The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-02-12
THE HAPPY HOME.
An Earnest, Practical Sermon by Rev.
J. 7. Keefty,

An Earnest, Practical Sermon by Rev.
]. T. Keeity, :
augusta Chronicle;
The second night Of the mission at
St. Patrick church proved in num-
bers ana interest as great as the one
previous, and the words as they fell
from the lips Of the earnest speaker
found an echo in the hearts of the
earnest listeners present, and will
abide with them, and if rightly fol-
lowed will lead to great and good hap
piness. Rev. J. T. Keelty was the
speaker. He took for his text:
"And he came to Nazareth and was
subject unto them" These brief
words from the second chapter Of St.
Luke has given US the story concern
ing the childhood days Of the infant
Savior. The source Of this medita-
ton starts q traiu Of thought in my
mind Of the days of the childhood Sof
Jesus Christ and His home in Nasa-
reth. What a happy family this must
have been, and what a charming
home. St. Joseph, the head ofthe
house, was o just man, possessing
sublime qualities and an exalted mind
fulfilling all duties relating to his sta-
ton humbly and cheerfully. Mary,
the mother, the beautiful and spotless
one, born without sin, in her were
found the virtues Of humility, purity,
innocence; in fact, she is the grand
est model Of a mother, and the one
given in all times as an example Of
that grandest and highest blessing. II
this Christian family God was the
child who came to make this place an
abode of JOY, and here His childhood
was spent in making home lappy.
This subject brings back the ''nughts
Of the cid home with its JOYS and its
sorrows past. and present, with its
story yet untold. When we picture
the home of the infant Jesus do we
ever form comparisons between that
and our homer Are they alike or are
they different? Is your home like tb
Of Jesus, a happy one, or is it differ
ent, where your children, instead Of
being obedient are disobedient, where
you, the parents, are engaged in fool
ish and degrading thoughts, in vile
drinking, or in cursing and swearing?
If such is your home God pity you,
for unfortunate and unhappy is such a
home beyond expression. Listen for
a moment to my words, and if they
succeed in rendering one home more
cheerful and happy, one life better,
well will I have fulfilled my mission.
Consider again the little home at
Nazareth, presided over by the best Of
parents, where no quarrelings, 10
chickering's were ever heard, nay, every
action and deed edited the world, and
where the child waxed, strong in wis
dom and goodness before God and
man where this child, kind, beautiful
and obedient did all TO please these
humble parents, for ON him depended
the happiness Of this home. On you,
parents, the peace and happiness Of
the home depend, and on you rests the
duty of teaching and correcting the
little lives entrusted to your care. It
rests on you to set the example, for as
our Lord said to His disciples, II
have set the example, 60 thou and do
likewise"
Endeavor to make your children un-
derstand the important duty of max
ing the ireside cheerful by always
bringing into the home circle happy
faces and bright smiles. Let your.
children realize the true meaning of
the sweet words, father and mother,
and teach them to lay open their
minds and hearts to you who are the
best friends they can ave possess.
Too often we find a father Installing
into the breast Of his little child fear,
and the desire to leave his presence,
by q habit which has cursed his life,
to seek in bar rooms, gambling ga
looms or other places that happiness
which has been denied him at home.
If the home we're rendered more at
tractive we would hear offewer ruined
characters, less drunkenness and other.
evils and, crimes that come forth like
evil birds of prey when night shrouds
all things in darkness.
Let this thought be with you that
should your children go to perdition
through your fault, there will come a
day of reckoning when you will be
called to give an account Of your stew
ardship. and that very life you have
wrecked by your evil example will rise
up to accuse you Of your crime.
Spare not the rod, less by this
ear you withdraw not his soul from
God. Punish your child whenever
guilty, but do go that your child when
corrected for his fault will yet retain
the love which is necessary at all
times between a parent and child.
Reprove your children without losing
your dignity, but in such a manner
that while showing your grief you let
them understand that it is a eces
sary duty. In this way your reproof
will bear fruit, and the child will
grow up an example Of 6lial respect,
and the love which will exist between
this child and its parents will render
happy any home, no matter how hum
BILE. By an ungovsrnable temper
many parents render home a hell on
earth rather than a heaven; such peo-
pie as these are no more fitted for the
important Office Of governing a home
than the beasts of the field. Like
maniacs many parents become when
correcting their children, and in pas
sion and anger, teach that child whom
God gave them, by curses and blows,
rather than lead them by kindness and
love. The consequences will be more
horrible than if they were left uncor-
rected, for they will grow more wicked,
will hate and despise those whom God
set over them; they will ven 60 SO
far as to set themselves up against
parental authority, or eve dare to
raise their hands in anger against