The herald., 1895-09-01
The Right to Bring an
Immortal Soul Into
the World
THE CHILD is A DEPENDENT
Aad lis Well.Being Is in the Keeping
of the Parents---Some WhOles
some Advice Worthy Our
Sober Thought

BooKmakers and preachers are con-
stantly warning the cnild of its evil ways
and sinful nature. Philan thropists build
reformatores and workshops for unfortu-
nate children. 1t is high time that par
ents began to realize that they have
duty to perform as we'll AS the child that
theirs is the greater and first to be ful-
filed.
A man who will continue to flood the
market with poor grade of stock 10 con-
sidered foolish. Impractical and doing
much harm. Yet man and women are
allowed to food and paupsrize the earth;
I'LL prisons. asylums and reformatores
with a low, undesirable grade OF human
beings.
Outraged society infl,cts punishment
after punishment on the poor unfortu-
nate, with no thought for the real GRIM
inals-the parents-who hava recklessly
brought such children into the world. dis
eased in body and mind. with no moral
responsibility and often murder in their
hearts.
The children have no choice as to whom
or what their parents shall be. They
come welcomed, and unwelcomed; by
good, Indifferent and bad parents; !;
parents who have never stopped for a
moment to consider their duty to their
children. or whether they have right to
bring an immoral soul into the world.
Parents should realize that the child IS
the most important factor in the uni
verse, and that is has right 10 thelr
best thought.
Every thoughtful person admits that
physical, mental and moral qualities are
transmitted from parents to child IN
some degree.
They who can deny that the first duty
of all parents is to see that the child IS
well born: that to be well born is the
fight of every child and the best gift that
the parents can bestow upon the child.
The parents who neglect this duty COM
nit crime that can never be entirely
remedied or pardoned.
Environment and good training can do
much TO assist an unfortunate child 10
build character upon poor foundation
forced uoon lin and for which he is not
to blame.
But it is serious mistake to suppose
that environment and training can wipe
out all the traces of heredity.
Above all. it is ths duty VI parents to
abstain from the use of intoxicating
liquors and tobacco.
The hereditary effects of these habits
are apparent in the weakened reason and
intelloct of children whose parents may
not be called drunkards.
| believe that in many cases drunken
ness is less a crime than disease, ana
that parents are often to blame thar their
children are cursed with it. Yet society
will punish tho poor diseased wretches
aud will sympathize with the guilty par
ents, and the preacher Will say, w Whom
the Lord loveth he chastiseth. 1t has
been wisely said that children spoiled IN
the nursery can seldom be mended In the
sanctuary.
Equally true that, if they have been
well born. well moulded in the nursery
and well finished in the Sunday school 1t
is hard to spoi! them afterward.
Children have prenatal rights and the
parents duty does not cease here. They
have brough: an i'm ortal soul into this
beautiful world without its consent; they
should now consider and realize what
possibilities are wrapped up. IL that tiny
frame and undeveloped mind.
At its birth the parents part in the ed
ucation of the child begins. Only with
Gods help can they faithfully do thelr
duty to this innocent chilu innocent be-
cause Its faults are inherited. The babe
should be taught self control, self de-
pendence and self denial, lovingly, kindly,
but firmly.
A child cannot too early learn that i,
has something to do; that work IS honor
able. dignified and healthful; that the
physical and mental powers should re
ceive equal attention.
1t is not uncommon to hear parent:
say, "Oh, / cannot teach my child,
haven't the patience and it is easier t6
: do the work myself than to bother
Shame on the parents who will let suct
an Expression pass their lips; if they have
not earned to master themselves how dc
they expect to govern others?
Parents have no right to expect instinc
will teach their chiild the mysteries o
creation.
1t is their duty TO begin in earlies
childhood to teacn, guide and direct II
everything pertaining to the child
physical, mora and intellectual char
acter. AS the child's mind unfolds ant
reaches out for knowledge of life. of it
self and creation answer all question
y truthfully. plainly and do not try to clouC
the mind with mystery.
| pity the mother who has passeC
through all the stages necessary to be
come a mother who then says. Il canno
talk TO my boys and girls of sexual pas
sions and maternity
Such mothers may call this modesty.
have a stronger term. These same moth
ers will say, Il never knew children hat
such vices
Mother, it is your duty to study thi
question seriously and to realize the ex
tent of the power either for good or ba
that is placed In your Keeping.
To do good and not harm to your chill
demands knowledge as well as love.
If mothers do not have the entire con
fidence of their children it is their owl
fault; they have neglected the mos
sacred duty of their lievs.
The child is dependent being.
Parents must see that the training doe
not leave hlm a dependents man. The
al. ne are responsible for the child!
habits of industry, thrift, cleanliness AM
order. They should see to it that thei
children's education does not mean
book education. but that practical com
mon sense and manual training ar
taught as well.
They should see to it that each chill
goes from the scholroom with a strOh
individuality; with passions well con
trolled, manhood and womanhood uncor
rupted with love and reverence to God
ready TO dare and tu do any good wor
Tor humanity.
Both boys and girls should be given
thorough education in one branch of busi
ness and be made to understand the
must work. How much misery, Grim
and prostitution are caused by the negleC
# parents in training their children I
Ives of usefulness
am well aware that the noble self re
specting, seif-supporting, unselfsh ant
cultured girl Is not the society girl of tc
day. and she is the tetter for it. Thoug
notnumbered with the society girl sh
is equally at home in the drawing roor
md kitchen, or Watching by the bedside
OF her loved one. Her manners may b
requiet, modest ana natural than tn
society girls, but her character has
charm that no artificial learning ca
equal. She knows no superficial life
hers II earnest, helpful, beautiful an
the preparatory school for higher life
Society and the white ribboners have