The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-17
LOOK TO THE CHILDREN.
BY REV. q. ReroCKIEa.
Pecri41il.)

The Universalisf fhurch, as well as
all other churches, needs to look after
its children. Almoat every day meet
men and women wl1o are the children
of Universalist paxents, but are in
churches that teach&doctrines diamet-
rically opposite to the religious faith of
their fathers and ud0fhers. Frequently
l meet men and women who have aban-
doned all churches.aso far as interest
and attendance are Concerned, who are
also children of Undversalist parents.
Could we marshal! Ill these sons and
daughters of Univezaalist parents, and
enlist their sympatlAfes in behalf of our
church a mighty force would be con-
tributed. 1 have cot ersed with some
Universalist parents, who express the
feeling that children should not be too
vigorously trained relative to the relig-
ious faith of the parents. When they
become older, and books and newspa-
pers are put into thBir hands, and rea-
son is awakened, thy will form their
own conclusions.
Well, perhaps thak might be toler-
able philosophy if ybu could select the
books and the papers and all the edu-
cative influences, but my persuasion is
that those parents, who are Indifferent
in relation to the kind of religious
training their children shall be under
early in life, will net be likely to dis
tress themselves &Dbut the later influ-
ences, or if they should awaken to a sense
of responsibility later on, it is frequent
ly too late to direct the child's mind.
The gardener is not wise who allows
his vines to trail on the ground till
they are ten years old. and then train
them on the trellis, The wise garden
er begins at the beginning. The no.
tion that certain degree of mental de-
velopment is necessary belore the gift
of religious faith and life should he
impaired, is altogether unwise. What
progress should we make in the COM
mon virtues of life If we were to pro-
ceed on the philosophy advocated by
too many fathers and mothers? Sup
pose the children are allowed to go
without instruction in regard to hon
esty, on the basis, that if they do hap
pen to steal when young, they may be
induced to choose honesty when they
are little olderi What would be
thought of political philosophy, that
proposed to leayr sasss children of the
South to grow up disunionists, and
trust to tracts and eVangelists address,
ing them in maturer manhood to con-
vert them to loyalty When we ser
iously consider the subject there rises
up before us hundred reasons why
the children should be trained in the
Universalist faith from the cradle.
In the first place, the teaching of the
Universalist church respecting God,
man, duty and the hereafter, is capa-
BILE of making better Christian men and
women than the teaching of any other
church. 1t offers better preparation to
meet the experiences of life, than the
teaching of any other church. The bat
tie of life begins at the cradle and only
ends at the grave, and it is for us by ex-
ample, by precept, by faith and by pray
er to make our children from the very be-
ginning more than conquerOrs through
him that loves us. We should pray for
our children that, like John the Baptist
they may be filled with the II oily Spirit
even the spirit of truth, whom the
Father will send in our name, teaching
them all things, and bringing all things
to their remembrance whatsoever we
have said unto them.
When parents come to regard duty
to the children that God puts into our
homes something after this fashion,
then our church will enter upon the
period of it's best progress, because they
will be heirs with US in the inheritance
of the saints, and they will never know
or need to know the experience of re-
turning from walk in strange paths,
or the blindness of those who believe
not.
There is untold power in the prayer
full words of fathers and mothers. A
mother once on time held her sixteen
year old son by the hand, as he stood
by the gate, out of which he passed to
board the ship that was to bear him
around the globe, Said she" Edward,
the greatest temptation of life is drink;
promise me before you quit your moth
er's hand that you will never taste Ii
quor." He gave the promise and trav-
eled the world over, and every time he
saw a glass filled with sparkling liquor,
his mothers form at the gate came up
before him and his promise was remem-
bered, and he handled not, tasted not.
God be praised for the power of a
mothers word. The cause of our
church needs the strengthening inhu-
ence of money, and schools, and preach
ers; and vastly more, the cOnsecrated
fatherhood and motherhood, thai makes
| it sure, that the children born into our
church shall be brOoded there, live there
and die there.