Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-06-29
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.

Topic, July 3: Honoring Father and
Mo her. -Eph. G: IA; Prov. II: :, ~
as.
It is not strange that son OF David
should have had clear understanding
of the grief foolish child causes those
who gave him life. Many a time those
pitiiul words must have rung in Solo
mons ears, 30, my son Absalom!
Would God I had died for thee" And
perhaps, too, Solomon's knowledge Oh
the self-confdent nature OF his own
heir NAV have added a touch of bitter
ness TO the words he speaks concern
ing the relation between parents and
children.
One of the commonest ways in which
modern young people fail to show
honor to their parents is by withhold
ing their confidence. Average Amer
can boys and girls-to say nothing Oh
those who are older-are fully convinc-
ed of their ability to look after them
selves and decide correctly all ques-
tions OF Importance. In shutting faith
or and mother out of their heart-life,
they are depriving them of one OF the
joys which should repay them for years
of oare and struggle and self-sacrifce.
If there were no higher reason for giv-
ing it, your confidence is debt you
owe to those who from your advent IN
to the world have done all in their
power to make your life JOY.
1t is usually well to be your guard
with those young people who are con-
stantly appo!ogizing for their parents.
..AIother is 80 old-fashioned in her
ideasl' Feathers grammer is shock
ingl He didn't have much chance Tor
an education when he was boy.
Such excuses show fatal weakness IN
those who utter them. The young men
or'women who glory in an untaught'
Woodworking father, and PLAINLY
dressed unassuming mother, because
there is in each that nobility OF soul
beside which all things else are small
and insignificant, are the browning Joy
of those who gave them. lue.; Honor
of parents is not expressed mainly by
words, though it can find tongue
when there is need. 1t speaks more
frequently by tenderness and courtesy
and consideration and gratitude. It'll
not reserved for state occasions, but
manifests itself throughout the COM
mon-place' days in lit,ls things as truly
and as fully as in great
It is noticeable that the Bible as
sumes that honor of parents is advan-
tageous to- those who render it..
Honor thy father and mother, that it
may be well with thee" And the Ian
guage both here and elsewhere makes
it clear that the benefit is something
more than the inevitable blessing which
comes from doing right. i72 9Fa-
After all, the promise with which
God reinforced the one he evidently
looked upon as Of such great imr Or
lance, tells us no more than the expert
ences of every day life. Youth, If
self-confdent, and inclined to despise
the counsel OF experience, learns at
bitter cost the lessons it might gain
painlessly. There is trouble in store
Tor the young man who fneers at the
dea OF asking his fathers advice on the
matters which most closely concern
MIN. There is danger ahead OF thai
girl who is positive she knows quite
enough to manage her own affairs.
And for those who willfully wound
parents fond hearts, the future holds
in store remorse the more terrible be-
cause so unavailing. They are not
idle words which come to us with the
weight Of divine authority: "Honor
Thy father and mother, thatit may be
well with thee