The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-14
THE MOTHERS CLUB.
Address by the Rev. Or. Anderson on
Character Building"
Was Followed By General Discussion in
Which Several Participated.

Al the regular weekly meeting of the
Mothers club, held yesterday after
noon in the Manual Training school.
Rev. Dr. Thomas ID. Anderson, pastor
of the Central Baptist church, ad-
dressed the members and their friends
on the subject OF Character Build
ing"
THE character of a child Is formed"
said Dr. Anderson, "by bringing proper
objects before him. First surround
him by suggestions of order, i'm apart
ments, at the table. so that he may re-
gard his presence in the home not as
an individual but as a member OF So
ciety, factor in the family. Show
him that all through the world there
is order, beauty and proportion. Sec
ohdly. surround him with beautiful
things; If not works of art, works OF
nature. Let the decorations of the home
be not gaudy, but plain. neat and at
tractive, good pictures, books and flow
ers. These are all objects OF character.
Let the conversation at the table be
such as he can understand, and in dis
cusslng current events let the judg-
ment be based on morality, that the
child may early learn that only from "A
moral standpoint should ones deeds be
judged
ITO develop a child's will, we should
draw out his power. Children of today
have too much done for them. Leaving
the school unconsidered, in the home
child should work for itself. Parents
who have struggled in their youth to
obtain the comforts they now enjoy are
trying to shield their children from the
very trials annoyances and disappoint-
ments which have ennobed their own
lives. thereby wholly uniting them for
the inevitable lot of all mankind.
The Importance of obedience should
be early impressed upon the child, that
IL is necessary in life for each to ac-
complish some end and I'm order that
this may be accomplished, the applica-
ton OF energy is needful Energy is
not character The maniac who raves
and uselessly expends his strength does
not lack energy, but he has no charac-
ter. Character is the right application
OF energy. IL is the force which holds
all other forces in control.
Forming a character is like cultvat-
ing a plant. The hardest part of the
work is done for us. We have only to
place II in the light and keep the condi-
tions right-a touch here, a prop there
and soon instead Of an ugly weed we
have beautiful flower. n credit to our
care and "a source of pleasure to ALL"
At the close OF DR.. Anderscn's rer,
marks, Mr.. George f. Weston spoke
briefly on teaching children to be self
reliant. 1T is a hard thing for a par
ent to see "A child suffer" said Mr.. Wes-
ton. "even though he knows that only
by this suffering can he attain that
and knowledge which he will
surely need in adult life. Children are
not thrown on their own resources as
much as they should be. They have too
many advantages. too many toys, too
many sources of amusement, not only
given but forced upon them. The self
made man is not the one who i'm boy
hood has been surfeited with pleasure
and attention. but the one who has been
left TO fight out the battle OF life by
himself and is taught by experience" |
A general discussion followed many |
thoughts being presented. both |
Dr. Anderson and Mr.. Weston giving |
council and advice from their large ex-
perience as teachers and fathers.
The regular weekly meeting will be |
omitted on Monday next and in it's stead |
IN open meeting will be held in the
evening in the hall of the classical high |
school, at which time Mr.. John s. |
Clark Of the Prang educational bureau
will speak on What Child Study Can
DO for Mothers"