Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-03-24


There are great many families who want
to be religious, but they do not want any
boly outside to know it. They would be
mortified to death If you caught thsni at
their family prayers. They would not sing
in the worship for fear the neighbors would
bear them. They do not have prayers when
they have company.
They not know much about the nobility
OF the western trapper. traveller going
along was overtaIen by night and storm,
and he entered cabin. There were firearms
hung 10 around tae cabin. He was alarmed.
He had large amount of monax Tith him,
but he did net 3are " venture on into the
night in the storm. He did not like the looks
OF the household. After awhile the father,
the western trapper, came in, gun on
shoulder, and wnen the traveller looKel at
him be was still more affrighted.
After awhile the family were whispering
together in one corner of the room. AMI thu
traveller thought TO himself: "Oh, now my
time mas cone; l wish 1 was out in
the storm ami In the night rather
than here" But the swarthy man came u
TO him and said: "Sir, we are rough peo-
pc; we get our living by bunting, an we ara
very tired when the nigat cones; ouS before
gong TO bed we always have habit OF read
ing little out of ths Bible and having
prayers, aud | think we wall have our usual
custo n tonight, and if you don't believe IN
that kind of thing if you will just step out
side the door for little while will be much
Obliged to you"
Oh there ara many Christian parents
WAC have not half the courage OF That
western trappsr. They do not want their
religion uroj setting too conspicuously. They
would like 10 have it near by so as to call on
il n case OF a funeral, but as TO having 1t
dominant in the household from the lst OF
January, o'cloc a. m., to the 3lss OF De-
Gem Der, 10 O'CLOCK p. m, they 40 not want
1t. They would rather lie an have tleir
families perisn wlth them IAN to cry out In
the bold words of the soldier III my text
AS Tor me and my house, we will serve
the Lori"
fnere was, in my anc .stral line. an Incl
dent so Strangely Impressive that it seems
more like romance than reality. 1t has
sometimes been so inaccurateiy put forth tnas
nov give you the trus lncldeat. Ny grand.
father and gran1motner, living az so neT'
vile. y. j., went 10 BasSinridge to witness
a revival under the ministry OF the Rev. Dr.
F.n.ey. They came nome 50 impressed WITH
w1a5 they ha / seen that they resolyei ca
the salvation OF tner cnil1ren.
Inc young people OF the mouse were 10 go
off for an evening parry, AMI my grant
mother ssia:
Now, when You afe al! really for the
party, come TO my room, for have some.
thing very important to tell you" All
ready for departure, they came to her room,
aud she sail TO them, Nov, want you TO
remember, while you ara away tolls even
lngg, that a all the time III this room
praying Tor your sslvatioI, aud s1all noi
cease praying until you get BACK" Thf
young peope went to the party, but ami
the lou lesC hilaritIes of tae night tney cou,l
not forget that tneir mot Ter was prayin4
lor them. Toe evening passed, and the night
passed:
The next day my grandparents heard an
cutlery in an adjoining roo II, ami they went
in and foun their da ghter implorng tai
salvation of the gospel. The daughter tolc
them that her Drotners vera at the harD
and at tne wagon house under powerful con-
vction OF sin. Tney went 70 the barn.
They found my Uncle Jediah, woo after
ward became a minister OF tina goSpel, cry
ing to God for mercy. Tney Went to ne
wagon house. They found their sou David,
VINO afterw rd beca ne my fataer, lmplor:
ing COTS pardon and mercy. Before great
while the whole family were saved, and
David went ami told the story to young
woman to whom ne was affilncei, WAC as a
result of the story became Christian, AMI
from her own liOs-my mother's-l havere-
ceived the incident.
The story OF tnat CONVERTED household
ran throuy n all the neighoorhoot from
family to family until the whole region was
whelmed with religious awakening, AMI at
the next communion IN the village church
az Sonerville over 30 souls stool up TO pro-
less the taith of the gospel. My mother,
carving the memory OF this scene from
early womanhooi into further life, In AFTER
years was rssolvedu Jon tue salvation OF ner
children, and for many years every week
she met three other CHRISTIAN motners 70
pray for toe salvation OF their families.
think thar all the menSers Of thoss families
were saved -~,vss--. ths vouu- It and last.
There we're IL of US chill iren. trace the
whole line Of mercy BACK to that hour wnea
nv Christian grandmother sat IN her room
1 nploring the blessing OF God upon her
children. Nine Of her descendants became
preachers Of the gospel. Many OF her oe.
Bcendants are in heaven. many OF them SUN
"a the Cnrisuan conflict DID 1t pay for nor
to spend the whole evening in prayer Tor
her household Ask her before the t1rone
of Col, surrounded by her children. In the
presence OF the Christian church to- day
make this record Of ancestral piety. On,
there Is a beauty, AMI a tenderness, ana
suolimty in family reiiglon
There are but four or five pictures in the
old family Bible that [ inherited, but Dore
never illustrated a Bible as that DOCK Is IL
lusrated TO my eyes. Through 1t can see
into marriages ami burials, Joys and sor@
rows meetings and psrtingS thanksgiving
DAYS and Christian festivals, cradles ana
deathoeds. Ola old BOOK, speak out and tell
OF this sorrows comfortei and of tae dying
hours irradIated. Old, old book, the hands
tnat held thee are ashes the eyes That per-
sued thee are c.osed. Wat a pillar thou
woulls make for a dying head. l salute
all the memories Of the past when press IL
to my heart and when press It TO my lips
On, that family Biolel The New iesta-
ment in small type Is not worthy OF oeluS
called by that ma ne. Have whole Bible IN
large type vito the family record OF mar
riaSes and births and deaths What II the
curious should turn over the leaves to SEQ
how old you arei You are younger now
than you will ever be again. Inc curious
will ind out from those with wnom YoV
have nlavA5 in vnur chidnoni how oil rios
arr. nave 4 r''. ~ pTn
from generation TO generation, ull OF holV
memories. A hundred years after you are
dead it Will be beneiiction to those VINO
come after YOU. Other books, worn out or
fallen apart, WILL be flung to the garrett or
the cellar hut this will he inviolafe, ant IL
will be your nrotest for centuries against
iniauitv and in behalf OF rightec;-:S-as-.
Or. when we see what family religion did
for our fathers household. do we no. want
IL TO come INFO Tue uiulu2-rOJu ~ OieoN 'h7
bread. into the nurserv to bless the young.
into the parlor 70 purify the socialities, into
the library to control the reaiing. into the
bedroom to hallow the slumber, into the ball
TO watch our going ont AMI our coming IN:
Ave. there are hundreds OF voices in this
house ready to CRY out: "Yesl Yes. As
for ne and my house. we will serve the
Lord
There are two arms to this subject. Toe
one arm puts it, hand on all parents. IL
saws TO them: "Don't interfere with your
chiIdren's welfare, don't interfere with their
eternal happiness, don't YOU by anything
you do nut out your foot All trip them into
| ruin. Start them under the shelter. the in
surance the everlasting help OF Christian
parentage Catechisms will not have them.
| though catechisms are good. The rod will
not save them, though the roll may be neces-
sary. Lessons Of virtue will not save them,
though they are very IMPORTANT. Becoming
g throu IN AMI through. up and down, out
and out Christian yourself will make them
| Christians"
The other arm OF this subject puts its
hand upon those who had pious bringing
| up, but who as yet have disappointed the
/ expectations excite in regar u tns u.
said that children brought up 10 Christian
! Households though they might ma
wide curve. were very apt to come bacS to
| the straight path. Have you not been
1 f~