The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-18
DArS SIMMONS


~ ~ Church Of the Unity c. w. Wendtt
oio1a On s.IIome LIFE" saying. In part:
ssWhers the home feeling 10 strong. W
IA The social and political culture Of thu
neople also has reached its highest. Where
6 4 weak, the nation also II morally veal
6n0 becomes an easy prey to secular and
oec1eeinstical tyranny. Striking instances
- this latter condition We may nnd In
oDain. Italy and France. but still more In
~ dcmoralissd states Of Turkey and those
ether oriental nations, where the curse OF
pclygamy has destroyed the home. The
east. having thus lost the true source Of
IT. recuperative power, is sinking lower and
lower IN the moral and social scale.
sNow. this same decadence Of domestic
life exists to an alarming extent in Amer
lea today. although resulting from very
different causes. The many social and po-
l1tical changes we have undergone as .
people since we emancipated ourselves
from the thralldom Of the past have disIn-
tesrated the family life. The Offering prize
Of material prosperity held out by the
boundless opportunities of this noble con-
tinent have tempted many away from their
old homes. have divided and scattered FAM
HES, and weakened local attachments.
ssThis Is less true, perhaps. of the old CIV
llisation Of our eastern states. There the
hearth fires are carefully guarded and the
sentiment Of home has more general rec
ignition and influence. Family registers,
coats Of arms. ancestral histories and heir
looms show the value that Is placed upon
the family relation. The old homestead
has descended from father to son in unbrok-
-, ,ss~oaaafov, opd ~ eovnoioa q aonrod nos.
session in the family-the hallowed spot
age, to renew in glad reunion the tender
memories Of home.
but here at the west our civilization Is
too young to admit Of much reference 10
the past. California life is a constant ex-
temporization. No man can look ahead for
more than six months with any reasonable
degree Of certainty. Perhaps six weeks
would often be nearer the truth. Every
thing Is activity, excitement and change
The family which today is gathered to-
gether In blissful unity is tomorrow sep
arated and scattered abroad. The minis
ter, who with infinite labor gathers a con-
gregation hnds one by one slipping away
Just a. he begins to feel an interest In
them and they in him. The husband spends
half his time away from home, and the wife
the other half. Once a year the general
exodus, called moving day. takes place,
and q goodly part Of our population breaks
away from its accustomed habitation and
seeks . new home.
when q German comes to Los Angeles,
his frst ambition is to buy q lot. in order
to erect for himself, as soon a. possible, q
permanent home. The American also buys
. lot. but usually In hopes to sell 1t again
~ soon as possible, at an advanced price,
Now. perhaps, all this is necessary to our
young civilization. and, doubtless, we shall
In time become more calm. thoughtful and
refined in our way Of living, measuring our
growth by intension and not by extension
merely. And certainly 1t develops noble
round Of virtues energy, industry, courage
to undertake. fortitude to bear, keen
sighted, practical power. But what we
have to lament is this. that the home feel
ings are neglected and oversloughed. Amid
such constant excitement and change there
can be no real attachment to any place or
person; no sense Of security in the possess
sion Of q permanent home: no deep and last
ing friendship; no mutual development of
character between husband and wife; no
adequate or proper education Of the chill
dren in mind and heart"