Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-05-20

~ the moral personality Of each mem
bcr OF the family.
SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE.
4. Moral fnhetI,ances Include GUS
toms and Social usages.--The spiritual
Inheritance which n child may expect
to receive from his parents Includes not
ily his intellectual training aud In
tci:cctual desires. not only the distinct
moral ideals. but also the family tradi-
tions. customs and hclicfs. These cus-
toms FORM, Ne II were. the setting for
morality. these arr the background ON
which the moral rules stand out clear
~. at the same time. they invest NOR
nllty with certain grnclOusneHs
which never pertains TO o morality
learned from books. or from the rude
experiences Of life, These social usnges
not ufiy render the moral life u the
family attractive, but they cOnetltutc
m additional safeguard ana strength
for the morality which has this source.
SOCIETY AND FAMILY.
g. Let US consider the moral training
IN the family versus the moral training
In general socicty--ianguage and
science may be learned In other schools.
other associations may develop the
csthctic sense. but moral habits and
moral Ideals depend IN n peculiar way
upon the family. Society Itself trains
but rudciy In morals. II Recognizes only
gross and outward sina, Il puninhca
harshly and unHympnthcticaily those
who go nstray. Tue fundamental con-
ception- OF n true aeif-nraerilon and a
generous Hclf-sncriflce. are learned only
IN the family. The strong learn 10 re-
spcct the weaker. the weak are en-
cOurnRcd 20 develop their strength by
using u, under the influence Of family
love. The temperament 81 bold aascr-
La h.. -
another who overcumca by yielding
these are what society develops to
supply the absence ~ early training In
the family. Again. the abHolutcneas of
duty. and the true excellence ~ virtue.
can be learned only In the family. only
q parent can command" and compel
hearty obedience by an overmastcrins
Then there are delicate cxceiicncics
such na honor. sympathy. and tact
which are not To BE- learned outside the
home. They rest Of necessity on love
u man. they can only develop under
the shadow Of parents love.
BASIS OF PROGRESS.
G. Moral inheritance II the Basis u
Real Progress The moral heritage 81
each generation IL the true basis ~
progress. The son must be equipped
with the best manners and morals u
his parents. or he starts on lower
plane than he might Wcre Il not for
this spiritual hefcdity, each generation
would be obliged TO start at the very
beginning. nnd TO build a society with
out either bricks or mortar. II were
bad enough N each generation had 10
Invent It's own language. and 10 work
out science anu "a philosophy with no
gain from ages that had past. Hut the
very basis u society IL moral progress,
mud nlnFal HTnNRNa IA Vttf.
heritage working through the family.
When We admit the law Of transmits.
sion no further support In It's favor IL
necessary, IN fact the very proof II
found In the law Itself: that N. fac
ulty strengthened BY Ia use, transmits
during the lie In which II has been cx-
crciscd. Ward says, there IL no other
way of explaining the Increase"
RELIGIOUS UNITY.
:. Religious Unity Belongs TO
the Family. - From the stand
point point OF rellsion, the family
that II does In the moral life. Husband
and wife may help each other In many
ways while holding different religious
convictions. but the true unity Of tho
family Il impossible when the Utmost
life of each member Ia lived apart. aud
even when the religious life Of each
expresses Itself In different. apparently
opposite ways. they cannot help Ia
iiuencing each others religious Views,
and true family can scarcely fall to
develop religious side. In this init.
mate union. the religious life iinda It's
best Inspirations. God comes nearest
TO His followers at the family altar. and
the responsibilities and JOY open tho
heart To the divine life.
Nt.ANIVNfIfN al -
Ion depend on the family. Religion IL
also part of that spiritual inherit.
nncc which the child receives from lis
parents. ~ the mothers knee, children
learn 10 know uod with more vivid
sense % His presence and His love than
II gained In any other way. and far
away a. one may wander. il II 10 the
mothers God that he returns. The
divine authority. righteousness aud
love, ma their nrat meaning In tho
loving commands OF parent. and tho
philosopher and theolnRian continue 10
speak u God ~ the Father In heaven
showing the religious life OF tho family
entering Into ita religious aspirations,
~ well AZ lta modes Of belief and wor.
ship. Thus the child learns TO know
God FOR himself Each false stem il
checked, each doubt n overcome In the
presence ~ faith. each crisis resolved
Into higher life under the guidance "
parental love. Here, again, progress n.
possible. only when the family fulnii.
IT, duty IN tho developments u splrlt.
uni life, Religion extends IT, sway over
new territory, and brings new spherrs
OF social activity under lta Influence,