The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-08-05
The Family Altar.

A variety of excuses are offered for a
failure to erect the domestic altar, or
for the neglect of the morning and
evening sacrifices where it has been
erected; but in most instances, if not in
all, they are excuses only, not reasons.
II Ghe plea is lack of ability on the
part of the head of the household,
whether father or mother, the
answer is, that all, with rare exceptions,
are capable of reading the Bible, and
that those who regard themselves as
incapable of offering eXtempore prayer,
may use form. They may write their
prayers and read them, or they may
make use of one of the many excellent
volumes that have been prepared for
the benefit of this class; and all who
are able to read may unite in the serv-
ice. But if the excuse is a lack of
time, the answer is, " Prayers and prov
ender never hinder the Journey"
However pressing our work may be,
we can not afford to neglect our daily
food; and prayers are no less necessary
or important. No man accomplishes
more during the year by neglecting
family worship. 1t was Martin Luther,
IL VIC lClnCIuDSl, WIN w ucu L
have an unusual amount of labor to
perform during the day l spend more
than the usual length of time in the
morning in prayer" But this was the
wise and reasonable course. If it
were necessary to do more than his
ordinary amount of work, he had m )re
than an ordinary need of the divine
blessing, and if he would secure this
he must be willing to take more than
the ordinary pains to obtain it. But
those who neglect the worship of the
family altar do so because they have no
adequate conception of the Importance
of faithful discharge of this duty.
The family altar should be conscien-
tiously maintained, not only because it
is by the discharge of this duty that
the blessing of God upon the family
for the day is secured, but also for
the sake of its influence upon the house
hold. 1t is an educating process in a
spiritual sense which no household can
afford to neglect. 1t is needed by the
parents, and it is needed by the chill
dren. And if there are domestics, or
boarders, or visitors, it is needed by
them. And though they may not un-
derstand its value, and refuse to avail
themselves of its benefits, the knowl-
edge that family worship is regularly
maintained will leave an impression
1t will prove to them spiritual edu-
Gator. In many instances the imme-
date influence is very marked. Visit
ors who have not been accustomed to
this exercise, during a stay of very
few days, or even of a single day, have
received impressions which have led to
their acceptance of Christ. But the
Importance of the family altar is to be
measured not by its immediate results,
but by the influence eXerted during a
series of years. Its quickening and re-
straining power is felt by the adult
members of the household, and to the
young it is prominent among the home
influences by which the character of
the future man or woman is modelled.
For day or for a month its formative
influence may not be perceptible, but
during series of years the impress sion
becomes deep and abiding. Parents
and other heads of families who live in
neglect of this obligation make very
grave mistake. They wrong their own
souls ana they wrong every member of
their households. No one can afford
to live without the family altar, so far
as relates to his own spiritual interests,
and to do so is to neglect most impor-
tant means of doing good to others
The National Presbyterian.