Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-02-18
Written for the Iron County Register.
Some Reflections of an Old Man.

Written for the Iron County Register.
Some Reflections of an Old Man.
In closing the first chapter of thi
series of Reflections, said, "Order Il
Heavens first Law Not that an
unmindful of the fact that malignan
influences exist, which do antagoniz
her sway; for it cannot be denied thai
they do. These influences are seen ant
felt, not only in the province of natura
and material life and existance, but il
the spiritual and moral realm to al
equal extent. But for the present I shal
only say of these, they are abnormal
and shall have an end.
And now, leaving, at least for a while
the domain of material things, let US
turn our thoughts in the direction OF
that which more Immediately relates
to man as a social and spiritual being!
for such we all are; placed by our Gre
ator under the law of order; which in
other words Is law OF agreement, oi
harmony. But In the nature and fit
ness of things there must be pattern
to which mans social and spiritual
life should be consormed: or else, like
an unskilled mechanic hammering al
random upon his forge, he turn off de-
formed mass of ruined metal. Who
has not witnessed some such inglo-ious
abortions in mechanics? And alas,
alas, still more fatal miscarriages are
being daily experienced in the social
and moral phases of human life. The
generality of men and women rarely,
or never, think of any rule by which to
govern their lives; but drift along as
the current of circumstances, caprice,
or passion may impel them. What
then is that pattern to which we should
conform in all our social and moral re-
lations? What is It If not embodied in
such terms as order, agreement, har.
naony, loue? So the divine INDUCTION,
"Let every thing be done decently and
in order."-"Love is the fulfilling OF
the law."-"God is love-" His word
and his character should be the pat
tern.
The foregoing reflections have been
submitted preparatory to what is to
follow; because, as conceive, they lie
at the foundation Of all human good
ness, and of all true happiness, in this
and the life to come,-there is life to
come.
In carrying out this law of order and
harmony the great Ruler has instituted
subordinate governments as auxiliaries
and types of his supreme rule. In the
material, the sun in the planetary sys-
tenn sits enthroned. swaying the scep-
ter Of dominion from the beginning OF
the ages; and the listening spheres, as
they revolve in their respective orbits,
obey his behests. The various tribes
of animated beings acknowledge the
authority of their leaders, and wait up
on them for orders. While in human
society the necessity for order is recog-
nised in the laws which regulate the
various relations by which the individ'
uals which compose communities are
bound together. To begin with the
simplest form of society under authori-
ty, the family:-Here the husband and
father is the lord of the household.
Hence the divine eulogy passed upon
Abraham, that he "conans nnded his
house," Here, in the family circle, pa
rental dominion is absolute by divine
appointment; and carries with it great
responsibility. The parent is not on
ly charged with the obligation to gov.
ern, but also to provide for his chill
dren's wants; including their education
in intellectual and moral culture. And
woe to that parent who negiects bis
duty to his children. or leaves the OBJ
legation to be performed by another.
The mother is but the belp-mate of the
father, in which capacity she ought
frequently to be consulted. The chill
dren too are to be dealt with as ration
al beings. in all kindness; but at the
same time made to know that the
word of the parent is the law of the
child, in all things not morally wrong.
I once knew child, who in her bring
ing up, was not made to feel the obli-
CATION of filial obedience: that child
brought nothing but sorrow to her
parents and disgrace and ruin to her.
self. And such indeed Is the general
result of lax or vicious family govern
ment. Family government is always
vicious where parents do not govern
It seldom occurs that
either daughters or sons turn out bad
ly who have been trained in families
where obedience is the order of the
house. But If children are suffered 70
disobey and do pretty much as they
please, they are likely to be of not
much account while they live, nor
much lamented when they die. All
this have seen in many instances
too numerous to particularize. Firm
ness, dear fathers and mothers; let firm
ness be your watch word, if YOU would
save your children and yourselves.
70"