The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-20
THE FAMILY ALTAR.
Address of Rev. Thomas Park at
Afternoon Meeting.

Address of Rev. Thomas Park at
Afternoon Meeting.
Rev. Thomas Park, of Walton, N. Y,
made strong plea for family devotion in
an address on 1.-The Family Altar" THE
two words we love best" he began, ARE
Christ and home. Family worship is not
only a duty enjoined but also a privilege
to be enjoyed. 1t makes the home sancti-
fed with prayer, resonant with praise, and
filled with the spirit, the happest spot on
all the earth. 1t is an oasis on the high
way to heaven, thither the angels come to
meet us, and conduct us, day by day, mile
by MILE to the celeStian city. Morning and
evening we thank God and take courage.
The family altar lies at the foundation
of our Young Peoples Union or Christian
Endeavor. When L look over this vast
throng of earnest Christian youth, and bear
in mind that you represent thousands of
others, moved by the same spirit, full of
grace and truth, the Holy Ghost and good
works, l am persuaded that this is a true
testimony Of the great multitude of Chris
tian homes, in our beloved church. Faith
erS and mothers, moved with the deepest
feeling of love and gratitude for their re-
the great and terrible wilderness of conVic-
ton into the promised land of conversion,
conservation, and rest in Christian service,
say to others, like Joshua: Choose you
this day whom you will serve; as for US
and our house, we will serve the Lord Do
nestle Bible reading, psalm singing, and
and in the power of His might. So let us
glory in the family altar, the home in
which is found the divine indwelling and
the daily offering of the entire household
q living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto
God. For every such home, watched by
love, filled with the spirit is a palace for
the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords
The precious lessons of such an altar can
never fade out of the memory
STORY OF FOUR TRAMPS.
20 youth! you can never know how much
you owe to the earnest prayers and suppli-
cations of your cody parents for your sal
walton. They have kept you from destruc-
ton, led you to the one and only Savior,
and are polishing you as jewels for the
Redeemer's crown. The good example of
the home altar is never lost. "A few years
ago four tramps came TO our home in the
West, and were engaged to work in the
harvest They were prodigal in outward
appearance and manner. The first evening
at family worship Bible, with the metrical
version OF the psalms bound in it, was given
to each Three Of them knew not in what
part of the book to find the selection
nounced, the fourth turned to the place. AS
the praise assembled the Holy Spirit sent an
arrow of conviction deep into his heart.
Great burning tears rolled down his face.
After worship l said, Friend, you know the
Bible and Psalms Overcome with emotion
he answered: I have not heard these songs
sung since l left my godly mothers home
that dear mother in Scotland on her knees
ii l God day and night for that
distant in home on The prairies her
prayer was being answered as her loved one
cried, o God, thou God of my mother save
On, save me, her erring boy Let us hope
that he will be a star in her crown of re-
Joic1ng. Friends, weary not in WelI-doing
around the family altar, for in due season
you shall reap, if you faint not. God has
used the home altar to plant you as trees of
righteousness by the river of His mercy.
Young people should glory in the fam
the three best gifts of the spiritNfafth
hope and love With this triple power sue
cess will crown your service for Christ
Paul was thankful whenever he rem rem, iSS
bered the unfeigned faith produced and de-
veloped by the family altar of Lois and Eu-
comfort and consolation, in view of DEATH
to have such an one to follow him in the
ministry. His dying charge was % limo
thy, continue thou in the Holy Scriptures
which you have learned from a child. Have
faith in the word. Preach it in season and
out of season. The faith of Abraham's
home altar was reproduced in Isaac, again
in Jacob, and still again in Joseph. Thus
the foundation was laid for Israel Gods
or Hannah gave to the church Samuel, a
man mighty before Jehovah, in prayer and
supplication. Elijah's mother must have
had an irresistible grip of faith on the prav-
er hearing Jehovah. For we hear its echo
in the prayer of her son on Mt. Carmel
which brought the fire from heaven to con-
of his heart and the confusion of the proph-
cts of Baal. The secret of Samson's
strength may be traced back to the home
altar, and the faith of his deVout mother
When loyal to the God of that altar he was
full of the spirit and could rend the lion as
If a kid. break the ropes as burnt flax
STAY the thousand armed Philstines with a
simple weapon. and carry the iron gates
of GAIA to the top of the hill opposite He
bron. But when, in careful security, he dis
obeyed the Lord and permitted the scissors
of sin to cut off the locks of conservation
he became weak as other men. and fell into
the hands of his enemies His downfall was
ptiable, and warning to all youth
tempted to step into the perilous flood of a
sinful life.
Il am sure if I should call for the testi-
mony of our own young people, concerning
the sweet and precious memories of the
home altar that almost every one would
stand up as a witness to the morning and
evening worship.
BENEFIT OF FAMILY WORSHIP.
Family worship produces and develops
hope in God. This is the handspring Of
Christian Endeavor service. But of all
agencies to produce and develop hope in
Christ. none are worthy to be compared
with the happy, God-fearing home. 1t is
a school open seven days in the week and
three hundred and sixty-five days in the
year. The altar is its holy of HOLES. To