The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-27

made. we VIII rejoice ana ne Stdu III II.
Psalms cxviii, "a.
Train up child in the way he should go,
and when he IS old he VIII not depart from
it-ProverbS Xxx, 6.
That was a happy thought which led to
the custom, now become almost universal,
of observing one of the last Sabbaths in
June as "Children's Sunday" On that day
especially are the services given over TO the
little ones; their active part in the exer-
cises, their happy faces and bright dresses
vieing with the profusion of brilliant flow
ers and their sweet voices mingling with
the songs of birds in the sanctuary make
it day of days.
And the thought naturally comes to us on
this day cannot we make every Sunday
more welcome day to the children? May
not we help them to regard all Sundays as
theirs and each as it comes the brightest
and happiest day Of the week? This both
in the home life and in the more formal
usage.
Here we are confronted with the old-time
question: How shall the little ones of the
family observe Sunday? They cannot keep
perfect quiet on this day; wise parents 90
not wish this. Brimming over with youth
fui energy they do not have the same APP
probation of its purpose as does the matur-
er mind. What, then, shall be the children
Sunday?
To answer this question Alright let the
teachings of the Bible be applied TO our
modern times. Firstly, quite different IN
character from the Jewish Sabbath is the
Christian Sunday. Certain portions or the
fourth commandment do not apply with the
same fierce to us of to-day as they APP
piled to the Israelites, to whom it was first
given. There the beginning was made OF
keeping one day out of seven as a rest day.
previously all days were alike to mankind.
The Israelites, therefore, had to be told
especially what was not to be done on the
seventh day. In his training of the human
race for a higher civilization God dealt
with the Jews as a gardener deals with a
young tree; he binds the crooked stem to
firm stays and forces straight growth; but
when this is attained he removes the
stakes.
1t was necessary at first to emphasize
the negative character of the day; but from
the very beginning the positive, religious
purpose was what the divine mind had in
view. This is shown in our Savior's rebuke
to the Pharisees in later times. They
seemed to think only of what was not al
Christ said: 1.-THE Sabbath was made for
man, not man for the Sabbath" We are
therefore to concern ourselves more with
what our children shall do on the Lords
day than with what they shall not do.
Thus, secondly we come down to the
original idea of Sunday as held by the ear
lest Christians. These first disciples made
a change in the day to be kept as the hal
lowed day of the week; Saturday gave place
to Sunday. And there was a marked diff
ference in their way of observing it. 1t
was no longer a day of negations; it took
on a positive aspect. and joy was it's key
note. The old habits of guarding against
doing this or that gave way to the brighter
side of peace and happiness; Sunday be-
came a day of rejoicing, Our Sundays,
then should be made days of happy peace
fulness for the young.
Thirdly, by reason of the complex nature
Of our modern civilization we must make
a practical reasonable application Of the
gospel to our present-day life.
We live in a busy age. In most homes
the father is away the greater part of the
six work-days. He sees very little of his
children; often they are asleep before he
comes home at night. The mother. too. is
engrossed with domestic and social cares.
Oftentimes the love and affection needed
by little hearts to develop the best side of
their character is not given them week
days. No doubt this is a great mistake;
parents lose far more than they know by
neglecting the cup of pleasure afforded in
companionship with their children But
we must take life as it actually is. To the
vast majority of our people Sunday is a
blessed privilege. 1t allows some amends
for the hard necessities of the days of toll.
But while the tired parent will naturally
want to spend the afternoon in restful sleep
or in reading the daily papers and maya
zines, the question arises, ought this to be
done? Should the little ones .be sent out
of their parents presence? Their hearts
are yearning for their fathers affection and
they need his counsel. All the week they
are largely deprived of this. and now on the
one day when the privilege might be theirs
IS ii justice to them to withhold it? Should
not parents devote a few hours on Sundays
exclusively to their growing boys and girls,
to take them in their arms, give them the
love they have a right to receive, tell
them stories and enter into their little sub
jects and objects of interest? Hours thus
spent will be well used, and at nightfall
the father and mother will feel far more
refreshed in body, heart and conscience
than they will by ignoring their little ones
and passing the afternoon in selfish ease
and sleepy forgetfulness.
Furthermore, the home must not resound
with "donts;" the bubbing spirits should
not be repressed all day. We are not
keeping the Jewish Sabbath. and a lit
tie quiet festvity in the home circle is not
only necessary for the childs good, but is
perfectly in harmony with the due observ-
ance of the Christian Sunday. In some way
the joyous aspect of the day should be i'm
pressed upon the little folks. Let them be
taken out for short walk or drive. Do
not forbid innocent pastimes and
amusements, nor put away the
dolls and blocks and picture books.
In some families Sunday is
given an added interest by reserving certain
best toys for that day alone. Let there be
singing of children's songs or painting of
+. scriptural picture cards or the telling of
Bible stories which have peculiar charm
for all children - they almost universally
ind them as entertaining as other kinds.
especially if told by the help OF a pictorial
Bible.
All these things tend to make religion
bright aed attractive and to keep young
hearts appreciative of the Savior's love
Peaceful Sundays like this are the great
impetus to happy life in future years A