The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-04-02

VI A"''n onu AoA fuiou SoVerumeuU Un"o
carefully aud !, ally formed by such
eminent men ad |erson, Gillespie, Ruth
by the Eoglisbw1 adopted by the Scotch,
comes down through that hOnOred channel
to as, with only some important alterations
relative to magistrates and civil government
and its Catecbisms, With only one slight al
teratiOn, viz: 10 the Larger Catechism,
where in stating "what is forbidden in tht
second commandment" the original trainers
of the Catechism, among many things which
they specify, mention this: tolerating
false religion" which is omitted. We fear,
amid the Sunday School appliances of the
day, and the multitude of books and papers
that are flooding our Presbyterian homes,
that the Shorter Catechism is to a very great
extent mislaid And until it shall be fully
restored to it's place in our families, in the
educational system of our Church, and in the
training of her children, the rising genera
ton will not be grounded thoroughly in the
doctrines and duties of the Bible. We well
remember the custom of our early days, so
common in Presbyterian families, when each
child was required to memorize the Cate
chism SO soon as able to master it. 1t was
a daily task, and th h,ugh it required patience
in study and fidelity in parental oversight,
in due season it was accomplished. Then on
the afternoon or evening of each Sabbath,
the whole Catechism was carefully recited,
parents and children joining in the exercise.
A good, old custom that could very profit
ably be revived in these latter days, where
household instruction is 80 generally neglect
ed. Some of our Sabbath Schools are still
drilling their scholars each session in this
epitome of gospel truth. Would that more
time and attention were given to its study in
all of them. And if our children will main.
tain in the future an orthodoxy of the same
jointlesS armor and rigid vertebra which char
aoterizsd our fathers, Cstechetical instruc-
ton must be a more general feature in home
and church training. The subject is wor-
thy the prayerful attention of both parents
and Church workers The time has come
for steady reaction on this whole matter.
The too often mislaid Catechism should be
hunted up and restored to its rigbtful place
Of honor aud use. Parent, will you begin
the work in your household : Sabbath
School teacher, will you encourage the re-
sumption, by requiring your scholars to re-
cite the Catechism weekly in your class p
Superintendent, will you prompt your teach
ers TO perseVere in the good work, by cate.
chising at stated times each class from your
desk ? Church Session, will you stimulate
all those under your spiritual supervision, to
revive at once this grand old custom for in
ioctrnating the rising generation, who are
the future hope Of the Church, by sugges-
ton and by action? Let it no longer be
said to our reproach, that we are ashamed
Of these manly, gospel statements of truth.
That they belong to former age, and are
too cold and stately for the advanced thought
Of these modern times, when the public
taste demands diluted theological pabulum.
The cry comes up from every quarter for
the Presbyterian people Of God to move for
ward 10 the good cid paths, and if they have
wandered in the least, that they return again
to duty as their fathers so faithfully taught
them. Will,they begin the work in this
frontier State, where the foundations of So
,iety are being laid, where churches ere be-
ing planted, that must bring forth fruit in
generationNACome? 1t is indeed worthy
fair trial ing my boyhood and youth"
said an Oc' 'rian recently, when address
ing the Nes gland Historical Society, 81
never knew my fathers house locked by any
mechanical cOntrivance, by day or night
But it was locked with a lock of very pecu
liar construction and strength. The Bible
aud the Catechism were the combination
lock which thoroughly protected every
mans house; and let me tell you, gentle.
men, exposed as we are in these days of
tramps and outlaws to depredations by day
and by night, that the Bible and the Cate
chism form combination lock of which no
man holds patent, and therefore you can
use it withOu: paying royalty to anybody;
aud lock, too, which no burglar can pick,
and no power blow up. Put this lock, then,
upon all your doors, upon all your safes,
upon all your banks, and then you and your
cashiers can sleep quietly at night; and let
me say, that neither you nor they can sleep
with perfect qaietnesS under any other pro-
lection"
That combination lock is within the reach
of every child in all our homes. Shall they
be taught how to own it, and then to sue
cessfully use it for their future protection in
morals, in sound theology, and in safe
and happy lifef
Make a Few"
A pretentious student in Brown Unirersi-
ty once told DR.. Wayland that he thought
it would be easy to make proverbs like those
of Solomon. The reply of DR.. Wayland