Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-12
HABITS OF CHILDREN,

The quarterly conference Of the Salt
Lake Stake OF Zion closed on sunday
afternoon with very large attendance
in the Tabernacle. the galleries having
TO be opened to accommodate the
throngs Of people present. The meet
ings on Saturday In the Assembly Hall
were not so large as was desirable, yet
the numbers did not seem TO be dimin-
ished In consequence Of the organiza-
ton OF two Stakes OF Zion out Of the
Salt Lake Stake, and certainly the in
tercst and spirit manifested were in no
way decreased 1t was a very profit
able gathering Of the Latter-day Saints
OF this city and its vicinity. and much
valuable instruction was impaired.
on Saturday afternoon President
George Q. Cannon made some remarks
which, It appears have been construed
TO signify something that the speaker
did not intend TO convey. There seems
TO be a disposition on the part Of some
people to pick out sentence here and
there, from discourses delivered by
leaders OF this Church, and BY isolatng
them from the context either distort or
exaggerate their slgnihcation. and
sometimes give them the very opposite
meaning TO that which was expressed.
This Is not only very unfair 20 the
speaker but is also misleading and un-
just TO the public.
The facts in this case are these; FL
der John Henry Smith delivered dis
course on the subject Of family in
struction BY the parents. He deplored
the lack Of time and opportunity for
this needful exercise. because OF the
numerous engagements Of active men
IN the Church whose services were in
constant use for the general welfare
Most OF the leading Elders OF the
Church. he showed. were constantly en-.
gagged in public work, often to the COM
paratiye neglect Of their own families,
He dwelt upon the need Of parental in
iluence and teaching In al families. so
that the children Of Zion might be led
in the ways Of righteousness and faith
and be lmbued with the spirit OF Zion,
President George q. Cannon was
greatly impressed with the remarks
Of the preceding speaker and empha-
sized the lesson that had been conveyed
10 the Latter-day Saints He dwelt
strongly on the duty devolying upon
fathers and mothers in the proper train
ing Of their offspring. and advised them
10 Inquire personally into the habits Of
their children and the kind OF company
they keep. He spoke OF the influence
of associations among children. ana OF
the conversations held among the boys
and girls Incidentally he referred to
the companlonship created among
schoolboys. and the improper habits
which are sometimes INDUCED In by
corrupt boys who communicate vile
things 10 others. He admonished faith
ers to talk plainly with their boys as
TO the habits and conversation OF their
companions, and said some Of them
would be astonlshed By what would be
brought 10 light. He remarked that
there were vile practices right in this
city, not only among men but among
children. and II our youths were not
cautioned and guarded against such
things, they might fall into the very
worst Of conduct
These Instructions were given in such
way that they could not fail to have
a good effect upon all who heard them.
who were disposed to receive them in
the spirit In which they were impaired.
But Il Seems advantage has been taken
Of the Incidental reference to the dis
trict schools. to create the Impression
that those institutions were attacked
by the speaker Nothing was further
from his thoughts. nor could the lnsin-
uatlon be fairly construed from his
language. The endeayor 10 peryert his
discourse in this way does no; spring
from any desire TO accomplish a good
purpose.
There is not any need for our public
educators to be exercised in their minds
over anything said by President Can
non on this subject. unless It be 10
cause them 10 make private and quiet
Inquiries as 10 the conduct Of children.
belonging 20 the public schools.
when they are not under the SUI
perysion and discipline which IS
so well maintained In those institutions.
They need fear no opposition from Pres
ident Cannon who Is a friend TO edu-
cation In every sense Of the term, lie
aid not say one word against the dis
'rict schools or their management He
did not state that there was anything
wrong done OF said IN those schools. but
simply advised parents TO take their