The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-05-01

on eaFtn would not make him worthy to
touch pure woman with the ii rs of his fin
gers.
But now wish to speak briefly of tbs
duty of parents. feel taat our response
bility is great. The home needs sauctifed
wisdom for its governance. We, too, are
builders of character in high and holy
sense. The beginnings of future character
are made in infancy. 1t is the mothers
hand that gives tn. first and most perma-
nent direction to the destiny of her child. l
speak of mothers not to lay more on them
than God has ordained. The fathers work
is indeed important. would not lift from
his shoulders one particle of the RESPONSE
biiity which belongs TO him. Both must
work together. But God has chosen the
mothers lot and / would not change it if
could. He put that delicate, sensitive, i'm
mortal soul into her hands first, and keeps
it there during the most important forD1a-
tive period of its life, and blessed is that
boy, that girl, who has wise mother, and
blessed is that mother both in the approval
of God, and the unspeakable reward of
worthy and honored children, who realizing
er.duty and her privilege addresses herself
with lSving and patient heart to the work
which God has given her to do. In forming
the characters of children much depends up
the influence .fhome. And the first duty of
parents is to instil right principles in their
minds. Teach them by precept, by exam
pie and by tho wise exercise of authority to
be true, gentle, pure, modest and self-rsspect-
ing Cultivate the conscience. Seek to inn
bue the mind with right views of things:
Make much Of the Bible. Fill them with it,
and live it yourselves daily before them.
Let the example and words of parents e
without appearance or suspicion of any evil
whatsoever. Let your homes be pure.
The associations of children
should be matter of especial and unre-
hitting care to parents. Much of the good
that is done in the home is counteracted by
influences beyond the home. Beloved, are
we careful enough here? Many boys and
girls in our town. and many of them the
children of Christian parents, are left to
roam the streets at viii, large part of the
time beyond the knowledge or control of
their parents, exposed to temptation and
forming habits and associations which will
bring in future years, disaster aud ruin to
themselves, and bitterest heartaches and
mitigable sorrow to the parents who have
neglected their high and holy duty. Is
IL - 10 - - II o4 % h.
faithful and wise here.
While on this point let me speak of the
responsibility of parents in reference to the
associations of their daughters who have
entered or are entering society. Parents
should know with whom their daughters
are going and whose acquaintance they
form. Your daughters purity, reputation
and happiness is committed to your sacred,
guardian care. Is the parent wise who
will leave these priceless jewels to the un-
aided keeping of innocent and inexperienc-
ed girls, who know but little of the world,
and who by their very innocence are ex-
posed TO the mercy of every adventurer,
who by some means has secured a doubtful
passport into society, and whose only care
in their associations with women is the
qualification of their own selfish pleasure?
There is one thing more Of which l feel
constrained to speak in this connection
No parents who have true regard for the
welfare and reputation of their dau slters
should ever permit them to attend public
balls and engage in those round dances in
which positions are necessarily assumed
between the sexes which are acknowledged
by every right thinking man and woman to
be improper and indelicate, dangerous to
modesty, and positively injurious that pur-
ity of soul which no man or woman can af-
ford to hazard; and which are calculated
to engender impure thoughts, which if they
do not lead to worse results, the memory Of
them, though at the time their nature be
not fuily discerued, will in after years,
when experience has revealed their true
character, mantle the brow of the puresi
woman with the blush of burning shame
| Parents cannot excue, theselvcs bY saying
that they go with their daughters to such
| places This only strengthens the evil, by
giving to it the highest possible indorse
ment, their personal Endorsement, their per
sonal presence. The only safe way is tt
keep them at home. Oh! if you are wis
you will guard we'll this point"
For Sale Cheap.
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