The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-04-03
christian Life Column.
DECAY OF FAMILY RELIGION.

thoughtful, observant people are i'm
pressed with the fact that family re-
llglon Ii on the decline. + Jrty or fifty
years ago there was more family relig
Ion, IN proportion to the number Of
protessed Christian parents, than there
is now. FAmily worship and religious
conversation and instruction was more
common. than now. Not only preach
ers, but a larger proportion of lsymen
than now, kept up family worship and
religious instruction in their families.
Ny father used to read a chapter
from the Bible every morning. He
often gave snort explanations Of vari-
Gus things in the chapter; after which
he lead in pray or. At night he always
sung a hymn and prayed. He repeated
the words of the hymn from memory,
two lines at q time, and all the family
joined In singing the by mn. There
we're two reasons for singing a hymn
at night instead Of reading the Scrip
turesi n was, that he wanted to train
~ ~ SA8S SGO94GG "8Gg AZ
was not always convenient to have a
light suth 3ient to read by. Lamp oil
was not in us9 then. TaIIoR candles
were not sufficiently plentiful % use all
the time. To a large extent lightwood
knots had the place of both lamps and
candles. In this way family worship
was always kept up in my fathers
family. It made a deep impression on
me when I was q small child and q
large, reckless boy.
Ny sainted mother gave her children
excellent religious training. she re-
CURED US on each Sabbath to commit
co memory q good hymn and from FIVE
TO ten verses Of Scripture, and stand
before her and recite them from
memory. Sac often gave rs earnest
religious instruction. she never al
lowed US to leave home on the Sabbath,
except to go to church or to visit and
help the sick or needy. There was no
Sabbath School in reach Of US, out in
IN home of my youth family religion
was a blessed power for good. Many
other families IN the community kept
up family worship.
Ny mother, though having only a
limited education, possessed a large
store Of religious knowledge. She was
q constant reader Of the Bible, Hen
rvs Commentaries, and the Biblical
R corder.
But now comparatively few heads Of
families hold family worship. At a re-
cent association q report was offered
on Family Prayer. During the dis
cussion Of the report, q speaker asked
all present who held family prayer to
hold up their hands. O0ly six or eight
went up, and most Of these were
preachers. Il was a sad sight to see
80 few.
Why is family religion 30 much neg
lected3 think of three probable rea-
sons. FIRST, in this age of steam and
electricity, and machinery, every thing
goes with q rusn, and men do not take
time to attend to religious duties as
they should. Secondly, the way Of
getting religion devised by our modern
evangelists has has filed our churches
with a membership who love little be
cause they have been forgiven little.
Third, but perhaps the most potent
reason, is this-parents and guardians
think they can shift the responsibility
of training their children eff on the
Sunday School teachers. God makes
parents responsible for the training Of
their own children. This duty cannot
be delegated to others. The Sabbath
School is an excellent help to parents
in teaching their children, but it can
not take the place of home training.
But some parent Gays. II am not
qualified to teach my children" II
you are not, Whcss fault ia itH Have
you not had opportunities to learn 2
You have, and in neglecEing them you
have sinned against yourself and chill
dren.
OF for a revival of family Worship.
Bible reading and religious teaching in
every home.-Rev. J. A Stradley, in
Biblical r ecorder.
~ W1D