Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-15
Children and Religions Training.
MIDWAY, HALIFAX COUNTY. VA, !
Snntnn hnr 10. 1850.
To tie Edi,or ofAe Dispatch:

To tie Eiit0r ofRe DispGich:
Please say 20 Mr. Herbert II. Homer, OF
Stanton. that he mlsconceives my mean
ing in what ] wrote concerning too much
coercion and pressing solicitation upon
very young boys and girls % embrace the
doctrines Of Christianity-tha Is, to pro,
fcss religion, unite with the Church, ana
be baptized. BE it known 10 him that we
are. in point Of meaning. agreed as To the
propriety Of training children Alright. and
Of so living ourselves as TO force on
the wo-d force should be used at alb them
10 embrace the religion OF Christ more
from the power OF example than by TOO
much outward sOhcltatiOn-ln the way OF
CRYING. shouting, tender appeals-that
merely awaken the sympathetic emo
tiOns. and thus prompt an obedience %
our cntreaties more from desire 10
crafty our anxiety than from any expert
mental renewing Of tho mind and heart,
sc. most heartily concur with him that
there ia such thing as winning" Ana
I know that religion and religious train
ing can be made attractive 70 children"
and ought always so 20 be, ana Only 50;
And il is the reverse of this method that
was disguised with. but wanted to con
vev the idea that irreparable harm might
be done both the child and the Church ~
dumping Young and undeyeloped children
into the churches II referred almost en-
tirclv to the ;cOuntry churches), and then
leaving them there without following up
that part of our duty by cOntlnu-
ous efforts to develop the religious m
tellicence of the child and allowing
him to drag along with nothing TO do I'M
I'll finally, tired OF The DUNES ana NO no
uotonv Of church life. he Will naturally
turn aside 10 find something more congo
NAL 10 his mind and something in which
the active. restless spirit of youthhood can
be satiated. Children cannot stand mo-
rotonv or doEotLiugism." They love
change, yarioty-act.ve employment. II
the Church does not furnish Il "a plenty OF
which she has mt her disposal) we may feel
assured the child il going where 1t VIII
have something 70 engage IN, ! wanted 70
/ dis,ipats the idea tuat Is altogether too
preynlent wi,h the older members Of the
/ Church. that when q child enters the
Church lac must assume the attitude and
/ "a;rsn OF old people. Ii viii never be so.
Then unless we are gong 70 reahZe TINS
( fact. and so act and devise plans of en-
+ plovIncnt suitable 10 the wears Of the child,
we would better not plant mm III the
Church unless We are gong To Follow
up that planting by proper methods or
: cultivation and utilization. II the child Is
neglected. aud nay observation teaches me
/ tla; is quite frequently done, ana he turns
. back t0a life II Worl!incs' and dlssip.-
ton. ho is scyou-fold harder 20 reach with
. the Gospel than If b." bad never entered
/ the Church: npd the last of that man cor
child Is worse than the first My expe-
+ ricnce proves the truth oi this assertion.
/ have been afraid that too great anxiety
.pr report large numbers of converts might
b rstr.v us into u fault of the nature de
! .rincd. The smallest body OF dcyOut,
. thoroUyh-gOing Christians con nave, anu
/ viii have, powerful influence. but the
! swelling Of tins number too rapidly by
/ those whose lives end practices
/ 40 not conform 10 tho laws OF
B Christianity tends more TO weaken than
! to strengthen the cause. 1t is the purity
. and Christlikcues in the Church that moves
J and influences the world. IN fact the true
/ idea oi Christianity and the one most eel
I culated 10 do good as / see il IS the tOrma-
1 ton Oh the character of Christ IN the hives
and hearts of his followers. SO conclude
! al have to say on this very important
I matter I'm this short summary: We must
, train and develop the children after BRING
me them into the Church OF leave them
| out of tho Church til they are Impressed
! by The good example # others with sense
{ IF wrong and their duty TO reform. Then
! they viii come in and 20 TO work. And
/ seeing this matter too much neglected
/ referred only To- the danger" OF getting
/ them IN too hurriedly Gud without IN,
proper reflection. meditation. and sc'u-
1 lions upon their part. What the Church
needs most lsa genuinely converted. Christ
! like membership, aud too great haste does
not always secure this. 81. L. WILLARD.