could
carry arms must 90 over Jordan to AID
their brethren in the conquest of Canaan
They knew it would not do for them to
leave the children unprotected, and what
to do with them in the circumstances was
a serious question They finally came to
this conclusion: "Our little ones shall
dwell in the fenced cities because Of the
inhabitants of the land.
What Will we do with the children ?
is question that is always turning up.
Fathers and mothers have often wept over
1t and carried it on Bonded knees to
throne of grace. Sabbath School conven-
tions and Institutes, ministers and church
courts, boards Of education and State Lee
gislatures have had it before them again
and again as subject for grave consld-
Grafton. and the answers that have been
given to it are as varied as the circum-
stances which call the question up. But
where will we find a more suggestive an
swer than this one given by the men OF
Reuben and Cad: Let the little ones
dwell in the fenced cities The cities in
which the children are kept ought to be
fenced" or rather walled cities.
The home should be fenced city
Around it should be the good strong wall
of parental authority wall so real, so
good, so strong that when it is tried by
those within or by those without it will
stand the test. 1t is not necessary to
have it unsightly and forbidding No,
let every stone in the wall from the top
to the bottom be covered over with the
flowers and fruits of an honest, undoubted
affection. Let prayer and faith bind stone
to stone with the power and presence and
blessing of God Within such walled
city the children should d1oeH Getting
out from behind the home walls, breaking
away from the wholesome restraints Of
parental authority too soon, has resulted
in the ruin of thousands These walls
should not only keep the little ones IN,
but they should keep the inhabitants Of
the land out. These foes come sometimes
as friends of the family, sometimes as
plavmates, sometimes in the shape Of
books. papers and magazines, and some
times in the garb of fashion. Oh, parents,
keep the door closed against folly and
sin. By the love We bear to these young
immortals, by the awful dangers to which
they are exposed, do your very best by
God's.help to have your home and theirs
walled on every side, and covered over
by the sheltering shield Of an almighty
Saviour.
So, too, the school should be fenced
the public school and the Sabbath School.
The first should be fenced or walled by
the State, and the second by the Church
Around the great public school system
should be good strong wall of common
law, so good and so strong that opposers
could not get their fingers in to NEEDLE
with it. We thought We had the wall
strong enough, but it seems we have been
mistaken. 1t is natural for Rome to be
trying to take care of her own interests
but we must give her to understand that
America has rights that must and shall
be preserved.
The walls round about the Sabbath
School are not strong enough. 1t IS the
only fenced city that many of the little
ones know anything about The inhabl-
tants of the land in many cases break
through and snatch away the precious
souls which Christian men and women are
trying to save. By Gods help the walls
of truth, love, faith and prayer must be
made higher and frmer.
The Ch,sreh should be fenced city for
the little ones to dwell in. 1t is heart
rending to see the world reaching into
the sacred enclosure and taking the young
captive at will. Let the house Of God be
made an attractive place for them. Let
them be brought to it early in life, and
let them have place of their own IN the
family pew. Let those who are older
show their appreciation Of it by d'oslSlng
within it themselves, and above all let
the PRAYER of all be build thou the walls
of our Jerusalem"
Let us watch carefully the walls-the
walls about the home, the school and the
Church. Instead of weakening or lower
ing them, let US aim at making them
higher and stronger, 50 that our precious
little ones may be safe. Let us teach
them early in life their need Of the Sa-
viour, and labor to have them "in Christ.
With him for a habitation for ourselves
and for them, all Will be well. None
shall be able to pluck the lambs out Of
his bosom. Then when we are called to
90 over Jordan with our brethren, we can
leave the little ones behind us with the
1917 hone of saaino them again.