The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-12-24

ana neart winch comes from the precepts
and examples of parents in their intimate
association with their children, who in
the most impossible years of life are
looking to these their natural teachers
and guides for counsel and direction
Religion is power in the world
wherever exhibited, but how much more in
the household where its daily lessons may
be taught under circumstances the most
favorable for making the deepest and
most enduring impression. l was but
seven years old when my father died,
and when the funeral services were over,
and when the strange, sad silence filled
the house which is SO impressive after
the burial of one beloved, and when the
evening of that mournful day drew on,
our mother gathered us, her little chill
dren, in her chamber, and told us that
she meant hereafter to take our fathers
place, as God might help her, as the head
of the household, and would commence
that night by conducting family prayers
Were l to live beyond the age of the
venerable President of this alliance Dr.
Kalkar could not forget that scene
could not forget the manner in which she
read Gods word, or the low and tremu-
lous tones of the prayer in which she be-
sought strength and comfort, and COM
mended her children to the care and love
of the communicating God. None of
you, my English friends of this audience,
are unacquainted with the tender lines of
one of your own favorite poets written
on the receipt of his mothers picture,
commencing,
" o that those lips had language life has pass'd
With me but roughly since saw thee last"
nor have you forgotten the stanza in
which he gratefully embalms the memory
OF those to whom he owed a debt never
to be paid.
My boast is not that I deduce my birth,
From loins enthroned or rulers of the earth,
But higher far my proud pretentions rise,
The child of Parents passed into the skies"
And as one quotation suggests another,
you, my friends, from another land will
allow me to remind you of hallowed
scene depicted by one of the greatest
bards, not only of Scotland, but of the
world-the picture of "The Cotter's
Saturday Night, when the family, gath
cred for evening worship, formed a circle
round the fre-side, and when the old
patriarch, having read portion from
g the big ha' Bible" and all together hav-
ing sung Psalm, borne upward by Dun
dee's Wild Warbling Notes" or Plain
tive Martyrs" or Noble Elgin"-
Then kneeling down to Heavens Eternal King,
The saint the husband and the father prays,
Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing,
That thus they all shall meet in future DAYS
N oh oh cd tha faor
Together hymning their Creators praise,
In such society, yet still more dear,
While clrcling time moves round in an eter-
nal sphere"
There is picture of family worship
whose outlines will never grow dim, and
whose colors will not fade.
Well was it said, From scenes like
these old Scotia's grandeur springs" and
as long as piety in the household contin-
ues to be the characteristic of the life of
the people of any land, it will never be
without the patriot soldier to defend it's
rights, or the patriot bard to sing its
glories. Then let family worship open
the gates of the morning with praise, and
close the portals of the day with peace
let the children grow up under the hal
lowing influences of household piety, and
these salutary impressions will never be
efaced. They will sink down in the
heart of the child as the dew sinks down
in the heart of the flower, giving refresh
mert and gathering sweetness. The good
seed falling on the tender heart, softened
by grace, will not perish, but will spring
up to bear precious fruits in this life and
perchance to flourish beautiful and i'm
mortal in the paradise of God.
One of the most memorable VOYAGES
ever made was when the apostle, q hay
ing loosed from Troas, came with
straight course to Samothraoia, and the
next day to Neapolis, and thence to
Philippi," where he preached the first
gospel sermon ever heard in Europe, in
the place of prayer by the riverside
The first convert was a woman and
mother, who was baptized with her house
hold. The "man of Macedonia" who
cried, Come over and hel p u.s." did not
inform Paul how the help was to be ad-
ministered, or in what particular form it
would Immediately come. But we know
that Europe was first helped by the con-
version of woman, and that woman a
mother This is lesson for all the ages.
If there is to be but one pious person
in the family, let that one be the mother
She has the earliest and best opportunity
with the child-the fathers influence
comes afterwards. The mother teach.
ing is remembered longest, and often is
the last upon which the blessing of God
ii L