Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-04-22

to be, forty or fifty years ago, and
that the present American boy is
especially lacking in veneration as
is shown in his disregard of the
sabbath as Gods holy day.
1t appears to me that parents
and preachers are trying to cure
this evil by treating the symptoms
instead of the cause.
If the boys are not to go fishing
or swimming, or hunting, or rid
ing, or ball playing, or jumping on
Sunday, has any one explained
how they come to be doing all this
sabbath breaking, and has any one
suggested what they may do2 If
the boys have not been taught by
preoept and example from their
childhood that they are to attend
Sunday school and church, they
will not be likely to take up with
the habit when they are big boys
Is it to be expected that boys will
read the bible all Sunday after
noon when they do not care for
reading of any kind2
Boys who have not been inter-
ested in the Armenians, Cubans,
and our own food and cyclone suf-
ferers are not likely to take a live
ly interest in the wanderings of
the children Of Israel nor the
missionary journeys of Paul (;
nor can it be expected that they
will sit down quietly all Sunday
afternoon and mediate upon their
"heavenly home so bright and so
fair" and "long to be there" when
they have heard more concerning
the beauties of Kansas and Arkan-
sas than they have ever heard of
their heavenly home; nor can they
be expected to converse all Sunday
afternoon upon religious topics,
especially if the father is taking
his Sunday nap, the mother read
ing and the sisters employed, per-
haps, entertaining the every Sun
day callers.
In this town Of pretty homes l
wonder how many of them have a
room especially for the boys where
it isn't too fixed up for them to en-
Joy themselves. l wonderl
Parents, as long as you do your
business planning on Sunday, and
balance your books, and cook big
dinners and invite company you
need hardly expect your boys to
"honor the sabbath day to keep it
holy"
And preachers if you do not
suggest or provide proper ways
for the boys to occupy themselves
much of your preaching is in vain,
for the boys are not likely to con-
trive ways themselves.
A young man Of on. town is can
vassing for a very attractive pan
Drama of bible history. l think
it would interest any boy all the
way from two to eighty years OF
age. If this could be secured il
would furnish interesting study
for several Sunday afternoons.
There are a great many musi-
clans among the boys of our town,
and a Sunday afternoon song ser
vice with an orchestra and a chor.
us of boyish voices singing "Near.
er my God to Thee" would be one
of the sweetest sounds Vinita ever
heard. Parents and preachers
why let the devil have a corner on
all the Sunday amusements? He
used to own the violin and near
ly all other musical instruments
but they have been converted tC
church use, so might it not be pos
sible to direct this pent up joyous
ness and energy of the boys into
ways of peace and power, 60 tha
God, who made the sabbath fol
man and not man for the sabbath
might be praised and honored.
TO THE BOYS THEMSELVES.
Allow me to give you a littl,
illustration / have seen som'
place. A man was travelling with
seven horses, aud seeing a grouI
of six men La said to them
"Gentlemen you may each selec
for yourself one of my horses.
They did so and as he rode away
they all mounted their horses anC
rode after him to take the only
horse he had kept for himself
And so il appears that you have
acted as mean as these men, wher
you have spent according to you
own pleasure the six days OF tbs
week and then the seventh also
the "sabbath of the Lord, thy
God" i think there are few boys
who deliberately do what they
know is wrong, and / believe i
you knew how to spend Sunday SC
that your Creator would be pleased
with you, you would do it. d
course the way to begin the day il
by taking a refreshing bath anc
dressing in clean clothes, fol
cleanliness is next TO Godliness. u
The next thing 10 do is to 60 tC
Sunday school and church; per.
haps you are not use to it, but af
ter going a few times you will
rather enjoy it, After dinner have
little home visit. Have a nice
little chat with your mother if yor
can manage it. After that go tol
walk or ride il you want to, and
as you 60 over the prairies anC
through the woods, perhaps you
will cay to yourself, praise th'
Lord, oh my soul, and all that il
within me bless and praise Hi
holy name" Maybe you hav'
never said just those words in al
your life. but know you have fel
them a hundred times. After yol
walk or ride you should have SOM
service or Sunday lecture course o