Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-09-14
The Altar In the Home.

We have regarded it as deserving of COM
ment that those converted from heathenism
promptly establish family worship in their
homes. Whether it is universally so we
cannot affirm; yet, from facts that have
come to our notice, we are safe in inferring
that it is. The circumstances that naturally
render it certain, or even probable in some
cases, seem to obtain in all, and hence there
is likely to be the same result in all. Chief
of these circumstances Is the habit of wor-
ship. Idol worship, in some form, we under
stand to be universal among the heather /;
and, being dictated by superstition, it takes
permanent hold Of their minds and hearts,
and is as scrupulously maintained as any
thing they do Regeneration alone can
dissolve the bonds Of superstition's worship
and, as the Christian religion also requires
worship, it might be expected that the
result would be turning from the false to
the one living and true God. The habit is
continued. The worshiping element in
human nature remains, and under the new
condition of allegiance to God it is simply
corrected aud properly directed. The fol-
lowing illustrates the statement made above,
and we have in mind another instance of
the same kind Cannibalism is declared
to be now extinct in the Fiji Islands.
w iVhih buC ioob hiocCh ycdio NV 1903 bldl
sixty-fve thousand cannibals have been won
to nominal Christian faith, and not less
than thirty thousand have professed faith
in Christ. Scarcely house in Fiji, it is
said is without religious worship. 1t would
be difficult to find parallel to this in the
history of modern missions" Now, while
it is misfortune to have been heather
we cannot but regard with peculiar interest
the advantage that a habit of worship gives
those of them that are converted. They are
made ready by it for obedience to the com
mandment to worship God, and through
which obedience many and great blessingt
are assured TO them. They have something
to learn concerning true worship, but hav'
not the habit of worship to acquire, which
it is difficult both to establish and to sustain
The latter is thoroughly wrought into thei
lives and fixed in their homes, so that tn,
young would scarcely recognize home a
complete without it. What shall we say o
Christian lands and nominally Christian
homes that are without recognition of Goo
corresponding to the above? Is it al
evidence of Christian civilization, or what
Does it come through fear of superstition o
imitation of the heather? Or is it al
evidence of prevailing godliness Pau
speaks with apparent sorrow Of those tina
are "without God atheists, strictly rer
dered-those who are not within his lovin
recognition and do not have him as a
object Of supreme devotion. And one of tn
prophets utters this imprecation "Pour ou
thy fury upon the heather, and upon tn
families that call not on thy name." Motto
the association, as also the seeming refe
ence of the non-worshiping habit to fam
lies that are not heather. We believe tina
neglect of family worship is not sin, bu
is such a sad dereliction of duty as result
in domestic loss and real demoraliz atior
Such worship, if in the morning, propsrl
opens the day and fits us to carry its bu
dens, and escape its snares while withou
il VIC go to our Tolls without the treat SUI
porter's assurance of aid, and expose ou
selves to the worlds temptations withou
conscious guardianship from him who's
prerogative it is to succor us. And alas, fc
the children who grow up without bein
able to refer with gratitude to the delightft
associations of family worship aud parent
who gave them example, precept, benedi'
ton and the benefit of invocation of th
divine favor, in the dear old home l-Joun'
and Messenger.