The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-18
IsIt ANY Wonder:

We sometimes are surprised at the
sad state of affairs developed in some
homes, Yet it is no wonder such
condition exists. A neglect of the one
all-important duty of regular family
worship oftentiines breeds a hosts of
evils. and explains matters. These
evils occasionally come to the surface,
and are an eye-opener to the spiritual
ly minded. Here is a case by way of
| ILLUSTRATION, which has in it moral.
A pastor was making his round Of
pastoral calls, and stopped in at a
Methodist home on the edge of the
town, the parents being members of
his charge. Three little children had
been born to the parents to rear for
God, of which the father and mother
seemed to have no just conception,
like thousands of other parents.
A series of close questions were ask
ed by the pastor with a view to dis
covering the religious condition of the
family. A sister of the head of the
house was present on visit. The first
question developed the fact that she
was in the church, but had never been
-''felt like che was as good as
many in the church who pretended to
be religious"
The wife and mother said she had
once been converted.
"Have your children been baptiz-
ed?"
mo, sir; do not believe in it; see
no good in christening children did
babies no good and really abominate
it,"
"Do you all have family prayer in
your house?"
mo, not now," she replied.
We'll, Il, did you ever have family
Eyes, sir, husband used to pray in
the family, but he quit it some years
ago."
Alas for many such Methodists
homes, in which there is no family
altar; children not dedicated to God in
holy baptism no church paper, and
nothing to mark it distinctly as a
Christian home.
Now note the sequel:
The pastor called for the Bible with
view of having prayer before leav-
ing.
Gods book was taken out from un-
der a pile of other books-for it had
not been read in many day by those
under that roof. No Bible reading to
begin with.
lures, five-year-old boy stood in the
crib, Immediately facing him, with
his hat on his head, jumping up and
down, no doubt wondering what all
this meant, for the child had not been
carried either to Sunday-school or
church; had not seen his parents pray,
and probably had never been taught to
pray-like many older children in
other homes who for the first time are
present when the pastor has prayer.
The reading ended, the preacher
said LET US pray" and got down on
his knees, of course, wheel it was dis
covered that neither the wife nor the
young lady present kneeled down, but
sat upright in their chairs while prayer
was being offered. The preacher was
the only one who kneeled before the
Lord on that occasion.
And this was not in q dark corner,
but in q town in Georgia of some pre-
tensions, of nearly 1900 inhabitants,
where churches abound, Sunday
schools convenient, and educational
facilities ample. Let no one think
such cases are so very rare. They are
more numerous than we suppose.
Was there no connection between
the utter neglect of prayer in that
home and the failure to recognize
parental responsibility which prompts
to the dedication of children to God in
baptism, on the one hand, and such an
abnormal and irreligious state of things
in that home, on the other hand?
There is still ne ed to preach upon
and emphasize home religion.-Clem-
ent c. Cary, in Wesleyan Christian
Advocate.