Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-07-17

which induces . grown person to %
Under ten years of axe it is doubtfui
if a child gains much instruction from
the sermon. He is, however, very ana
eeptible in his early yeaw to the in
timences Of the house of God. m.
quiet, the devotion, the reverence Of
the place can not fail to impress his i'm
presible nature with reverence at,d
awe. Moreover, the constant ttend.
ance forms in him the habit of church.
going, - habit, like other habits. M.
easily broken. Can these objects ha
gained by a forced and unwilling At.
tendance? The question may be
changed Can these objects so desir-
able, so necessary for Christian develop.
ment, be gained by staying at hons
from church?
The problem of chiadrens' attendance.
at church, we believe, is not a problem
to be settled theoretically, by a priori
reasoning. 1t is q Question of expe-
rience. Questions like these have a le-
gitimate bearing. Is u church-goine
community commonly composed Of
men and women who; were trained to
church-going in. childhood, or the re-
verse? What percentage of efficient
church-members habitually neglected
public worship when young? Are the
children who are gathered into churches
to-day found among those who attend
or neglect church, Such, considera-
tions have a practical bearing. OF this
most parents may be. sure, that while
sor,e children may gain a. lasting dis
taste for public Worship by a forced at
tendance, no child al gain love for
it by staying away All experience
seems to point to the conclusion that
children of a suitable age and in health
should be expected to attend Divine
worship upon the Sabbath. 1t should
be'insisted upon as a duty Of force, ~
binding as the provisions of the. dec
alogue. So far as possible; it should be
made an unquestioned duty. On, the
other hand, the parent should be. req
sonabls, and understand that much Of
the service is a sealed book. to the. child.
He should remember that the object OF
the child's presence is not tho same as
that fo1 which he is there, One serv-
ice.is,, therefore, enough for the child.
and which service he shall attend,
where preaching is given morning anI
afternoon, may be left to the ohildls
choices.
We believe also that it is.the' duty Of
those parents who find that their chill.
dren dislike the house IF God to uso
their influence for the church. to adopt
some means of making an attractive
service: If the congregation be allowed
some Part in the worship suitable for
children to unite in, like The. repetition,
of the Lords prayer, OF Apostles Creed.
Or like responsive reading. or sing
ing of hymns made familiar. in the.
Sunday-school, the work of parents,
would be wonderfully lightenedl 1t, is.
very suggestive to watch the children
I'M congregation when a familiar HYMN.
is announced. They sing and enjoy it.
Every Sunday-school should introduce q
few OF. the best hymns of public wor-
ship. There are many that children,
enjoy. Such hymns as Coward,
Christian Soldier" '.As with gladness
men OF DID," ''Brighly CLEANS our
banner;;'' Grown Him with many
crowns" Jerusalem, the Golden,h
Eve are on our journey home,' or
.I'm'a pilgrim" children sing admira+-
bly,.
REDISTRIBUTION of textbooks by the
church, and presentation to those chill
dren who constantly attend service, is.
a'device which sometimes makes the
little folks ardent lovers of the church.
Children too often feel the church is not
for,them, and that there is no place for
them. 1t is the duty of parents to try
and bring the church to make a place
for the little ones. While we believe
parents should require the unwilling
child to accompany them to church..
they should also leave no remedy n
tried to turn the child's distaste into a
love for the house of God-Golden
Rails.