The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-05-01

At the FRS, Presbyterian church. Sun
day morning. the pastor. Rev. D. A.,
Cunningham. d. D.,dellrered thought
fut and eleya,ing discourse from his
theme, Family Worship" The rever-
end speaker was heard by a large con-
gregation, and his remarks effectively
maintained the Beauties md the good
OF the worship around the family Are
s!de. DR.. Cunningham's sermon in full.
was as follows:
Joshua 2i:l5: But rs for me and
my house. We will serve the Lord"
This is Joshua's declaration OF his de-
tsrmined loyalty to God. however faith
less and forSetful others might be.
He likewise Included his household,
asserting his purpose BY precept. exam
pie and authority. to guide them In the
paths OF true and loving obedience to
the true arL living God. go would he
prove himself worthy descendant OF
the home, the father OK the faithful,
whoea high praise God had spoken
when He said concerning him. For
know him that he will command his
children and his household after him.
and they shall! keep the way Of the
Lord"
So everywhere throughout the Scrip
lures IL Is asserted or ASHAMED that
when God makes family like flock.
that family also Ike flock shall have
shepherd. whose pleasure ard whose
duty It should he to guide. to govern
and 20 defend them; 10 lead them into
green pastures and beside s.El waters;
to order ali their ways Alright. himsel:
- 70 before them 10 the places IL
which they may find peace and safety
This family. therefore. Is not a mere
collection OF individuals, but an orguu-
ized society. Its members bound to-
Scther by their relation to n common
head. To that headship God has dele
gated 4 divine authority. and So has at
tached to It an almost Infinite obliSu-
ton; while al the same time He has In
fused into 1t His own fatherly patience.
tenderness and love. by writing with II.
in ordinary cases. the parental toDd.
The head Of every family. therefore,
occupies the position OF double repre-
sentative of God u the family. and OF
The family 10 God; and so 1t Is lmpos-
sibtc 10 overstate the sicredHess and
the responsibility which belong TO his
Office. He cannot, then. acqui: himself
o, his solemn duties to either, without
fidelity 10 both. He must carry NJ his
household to dwell with God: he must
bring God down to dvel amid his
household. Ard how shall he TO this.
but by the constant recognition OF God
n The daily domestic life. And how
shall this recognition be made without,
or a:cde so well as BY tho daily gather
lrrs around the al:a- OK domestic wor-
ship? IT needs no argument. therefore.
to ro-establIsh the duty OF family wor-
ship.
1t Is a constitutional obligation. and
carries It's own proof with It in the very
nature Of the family organization. We
are assured that ",lR mercy 81 the
Lord Is from everlasting to everlasting
upon them that fear Him. and His
righteousness unto chIldrers children:
60 such as keep His covenant, and 10
those that remember His command
ments 10 DO them"
But even !, there were 10 such feder-
q! relationship MS this, the consequence
would be scarcely less certain upon nat
iirhl principles As We grow up and as
sumo the responsibilities OF men and
women In the world and establish homc3
OF our own. re know how ins.iact.vcly
and almost unconsciously We frame our
family arrangements upon the model
which was constantly before lie In our
earlier years. That model has so I'm
pressed itself upon us that VIC fall al
most as naturally into its Imitation as
we inherit our resemblance to those
who gave us birth.
The sunny days OF childhood come
hnrl! n ) -
haH5Tea. peaceful scenes renew shent-
selves before us; we live over In our
memories the routine OF It's daily life:
and as all this comes up TO us, softened
and sanctincd by the tender assoc!n-
tions o. fiti1f love. the recoifecttons o.
the life, the word, the example or those
who called Us children. ami on whom we
looked as the types OF all that Is per-
feet In the world-all this combines,
say, to form in our minds the Ideal o,
the home. which must OF course, be
realized In that new home which we are
making FOR ourselves.
And 30 II comes to pass that family
customs are perpctGated and parental
examples repeated from generation TO
generation, and the households OF to-
day are In many OF their essential rea :
lures the pictures OF the households 81.
Il hundred years aga. So great Is thu
force OF carly impressions that they
almost assert themselves with the au-
thority OF Il law: and we feel a; frs, rs
though We had been guilty Of fiiai in
gratitude and sin II We tepar, from It's
requirements. Even In little things this
influence Is all powerful: We wish to see
upon our tables the very dishes which
tempted our youthful appetite; and Of
ten, as We sit doWE to eat. we are re-
minded OF some lost relish o, our child
hood, md feel that nothing can ever
taste SO sweet again as that which q
mothers hand once prepared. and an
which fathers voice once invoked 4
blessing Flow much more powerful,
then, the rccoi!cctiors OF more Import. :
ant things. especially OF those solemn
nc;s and scenes which took hold upon
The heart and conscience. and spoke TO
us--aHa speak to Ms stiIl--ot God and
our responsibility 20 Him. and ~ our
Fouls crea; Interest IN Christ and HIS
salvation, with Its issues Of eternal he
or death
am sure that speak FOR many OF
You. MS well MS FOR myself, when saw
that. among aH the rcCoiicctions OF nv
carly NE. none come back TO me with
mors OF mingled tencrRsSs and force
than thoEe OF th- morning and evening
assemhlings for family worship. | can
recall the very attitude OF pverr m.m-
her OF the household. and the hook upon
their fnces. especially the grave and
reverend aspect OF him who took the
Holy Bible from Its place md read 10
us from It's sacred pages. ana OF her vino
sat opposite to him. nad on whose cnun-
tenance we could read the expression
Of kindly pride In her children. no,
without come marks Of material nnS!cig
and care for them, No music hns ever
sounded sT0e;cr 20 ms car than when
our voices Joined in singing some HYMN
OF praise and prayer, the meaning az
which W. we're. some Of Nv, 100 young 10
fully understand but OF which we all