The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-19
cHILDREN's DAY AT WESLEY.
REV. ED F. COOK PREACHED SPEC
TALLY FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.

The Children Were Urged to he PEN
itcnt, to aave Faith in God and TO
BE Obedient-Mr. Cook Says "a Child
May Become Christian When old
Enough 10 Love and Trust Its
MOther-CIass of Instruction VIII
BE Formed Under the Pastors
Guidance.
One Sunday in the year is always set
aside as "Children's day in the Metho-
dist Church. That day was celebrated
yesterday in Wesley Monumental Church,
the song service and sermon being special
ly adapted TO the needs and comprehen-
sion OF the little folks, and collection
being taken up for the benefit of mission
| Sunday schools in poor districts.
In spite of the inclemency of the wealth
er, there were many children and young
people present. The front pews hGd been
reserved for these, and We're filed with
many very attentive little listeners. The
first song was childs prayer to God for
hep and guidance during the day.
The pastor. Rev. =. F. Cook. on an
nouncing his text, Il love them that love
me. and they that seek me early shall
find me-" had the children TO repeat it az
Ter him.
Mr. Cook said: II have heard people
doubt that a child can be a Christian. In
| fact this is often said, and children hear
ing 1t become discouraged in their efforts
20 find salvation and peace of mind and
heart. Any one can be Christian If he
seeks the help OF God, but more espe-
cially little child No one thinks that
the best time 10 become religious is when
enc is old, when habits are already formed
ana life purposes lonG fixed. Then the
earlier one begins, the easier il is. Just
as in an orchard those trees flourish best
which We're set out when they were young,
50 the one. who begins as child
makes makes better Christian than he
Now o aud then grown
man IS saved by the strong hand OF God
through affection. but ne has to be care
I fully nurtured or he will fall away.
The. plan of salvation is so simple thar
the child can comprehend and accept It
as thoroughly as a grown man, and cam
but can lead others. The hope of the
home, of the church and of religious life
in the world is in the conservation of the
children while they are young. The op-
( lection is sometimes made that religion
would spoil child-life by abolishing child
ish ways, and making an old man out or
boy. boys religion is religion, just
as the mathematics which he learns in
his arithmetic is mathematics. although
/ II is not geometry or calculus. Religion
does not make OF the boy a miserable old
man. IL only drives out of his mind all
dirty stories and pictures, and keeps all
bad habits out of his heart.
There are three things necessary for a
child's successful seeking of Christ: Be
! penitent. and be so sorry for sin that you
determine by Gods help never 10 COM
nit il again; have faith N God. take Him
| at His word, believe that He viii do what
/ He says he Will; and be obedieut This
/ last is the sum of the child's religion, and
don't know but that it is the sum of ali
religion. Every. child can understand
| obedience.
GLOW old must a child be before il can
| become Christian? Old enough to love
its mother, for then il can love God; old
enough to trust its mother for it can then
/ trust God; and old enough to obey both
| mother and God"
! At the close of the sermon, the choir
sang a hymn of invitation, and Mr.. Cook
| asked that all children who would join a
! class for instruction in The plan of saliva
| ton should come and give him their
names. Some twelve or fifteen responded.
and Mr.. Cook viii meet these once a
month.
! Next Sunday a baby service viii be held,
| at which a summary of the half years
! work of this church viii be given in short
! talks by different members of the board of
/ stewards 1t is hoped that all members
of the church will be present