The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-21
Value Of the Parent to the
Children.
Should Enter In Their Life and Be
Their IDEAL
Rev. Wallace Nuttins's Discourse at
Union Congregational Church.

Rev. Wallace Nutting's Sunday evening
discourse at Union Congregational Church
last evening, the sixth OF the series, "Re-
lstions OF Society,"" was devoted to "The
Father"
TIE series closes next Sunday when the
subject will be ssThe Mother. I" This final
address will be given at the forenoon SER
vice instead of in the evening.
Encouraged by the respon Sc to these
discourses on the part OF his congregation
and hundreds from outside the church,
Mr.. Nutting has in course OF preparation
\ new series designed TO be equally pop
ular In treatment of q timely subject and
the first of these will be delivered in the
evening Sunday next.
The address OF last evening follows, In
full:
Texts Matthew iv:6; Luke i:l7. she
shall turn the heart OF the father TO the
children, and the heart OF the children
70 their fathers
ssThe Old Testament closes with these
words, and the New Testament opens
with the appearance OF Gaoriei 10 ,ne
words. These words, therefore, are the
welding connection OF the Testaments.
They declare that the revelation OF Jesus
20 the world was for the purpose OF bring
ing about a unity of our family life In
God, in turning the hearts OF fathers TO,
ward children, and OF children toward
fathers, and this turning toward each
other was to happen because each should
turn together toward the Lord.
"Our fathers are represented In the
Bible as being ashamed OF us. Abraham
and Jacob were not willing to recognize
their apostate children. II you have .
human father In heaven, who can look
on your actions, he must
AT TIMES BE ASHAMED OF HIS SON.
We are to understand that the Office of
the Christian religion, AZ thus declared at
the end OF the Old and the beginning OF
the New Testaments, Is to make us re-
spect our fathers, and to make our fathers
respect .beir sons, by cleaning our char
acters, rendering as respectable members
OF the race, ,,and changing our hearts un-
til admiration and love on both sides
draw children and parents together In the
LORD. Wherever family love reigns there
il touch OF God; and II Is pleasant to
see that God comes nearer to the world in
parental love than anywhere else. There
Is less that is selfish in filial love than In
any other. 1t is q redeeming trait in the
worst man that even after he has reached
middle age he 10 affectionate toward his
father. The French with all their national
sins possess this virtue. The Chinese,
lost to mary senses of rig nj, have TINS saw
ted we look for q considerable degree OF
On this theme speak from the posi-.
tion OF one who can testify feelingly to
the yearning for fatherly love. Some
who ever since arriving at the
YEARS OF INDIscRETIoN
have been mourning over their fathers
faults. oughr to consider that an imper'
feet father 10 better than none. For my
part think that my father was better
than deserved and therefore the Lord
early took him from me- before could
call his name; before any sin OF mine
could pain his heart and sadden his eyes,
and cause him to feel gulf between our
souls. We speak OF chcrishing memory
Il 10 even less satisfactory to cherish 9
photograph. II God spares your father
you can afford to spare him the sorrow ol
seeing selfshncss gain powerful direc-
tion In your life Spare him the revival,
in you, of the sins OF his youth'1n colors
deeper-dyed, for this js the sword that
will stab the very springs OF his soul.
II may be laid down as rule that We
fight against God when we wish our faith
ers were less trouble. III God leaves them
with us il can only be with two objects
to make them better or TO make us bet
ter. There are excellent reasons for their
be ing in the world and il we think we
ought to improve our fathers our first
step must be an improvement on our
selves. We must free ourselves completely
from their faults before we may try to
make them like US. We're we TO follow
such plan perhaps the father would be-
n on us before we begin on him. The
fact is we see our fathers faults in the
light of our own, and that Is why theil
sins seem so great to us.
What does q son need in father?
speak from the sons position.
I. He does not need q rich father. O
Ill hat mn ha red
the first. The opportunity 10 draw or
him is the least thing he can give US. Fo
we incline to draw less on our own pow
ers /. we have q bank deposit sthat WI
do not have to replenish. There are ma
lures so active a. to need no stimulus, AM
IT 10 very convenient for many boys L
have fathers to pay college expenses. Ye
incline to believe that tho
LEAST THING FATHER CAN DO
for bis boy is to support him. III tn
father exists for that he can be easil.
spared.
q A father therefore needs to ask: "II
what ways am valuable to my son?'
Do you consider that you have fulfilled
your duty by him in giving him an edu
acquired without your helpa Has no
the boy a deeper need OF father To shov
him how TO use the educationf In thi
respect the teacher can hardly take tn
parents place. The modern system-o
lack OF system OF teach ing young men
business, trade or profession Is so IA
lacking that help must come from SOM
source. In the trades il Is often very har,
for an apprentice to find entrance. Ever
though he succeed In entering, the care
lessnsss OF the iourneyman toward tn
apprentice is poor guarantee that b
will teach him faithfully. In all lines O
work there is lacking an sffectionate over
sight OF the learner. Unless the youn
man has indomitsble pluck and quic
insight he is liable TO remain unskilled 4
his work. The early method OF teachin
son his fathers work has been discard
ed. IL was a good method. We ought, In
deed, TO give scope TO individuaI geniu
and II the father IL a carpenter there is n
objection to the sons advancing TO b,
come an architect.
But WHAT ARE THE FACTsf
The vast majority OF young men al
without any inclination whatever q
ward q particular occupation. Some r
!. them would like TO be cowboys OF bss'
ball players OF bicycle racers, but thes