The herald., 1897-11-14
PIOUS TRAINING
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The decadence of the wholesom,
habits of family worship forms the sub
ject of a timely editorial in a recent
issue of The Central Presbyterian. While
the theological drift of the times Il
alarming, the writer speaks of anothe
drift affecting not so much the theory
of Christianity as it's practical appli-
cation and far more portentous to the
spiritual life of the church. I'VE refer, y
it goes on to say, ito the evident decline
of family religion. So far as regular
systematic training of children in de-
vout habits, by the precept and ex-
ample of parents, is concerned. a dis
tressing conviction is impressed upon
us that this fountain of Christian in
fluence is rapidly failing in our own as
well as in other churches" This is ap-
parent to every one who gives the mat
ter even superficial attention.
One of the worst signs of the times
is not SO much the decadence of private
worship in family life as the general
indifference of parents to the moral, in
tellectual and physical growth and well
being of their children. In these three
important elements of child life the
training of children is turned over to the
vicarious and perfunctory instruction
of strangers. The church and Sunday
schools are depended upon to instill in the
careless mind of the child the precepts
of morals and religion. The common
school is expected not only to teach the
young ideas how to shoot" but to lead
it on until it blossoms and carefully to
train and fit it to bear fruit.
AC far h, nh nf
offspring, why that is left to chance and
changes of time and circumstances.
Now, the training of children ''in the
way they should go" is one of the con-
ditions imposed upon the authors of
their being. the neglect of which is an
abandonment of parental duty. The
state has a deep interest in this duty.
That the child is father to the man is
automatic. Children abandoned, NOR
ally and Intellectually, by their parents.
do not make the kind of citizens required
to build up and sustain a great state.
Unless parents cooperate with teachers
they cannot expect the best results OF
moral and intellectual instruction. The
family prayer-a phrase which is now
seldom or ever heard-should be an ad-
junct of the church. The supervising
hand and eye of the father and mother
at the home fireside should be the aux
iliary of the teachers of the public
schools. 1t is folly to suppose
that there can be any adequate
substitute in the training of children
for the natural teachers and guardians
the fathers and the mothers. A consci- |
antious teacher working for salary may
be excellent in the discharge of his or
her duties. but to the child no voice has
power and influence like that which |
it has heard from it's first hour of life,
no example so impressive as that set by |
is parents. If we would preserve our
natural character and institutions from |
lecay, we should see to the moral AMI
training of our children; we
should return to the wise and goodly
habits of our ancestors in re-establish-
ng family worship in all our homes and |
eeing personally after the moral and in.
training of our children. Other
wise we need not wonder if our neglect,
ike the dragons teeth sown by Cadmus,
'esult in bringing forth, instead of duti-
'ul children and good citizens, band |
# armed and lawless men.
Without kind cultures fair parental aid,
Without enlivening suns and genial show
erS,
n vain we hope the tender plant will rear
the blooming head.
md yield the harvest promised in the
spring"
NJcC