Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-05-11
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
EDITED BY JONESBORO w. c. T. U
OUR CHILDREN ON THE SABBATH.

PoPOi iodu ava hObuoT b me6tluB
of the w. c. T. u. of Jonesboro, Tenn.
by Mrs. w. d. Akers.
The Commandment Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy" carries
us back to our childhood when, we
looked eagerly forward to the first day
of the week, as the best of the seven.
No one will deny that thirty, or forty
years ago, the day was observed in a
far more reverent spirit than it is now.
The very air seemed full of piety, and
holiness unto the Lord.n
We who we're childernht that line,
had few temptations to desecrate the
day, for the spirit of worship pervaded
all the social atmosphere. But since
man has sought out many inventions,
and progress in worldly attachments is
making great strides, and desire to get
wealth absorbs the mind, he has en-
croached on this day that the Lord
commanded to be kept holy. In
some States there is no law to protect
the day, and even here in fair Ten
nessee the hindrances to a right use of
the holy hours, are many every faith
full mother is met by the puzzling
question, "How a l teach my child
to keep this day holy?" Since the
law is lax, and social enjoyment is
considerable more than the spiritual
welfare, many perplexities arise as to
the mi of observing the Sabbath.
If all mothers were banded together
to observe strictly the command in
their own households, it would be
comparatively easy task for all. But
where one mother considers the matter
of great Importance, ten or twenty
think if the children are bathed and
dressed in theirSunday clothes, it matter
not how, or where, they spend their
time. The Lord is very explicit in
this command. We are told to keep
the day holy, and our sons and daugh-
tiers, and u servants, and the stranger
that %sojourns with us, and even the
dumb animals are to have this as q
day of rest. Have we remembered"
or have we forgotten, or laid aside
wilfully this command
We, mothers, must be in earnest
about obeying the Lord, if we would
teach our children obedience.
Did you ever sit down, on Sunday
afternoon, with your little ones around
you to read to them, or hear them read,
when q whistle from a boy outside up
set all your plans, and made the child
rem beg for a walk, or to play, and en-
entertain their company"
Did you ever send your children to
their afternoon meeting, and begin to
rejoice in a quiet hour for bible reading
and meditation, when a friend dropped
in to chat awhile about whatever in
terested her, regardless of the sanctity
of the day. So our children copy us.
Christian fathers and mothers, old
and young, are fast falling in the ways
of the world, and spending the Lords
day in pleasant social visiting, or in
recreation, rather than in communion
with God, and feasting our souls on
heavenly mama.
If christian people keep still, and do
nothing to preserve the sacredness of
the day, the time is not far distant
when it will be totally disregarded.
But what can we, weak women, do for
this cause SO dear to our hearts,
The W. G. T. U. has been working
for Sabbath observance, by peti,
tioning Congress, by distributing
leaflets, the subject, and appointing
a week of prayer for Gods blessing on
the Sabbath work.
Individually, we can do a great deal.
Like the Israllites in rebuilding the
wall, we can each, rise and build over
against our W house, teaching our
W children by precept and example,
that this is the day the Lord hath
made" and commanded be kept holy.
Our first and highest duty is to our
children. Let us lay aside our own
pleasure, and spend the day as far as
possible with them, and devote our
selves to their training, not trusting
them to their own ways, or to their
friends, but with cases less vigilanc
and tender care instill into their hearts
the duty of remembering the Sabbath
day to keep it holy.