The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-06-16
THE TRUE CENTER.
The Strength of Nation Lies In 1t
Homes.

Homes.
The character of the homes of ma,
ton makes the character of the nation.
The characteristics developed in the
greater number of homes become ma
tional characteristics, and are part OF
the history of the nation. II Is this fact
that makes his home-training, home
development, of national Importance.
How shall each home minister to the
national good2 BY being administered
solely for the moral good of each MEM
Der of the household. This sounds sell
fish, it seems to disregard the human
family, of which the home is at most,
and best, only fraction, a part; but
perfected fractions make perfect unit,
a symmetrical whole.
II is one of the errors that we are
constantly making in arranging and
adjusting our lives to the demands
made upon us, that we are apt TO use
our natural vision to discern the evils,
and the remedies for the evils, in homes
that are really foreign though in our
land--the homes which in philanthropy
we are apt to term "our neighborhood." 1"
The intensity of our interest in social
questions at large frequently prevents
us from having interest in and knowl-
edge of the social conditions and social
questions affecting the homes of which
we form part, perhaps even the ones
of which we should be the centers. 1t
Is this diverted, not to say perverted
interest that results in denOuement5
which amaze and appall all thinkers,
and in which the thoughtless find oc-
casion for derisive jokes and slings at
would-be reformers.
All true reformation, liloe all true
charity, begins at home, and it is only
as the student of social questions has
the wisdom to test his theories, his
knowledge Of hygiene, sanitation, eco
nomics, psychology and ethics, moral
and spiritual, upon tho individuals for
whose physical, intellectual and moral
standards he is responsible, that he
shows himself fit to grapple with those
problems that are part of the history OF
all civilized nations.
The man who fails TO maintain q
reputation for honesty in his world is
not a man to deal with political issues
whose beginning and ends are integri-
ty and principle. A man who can not
control himself is not the one to become
aleader or guide. The woman who can
not manage household is hardly the
one to manage an institution, guide an
association, or fill an executive office.
1t is the home that offers the best place
for philanthropic experiments, for
legislation and administration We
know that if every home could be
brought to moral perfection the social
questions would all be solved. This can
not be accomplished by magic; it is the
work of life. Moral degradations, if not
moral disasters, come too often from
homes where the promise seems that OF
long strides toward human perfection.
The appreciation and the applause OF
the outside world are often fatal at
traction. They result in our taking tc
our homes only the remnants of en-,
thusiasm, the dregs of vitality. 1t is
fair to share with the world those abili
ties which are not required at home
more than that is required at home
The best we have of social grace, of in,
tellectual brilliancy, of spiritual mag
netism, belongs where our greatest re
| sponsibility is-in our ownihomes. Any.
thing else is fatal to our development
and is fatal TO it's development, and can
bring only disaster and disgrace
| Christian Union.