The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-06-20
THE MINISTRY OF CHILDHOOD.
| Extrac: fcom bishop Hargrove's Sermon
at Wofford Commencement.

Exsvac: fcom bishop Hargrove's Sermon
at Woford Commencement.
The following i, al extract form the
sermon Ct Bishop Hargrove preached at
the commencement Of Wexford College
on the 10Th, instant:
bishop Harerove'S text was Isaiah II,
6: And little child shalllead them"
His su'i3ct was the Ministry of Child.
hood. He began by stating that angels
had no ancestry and they knew nothing
Of the facoily relation. Sex, matrlmony
and children are human aud do not be-
long to angels. They do rot know any
thirg OF the blesaedness Of childhood.
Earth aud Heaven are the only places
lllumired by tie radiant smiles OF To-
tapcv. Childhood is divine arrangement
and has beeu distinctly and emphatically y
recognized By God in all the great epochs
Of the W0rld's history. II our first pa
rents bad retained Their siDless integrity
ali pc,fecticps would have been trans.
mitied to their p0sterity through endless
ages and a detection from original purity
would have been impossible. This grand
opportunity was lost and thus the curse
vas entailed on posterity and depraVlty
took possession of the race. But human
exigency is the divine opportunity. Re.
pentance, regeneration and sanctifcatlon
are the remedial eXsedients By which
God sought to redeem the race.
One half of the human race dies before
reaching the age of five. Many OF the
others pass away before they reach the
wears of accountability. So majority
of the race is tranferred to the paradise
of God and Heaven is peopled largely
With children. The death Ct each infant
is defeat to Satan. If the presence OF
the gleeful gl3rided children gladden. the
streets and mansions Of the New Jerusa'
lem how tsarsullY drearY, doleful and de-
solate must be Satan's domlnlons, where
childhood never can enter.
Parents sometimes charge God tool-
ishly when their children are taken away
but these little o1es did not live in vain.
They had their objective work. The
marvellous ministry of helpleness and
innocence has accomplished much IN
mellowing and aoftening older hearts.
Delicate chords are touched lnto har'
mony by tiny fingers where they would
not respond to the rude sweep OF older
hands. The gay, frivolous society wo'
man Is often brought to herself by the
death other child. A common grle1 and
common tie in Heaven binds parents
closer together here on earth. Children
are leaders towards the Kingdom OF God
Lst not everything be attributed to the
preacher. books, the press, because
thousands are led to higher and better
life through the ministry OF little chill
dren.
In the first epoch of the worlds bis
tory the means Of salvation included
the children, for Noah failed to save the
| world from the food, but saved all his
own family. Then came the grand op.
portunity Of the race, tut Noah fell ane
his posteri!y was exposed to raVages ol
| sin,
The second epoch was when Abraham
was called to become the founder OF 4
great nation and the promise vas to him
and his children. They were included IN
the covenant as often as it was repeated.
In the third epoch God commanded
Moses to keep the children of Israel
separate and distinct people. Specla
instructions were given as to the training
of children. In this school the Israelites
were kept with fortunes tor l 500 years,
when the last great epoch was usheret
| in by the Birth of tie Saviour, who con
secrs.ed childhood forever By His birth
N the manger at Bethlehem. In al.
His teaching He was especially conlder'
ate oflitte children.
In all these leading epochs The splri'
tual agencies were directed to childhood
At any given time the majority OF ths
race is young. In this majority there
are those who will live the longest time
and exercise the greatest inf1ence
When one seeks to instruct children they
are dealing with those who are to be-
conethe most important factors in work
ing out the worlds destiny.
The mind Of children is receptive, the
| COuSClGuCE Is GSIi!Sl. FICiSNS h<OisS A1S =
not been formed, and it is easier to plant
good seeds which Will weld abundantly
good fruits. Childhood offers natural
and constitutional facilities for the op
Grafton Of the spirit of God. Children
are initiative and gladly follow others
They are curious and are always ready
to demand the reason for things. They
nevs doubt and their faith is strong IN
til they are deceived. This is the lorna
tive period when character is fixed. The
| impressions of childhood are more last
ing tnan those made later in life. The
mothers smiles aud cradle songs vii
all come up to tbs aged when they are
descending the dark valley. Mothers
write with indelible ink. Archlmedes be
lleved he could move the world If he hat
O place to stand and rest for his full
crum. Childhood is the iulcrum ant
eternal truth is the leyer, and b! this
fallen world can be lifted back into th'
bosom of it's God.