The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-01-27
Religion in the Home.

Religion is a power in the world wher-
Eer exhibited, but how much more in the
ousehold, where its daily lessons may
e taught under circumstances the most
favorable for making the deepest and
host enduring impression. | was but
Even years old when my father died,
md when the funeral services were
yer, and when the strange, sad silence
lied the house which is so i'm
ressive after the burial of one be-
bved, and when the evening of that
hournful day drew on, our mother
athered us, her little children, in her
hamber, and told us that she meant
GREATER to take our fathers place, as
Fod might help her, as the head of
he household, and would commence
hat night by conducting family pray
rs. Were l to live beyond the age of
han 1 could not forget that scene
ould not forget the manner in which
he read Gods Word, or the low and
remulous tones of the prayer in which
he besought strength and comfort, and
commended her children to the care
md love of the cOvenant-keeping God.
As long as piety in the household con.
inues to be the characteristic of the
life of the people of any land, it will
hever be without the patriot soldier to
efend its rights, or the patriot bard to
ling its glories. Then let family wor-
hip open the gates of the morning
With praise, and close the portals of the
lay with peace; let the children grow up
Under the hallowing influences of house
bold piety, and these salutary impress
ions will never be effaced. They will
Bink down in the heart of the child as the
lew sinks down in the heart of the
lower, giving refreshment and gather
ng sweetness. The good seed falling
pm the tender heart, softened by grace,
will not perish, but will spring up to
pear precious fruits in this life, and per-
chance to flourish, beautiful and immor-
al, in the paradise of God. If there is to
pc but one pious person in the family, let
hat one be the mother! She has the
Earliest and best opportunity with the
thild the fathers influence comes
afterwards. The mothers teaching is
remembered longest, and often is the
asst upon which the blessing of God
tests. Were l now to make the appeal,
would not hundreds of men rise up in
his great assembly, gathered from all
ands, and testify, if required, that,
under God, they owe their conversion
to mothers tender importantly, or to
the silent power of her example and
The ever-present influence of her sweet
and sanity life? 1t may be that she no
longer lives on earth, but when l pro-
hounce the word Mother it matters not
i'm what language-to some of you it is
like voice from heaven-it is as if an
angel spoke, and you hear with the lis
tening ear of the heart. and never
can you forget the hours of childhood,
when each night, before retiring to
rest, she made you kneel down at her
feet, and, taking your little hands in
hers, or laying her soft hand upon your
head-you can feel its gentle pressure
now-she taught you TO say, " Our
Father which art in heaven" or that
other prayer, so familiar to all English
speaking people, commencing, " Now
lay me down to sleep "a good prayer
for a child, for man, for patriarch
The apostle sent his salutation to the
" church in the house." So long as
there are true apostolic, evangelit
churches in households, there will be
the same kind of churches in kingdoms
in republics, in all the world. Should
the church in the house exist no more
then the church in the city, in the state
in the world will become extinct. Blu
this will never be while Christian life
is cherished and perpetuated in thu
family.-Reu. M. ID. Hogan, DID.